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Rock legends head to Thamesmead

Legendary Scottish rock band Primal Scream chose South Thamesmead as the backdrop for their latest music video.

Frontman Bobby Gillespie is seen striding past the area’s iconic Brutalist buildings, Southmere Lake and The Nest in the video for the band’s catchy tune, The Centre Cannot Hold.

The video also features eye-catching street art commissioned by Peabody, including work by Daisy Allen + Ellen Rose, Jeru Nomi and local artist Paige Denham.

It was directed by Douglas Hart, who has made music videos for artists including Paul Weller, The Libertines and Pet Shop Boys.

Hart was also a bandmate of Gillespie’s in The Jesus and Mary Chain and revealed the choice of location was influenced by his upbringing in Scotland.

He told Talk of Thamesmead: “I grew up in a Scottish new town called East Kilbride, built like Thamesmead with a utopian vision of homes for the working classes. So that style of architecture is in my blood.

“When I was a young teenager I called my home town ‘Stonehenge with windows’. But now I appreciate the beauty of the place.”

It was that beauty and architecture that made Thamesmead the ideal place to make the video.

Douglas continued: “The song has a relentless sense of forward momentum, and choruses that open out musically.

“The lanes and walkways of Thamesmead, some of which are enclosed and some of which are open, seemed to underscore the dynamics of the music perfectly.”

Primal Scream’s visit adds to a long list of star-studded films and photos featuring Thamesmead. These location shoots are organised by Peabody in partnership with Film Fixer. Income generated goes into the Thamesmead Community Fund, which helps support local projects.

The Centre Cannot Hold is taken from Primal Scream’s new album, Come Ahead, which is out now. You can watch the video by clicking here.

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