The Primitives are a British alternative rock, indie pop band from Coventry formed in 1985. The Smiths singer Morrissey famously named them as one of his favourite bands. A highly successful first album presented them with their UK Top 5 hit single “Crash” (and made the U.S. Top 3).

The Primitives emerged from the much-touted independent scene of the mid-Eighties that reared, amongst others, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, The Soup Dragons and The Wedding Present. Many of these, including the Primitives, brought a welcome breath of fresh air and a sense of fun to a scene dominated by the more po-faced goth bands. And many wore their influences on their sleeves; a love of melody and the Sixties (the Monkees, the Velvet Underground and the Byrds), fast Ramones-influenced guitars, and the pop innocence of the Buzzcocks and Orange Juice. This was the backdrop for the Primitives’ formation, and few bands during this period went on to encapsulate all these ingredients so well.

• Rock
• Indie
• Pop
• 80's