Van Zandt 'Primal Scream Blew the Chance to Be the Biggest Band in the

27 March 2009

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World' British rockers Primal Scream would be the "biggest band in the world" ifthey hadn't let drug addiction ruin their career - according to rock icon Steven Van Zandt.

Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band sidekick, reveals he tried to bring Primal Scream to the U.S. - but frontman Bobby Gillespie's reliance on drugs meant the group couldn't commit to a long tour.

The rocker-turned-radio DJ reveals, "I tried to get Primal Scream to come over to America several times. I thought their album before this last one (2006's Riot City Blues) was one of the greatest records in 10 years.I begged them to come over. I had a whole tour for them. "

I'm like, all right, you want to be a drug addict, go be a drug addict. Don't waste my timeVan Zandt, Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band sidekick

Their agent talked me out of it. He said 'They can't do 20 shows.' I'm like, 'Come on, man. We do 20 shows a month'.

"Primal Scream could be the biggest band in the world. They are fantastic when they make rock records - once every 10 years. But they can't tourbecause of drug problems, or whatever. I don't have patience for it. I'm like, all right, you want to be a drug addict, go be a drug addict. Don't waste my time".

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