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[title]After seven years away from Argentina, Primal Scream is back in Buenos Aires with a new album in hand and the same energy that made them one of the most influential bands in alternative rock. The group will headline the Music Wins Festival 2025, taking place on Sunday, November 2 at Mandarine Park, sharing the lineup with Massive Attack and Tash Sultana (don’t miss our one-on-one interview with the young Australian star).
In this exclusive conversation with Time Out Buenos Aires, Bobby Gillespie, the vocalist and soul of the band, reflects on the innocence of their early years, the spirituality behind Come Ahead, and the unbreakable bond with the Argentinian audience.
On October 5, you posted about the anniversary of your debut album, Sonic Flower Groove, released in 1987 — 38 years ago. When you look back, how do you feel about that record today? Do you still connect with those sounds, or does it feel like another life?
I’m very proud of that album — proud of the songs and the musicians’ performances. I listened to it recently, and I love its honesty. It’s very pure, and that can only be achieved by young people. We gave everything we had to that music, and that’s why it feels so genuine. That kind of purity often fades as an artist makes more records, becomes successful, gets older, and gains experience. The first albums always carry something sincere, innocent, and beautiful.
Also of interest: Music Wins 2025 reveals its national lineup
A new generation is discovering Primal Scream. How do you feel about connecting with younger audiences?
On our tours through Europe, Australia, the UK, and Ireland, we’ve seen it all — people my age, a bit younger, and lots of kids. It’s a beautiful mix. I think for many young people, seeing a real rock and roll band live is a new experience, because there aren’t many left. Most are indie rock or they “rock,” but without the spirit of rock and roll. And if you can’t dance to it, it’s not rock and roll. When you come to a Primal Scream show, you can dance, you can feel it with your friends. For those young people who’ve never experienced that, our concerts blow their minds.
“For many young people, seeing a real rock and roll band live is a new experience, because there aren’t many left”
The new album, Come Ahead, feels nostalgic and fresh at the same time — it has soul, funk, and a hint of melancholy. After so much time and personal change, what did you want to express with this record that you hadn’t said before?
There was a lot I wanted to say. The first song, Ready to Go Home, is joyful, even though it’s about accepting death. It’s a luminous song about stopping the fight against it. I’m not afraid of dying, as long as it’s not violent or painful. The idea was to write from the perspective of someone who has lived and says, “I had a good life, I did what I had to do, and that’s fine.” It’s about finding inner peace — understanding that we’re just particles of energy in this cosmos, no better than anyone else. It’s cosmic acceptance. And you can’t write something like that at twenty. Love and Resurrection is about love. Heal Yourself is about redemption — someone who was a sinner, who hurt the people they loved, and now seeks forgiveness. Deep Dark Waters and Echoes from the Past are also very meaningful to me.
Also of interest: Primal Scream returns to Buenos Aires after 7 years
You’re returning to Argentina after seven years, this time for the Music Wins Festival. What kind of energy are you expecting from the Buenos Aires crowd?
They’re the best. The fans in Buenos Aires are so sexy, so full of energy — everyone feels it. It’s like playing in Glasgow. Same vibe. The football fans in Argentina and Glasgow are the same: that passion, that working-class energy. That’s what Argentinian fans are like — they get rock and roll. They’re incredible.
After forty years of music, revolutions, and reinventions, do you still have any dreams or collaborations left on your list?
Yes… but I’m not going to tell you.