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RIP: Robert ‘Throb’ Young, founding guitarist of Primal Scream; fellow musicians pay respects

Primal Scream’s founding guitarist Robert “Throb” Young has died at the age of 49. Details are still emerging, but local police have announced that no foul play is suspected, and Young was found inside an apartment in Hove, along the south coast of England.

Young left Primal Scream in 2006, but was with the influential rock band during their heightened ’90s fame after forming the band in Glasgow with school friend and frontman Bobby Gillespie in 1984.

Wrote the Guardian: “They hit the heights with psych-pop album Screamadelica in 1991, which included songs like Movin’ on Up and Loaded and won the first Mercury Prize.”

Primal Scream released a statement this morning, which reads:

“We have lost our comrade and brother Robert Young. A beautiful and deeply soulful man. He was an irreplaceable talent, much admired amongst his peers, In the words of Johnny Marr ‘Throb with a gold top Les Paul — unbeatable’.

He was a true rock and roller. He walked the walk. He had ‘Heart & Soul’ tattooed on his arm and i’m sure on his heart too. He once said to me “when we go onstage it’s a war between us and the audience” He never let go of that attitude. Our love and thoughts are with his sons Brandon and Miles and their mother Jane, his wife Rachel, and his immediate family.”

Young’s former bandmate Mani wrote a message on the Primal Scream fan forum yesterday, which read: “Robert young, AKA the throb, passed away this weekend in hove. Truly devastating news.”

Others chimed in with their tributes via social media, including Liam Gallagher, writer Irvine Welsh, and Tim Burgess of the Charlatans.

Let’s pour one out on the “Rocks”…