Primal Scream: 'Rock Music Has Become Too Conformist And Normal'

Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie has said that modern rock music is "too conformist and normal".

In an interview with The Irish Times, the singer claimed that bands were more interested in being famous than being creative, and had also become too absorbed in mainstream culture.

"I bumped into Paul Weller the other day and we went for a coffee and we were talking about this lack of ambition which seems prevalent in rock right now," he said. "You read interviews with bands and it's all about being rich and famous and being the biggest band in the world.

"There doesn't seem to be a lot of artists out there any more. It seems to me that if you were a serious young person and you had something to say that you'd be looking at other disciplines," he added. "In music, everything seems lightweight and conformist and not very artistic. Everybody seems to be settling for the status quo."

Gillespie, who also suggested that bands who had arrived in the wake of The White Stripes and The Strokes had "given up trying to be experimental" and had "a real lack of content", went on to say:

"Rock music is no longer where creativity is and it's no longer taken seriously by creative people. It's been absorbed into the mainstream culture and has become too conformist and normal. There doesn't appear to be many great minds at work in music right now."

Last month, Primal Scream played a set voted for entirely by fans at London's Electric Brixton venue (November 10). The show marked one of bassist Mani's final appearances with the band before he returns to play with The Stone Roses in 2012.

In October, meanwhile, they hit out at "The X Factor" after their 1994 single "Rocks" was performed by contestant Frankie Cocozza.

Primal Scream have recently said that they intend to record and release a new studio album next year and have "a lot of new music" written for the follow up to 2008's "Beautiful Future".

Thanks for the report to NME.com.

Comments

[ProdaG]

I couldn't disagree with this more. If this is what Gillespie actually believes, then he has no conception of "rock" music besides what's going on in the limelight. There are plenty of artists today creating "rock" music which is innovative and unique. Of course, they are usually a part of scenes which exist completely separate from the mainstream culture ... but that's almost always how the business is.

[CronoMagus]

Animals as Leaders is the weirdest most experimental odd timing band ever. Don't tell me they are normal. I've heard maybe 6 songs by them and I still have to think a good amount to wrap my mind around whats going on.

[nailsarecruel]

ProdaG wrote:

I couldn't disagree with this more. If this is what Gillespie actually believes, then he has no conception of "rock" music besides what's going on in the limelight. There are plenty of artists today creating "rock" music which is innovative and unique. Of course, they are usually a part of scenes which exist completely separate from the mainstream culture ... but that's almost always how the business is.

Most times "modern rock" applies to the stuff you hear on the radio (or to quote you "what's going on in the limelight"). Music whose success is measured in terms of hits, sales, charting and airplay.

[crucifiedead]

I wasn't aware this was the case, he should check out Alter Bridge and bands like that, plenty of talent there.

[Sallycanwait96]

Gillespie, who also suggested that bands who had arrived in the wake of The White Stripes and The Strokes had "given up trying to be experimental" and had "a real lack of content"

Weren't the White Stripes and the Strokes already trying to break the mold when they first began? I mean, in 2003, if you weren't listening to The White Stripes or The Strokes or The Yeah Yeah Yeahs or whatnot, Creed was your other choice of modern rock. So props to those bands for giving us a true alternative.

[RoomOnFire03]

Sallycanwait96 wrote:

Gillespie, who also suggested that bands who had arrived in the wake of The White Stripes and The Strokes had "given up trying to be experimental" and had "a real lack of content"

Weren't the White Stripes and the Strokes already trying to break the mold when they first began? I mean, in 2003, if you weren't listening to The White Stripes or The Strokes or The Yeah Yeah Yeahs or whatnot, Creed was your other choice of modern rock. So props to those bands for giving us a true alternative.

My thoughts exactly

[postmortem2006]

He's right, really. Instead of sowing influence from their favourite bands, most new artists simply want to BE their favourite bands. And ten thousand other acts had the exact same idea.