January 26, 2000 17:34

BARMY KEV JOINS SCREAM TEAM ON TOUR!

Legendary guitarist Kevin Shields signs up for Primal Scream live dates...

My Bloody Valentine founder Kevin Shields has joined Primal Scream, NME can reveal.

The maverick guitarist/producer played with the Primals at two recent low-key gigs in Oxford and Gloucester and will join them on their world tour.

Shields has long been a friend of the Primals and helped co-produce the band's latest album, 'Exterminator', out on January 31 - Creation Records' last release.

Describing Shields as 'basically Stravinsky for the fucking millennium', Creation boss Alan McGee told NME: 'He's joined the band. He just won't admit it.

'I was watching Kevin Shields through that gig and I was just going, 'What's he playing?' It looks like he's not even playing the guitar but all these amazing sounds are coming out of his amp - he's actually triggering off samples all the time. The man is an absolute, utter futurist.'

Bobby Gillespie added: 'We've known Kevin since 1988, when we used to go see MBV, because they were labelmates of ours on Creation. He's a friend and a good musician, so we just got together. He's coming on tour, playing guitar for us. I just think he's an incredible fellow, so I'm quite happy.'

McGee revealed that following the closure of Creation Records, the Primals would sign to Sony and release a greatest hits album at the end of the year. He also described 'Exterminator' as 'the best album that Creation Records have ever put out'.

The band have also announced another clutch of UK dates to follow their virtually sold-out March tour.

The new April dates see the band play Glasgow Barrowlands (April 13 & 14), Liverpool Royal Court (16), Leeds T&C (17), Wolverhampton Civic Hall (18) Brighton Event (19) and a six-hour show at London Brixton Academy (21).

For tickets, call the 24-hour NME Virgin Cola Ticketline on 0870 1 663 663. All calls are charged at national standard rate.

Bobby Gillespie faces the Fan-ish Inquisition in next week's NME.