Primal Scream have praised Simone Marie Butler’s “positive energy” and “committed musicianship” following her departure from the band.
- READ MORE: Primal Scream’s Simone Butler on her “eye-opening” new documentary, ‘Year Of The Dog’
Butler first joined the group in 2012 after the exit of late bassist Mani, who had quit to rejoin The Stone Roses the previous year, but on Wednesday (January 28), she shared news of her departure, writing on social media that she would “always be part of the scream family”.
Now, the band have shared an ode to Butler. “We had thirteen fabulous years with Simone,” they wrote. “During her time with us she brought positive energy, feminine glamour and committed musicianship to the band.
“Her warmth of character, kindness and gentleness lit up proceedings wherever we found ourselves in the world. We have a lot of great memories and she will forever be part of the Scream family. We wish her the best of luck and good fortune in her future adventures.
Signing off the post, Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes and Darrin Mooney wrote simply: “We love you Simone.”
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When Butler first announced her departure, she took to Instagram to reflect on her time with the band, saying it had been “an amazing ride with genuinely beautiful people”.
She went to say that she shared “so so many incredible times, laughs and experiences. That’s the dream right there. Bobby [Gillespie], Andrew [Innes] and the band are incredible musicians and people.”
Butler added: “Going forward I will no longer be playing with the band and shall miss that, but I truly wish them all the very best for the future. I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of this band for so long, to have travelled the entire world, to meet the most amazing people and amazing fans and to play music I love and learn so much from the guys as musicians and performers. It’s been an incredible learning curve.
“Primal Scream’s music meant a lot to me even before I was playing those iconic bass lines and when I got that call to audition it felt like divine timing so I’d like to thank Bobby and Andrew for taking a chance on me all those years ago. I love you all and although not on stage, I’ll always be part of the scream family.”
Butler didn’t play at Primal Scream’s recent ‘XTRMNTR’ album shows, one of which caused controversy after claims of antisemitism were aimed at the band. Shortly afterwards, they had a show at Trentham Estate cancelled.
However, she did play at the band’s Manchester’s Warehouse Project shortly after Mani’s death where Primal Scream paid tribute to their former bassist by performing ‘I’m Losing More Than I’ll Ever Have’ in his hometown.
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Butler also expressed her sadness following Mani’s passing writing: “Truly in shock at this. An incredible loss to everyone who knew and loved him. The moment u met Mani u loved him. The most brilliant and wickedly sharp sense of humour and the biggest heart and generosity. The smile in that first pics was so absolutely him. He called me his scorpio bass sister. My heart is breaking for his boys, family and loved ones. Was meant to see him tmro in Manchester.
“A terrible and sad loss. An amazing person, so so loved by everyone all over the world X just heartbreaking.”
More recently, she spoke about his funeral in another post writing: “Today was the most palpable testament of how much love one person can spread just by being their truly genuine brilliant self. Words of love said by every single person, people gathering in the streets to make it known how much Mani meant to them, fans on scooters leading the cortège.”
She added: “When I joined the Scream and Mani started to come and watch shows I’d be tentatively hanging in the dressing room while his jokes and laughter set the tone and thinking to myself ‘Jesus don’t fk anything up tonight’ and then one night he came out with ‘you go and smash it sister I fkin love you, but it is like watching yer ex bird being fkd by the new guy’. We all burst into laughter and I knew at that point he was a stone cold legend.”
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In 2021, she made a film about homeless people and their pets entitled Year Of The Dog, and spoke to NME about it’s creation at the time, saying her goal had been to “challenge the stigma that comes along with homelessness and rough sleepers, and these people owning dogs”.
“As a friend said to me a while back,” she added, “one minute you’ve got a dog and the next you’ve got a member of the family who you’d die for. In a situation of being homeless, people can be devoid of human interaction and connection, but the dog and the community that it brings gives them a sense of belonging. I can’t imagine a lonelier or more dangerous place than being on the streets, so that relationship is so important.”
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