The Surreal Origins of Primus | Les Claypool on Metallica Ties, Acid Trips, MTV Breakthrough 

Nobody sounds like Primus That's the mark of a great band.

damn, Kirk hammet did more for music than we thought!

He played bass like he was invented the instrument, and he did it while singing. salute for this creative genius 👍

Used to see Primus in tiny bars around the Bay Area, before and after Tim joined. With an audience of 4 on a Tuesday night at Ashkenaz, and a drummer called Curveball, they played like it was a packed arena. It was obvious they were headed for the top.

"I got pissed..ate acid...and it ended up being a pretty fun thing. I am glad we did it." Les is a great storyteller. I think I could listen to him talk about his shenanigans all day. Thanks for posting this.

Cheers to Revolver - whoever edited this did a masterful job. If no one knew any better you'd think they hit the record button and said, "Hi Les! Tell us a few things." and he just talked for 10 minutes uninterrupted.

Saw primus 2 weeks ago, changed my life forever.

Growing up in Sonoma County, we we're blessed to see Primus before they were famous. Les is a good guy.

primus playing with swans, need that again

"Herb" is still to this day, one of the best drummers I've ever heard. Fantastic.

I remember reading about this "Primus" band in RIP magazine back in 1990, just some little blurb about them. While the exact wording escapes me, it was compelling enough for me to pick up Frizzle Fry in Nov or Dec of 1990. And it instantly blew and expanded my musical mind. I must have played that cassette every single day for months. They have tons of amazing music but Frizzle Fry to me is one of the most untouchable, best albums of all time.

Les you are a legend!! In 1992, Primus opened up for Rush (one of my dad's fave bands) and he was like oh I want to take you to this concert. I had heard Rush in my dad's car, and then when he said oh some band named Primus is opening up for them...I was all in!! I was so geeked about it. I tried to tell him how awesome Primus was... and as soon as the baseline started (I think it was "my name is mud") he looked at me with eyes wide and screamed FUCK YEAH. It was an awesome show. Then I saw Peart's drum kit SPINNING in the air, not missing a beat, and I fell in love with Rush. Still one of my fave concerts of my teenaged years. I was 12. That concert was my dad's rebuttal to my mom taking my sister and me to MC Hammer, haha. It was the only war between my parents that was enjoyable... the war of who would take us to the best shows...1994 mom took us to Pink Floyd. That was another amazing experience, Camp Randall. OMG. In my 20s. my dad took me to see Dweezil Zappa does Zappa, and we went to the sound check, and I got to meet him. It was so cool that Zappa was there, albeit on video, playing with the band. So many in between, but those were the best experiences enjoying live music with my dad.

I'm 57 years old and I love Primus there is no other band like them on the face of the planet

Les and Kirk and I were high school friends. Good memories of them both at De Anza High School

I didn't know Les and Kirk have been friends for so long. Cool. They should make some music together.

I'll never forget the first time I heard Primus. It was "My name is Mud." Wow, what a bass.

One of Primus’ biggest influences was a band from the mid-1970s called The Residents, whose mysterious often-times reused lead singer sounded a lot like Claypool! In fact, when Primus covered their classic song ,Constantinople , it just sounded like a regular Primus song!

My introduction to Primus was at age 10. Right after Loveline ended at midnight, the radio station played Jerry was a Race Car driver. Surreal and inspiring experience for a kid up too late.

Some poor guy left his shopping with a primus cd on a park bench. I was in my teens and decided to take it home. My life changed after

If it weren't for my best friend showing me Primus, I honestly don't think I'd be where I am today. R.I.P. Zach.

My introduction to Primus was watching them on the MTV spring break special! I was just 13 at the time. I couldn't believe what I was seeing! I never heard anything like that!

Les is able to write between the lines of "standard" music but has the ability to keep in interesting not abstract. What I love about Primus is the way Les incorporates pretty much every genre of music without sounding like any genre of music.

I was fortunate enough to see Les and Sausage on the same bill with Rollins Band and Helmet. One of my best shows

1:40 "Everyone wanted to be Eddy Van Halen" see that summed it up, Les Claypool wanted to BE Les Claypool, he didn't want to be someone else. And he became one of the best artists for the Bass Guitar EVER.

Great stories from Uncle Les.

Hanging with Pauly Shore and the Cypress Hill guys on acid, "it ended up being a pretty fun thing" seems a little understated. Les rocks

One day I was at a rehearsal with an old band. After we finished, the bass player pulled out a cassette of Frizzle Fry and told us we gotta hear this. We were like Da-Fuq?!?!? We were completely flumoxed, and we loved it!

I like that Les gives everyone credit and doesnt seem to have any ill will for past members like a lot of bands that have been arpund as long as Primus.

First time I saw and heard Primus was supporting Jane's Addiction in1990 at London Astoria and I have never been so blown away by a support act I'd never heard before!

Best bassist on the planet! I hope there's more of this interview to release.

I've checked a dozen or so interviews with Les Claypool over the years and he always comes across like such a genuine non full of himself person to a degree that's unfounded. Along the same lines he also seems to have a level of emotional intelligence that's ridiculously high (just the way he talks to people or about people, he seems to understand others). He never comes across anxious/shy... he seems very honest and comfortable in his skin. He just seems like an exceptionally good person.

I saw Primus in ‘91 open for Fishbone at USF in Tampa. Then I saw them in maybe ‘93 in St. Petersburg where Les walked off the tour bus into the venue in his underwear and played the whole gig that way and then walked out back on the bus. It was an amazing time with an amazing band. Thanks for the memories Les, Ler and Herb.

That Public Enemy tour Les talks about was awesome. Anthrax, Public Enemy, Primus and Young Black Teenagers. Great bill imo.

‘’I remember being really pissed, so we ate acid.’’ That pretty much sums up Primus

I saw Primus with TOOL a few years ago, and was honestly more excited to see them than I was TOOL. Not that I'm not a TOOL fan, but Primus was like a bucket list item for me. I lost my mind when he came out wearing the pig mask for Mr Krinkle.

Tim Alexander is a drummer’s hero. I understand he has 100 or 200+ drum kits or some crazy shit. Always rock solid. Sailing the Seas of Cheese was one of the first albums I learned to play double bass to. Primus is the shiz…

One of my favorite all time bands! Saw them for the first time on the Pork Soda tour and never missed them again. Just saw them play the Farewell to Kings tribute and enjoyed every minute of it. 🤘

First saw them open for Jane's Addiction in 1990. Right from the first song I new they were something special.

The 1st time I saw them was at Berkeley square in November of 87. They were opening for fish bone. At 1 point in the set they switched instruments. They did it 2 more times until they were back to their original instruments. Impressed the hell out of me.

Primus came along at the perfect time in music to exist. They were always the perfect mix of eccentricity and heavy to make some interesting stuff.

Saw them at 1993 Lollapalooza in Waterloo Village, NJ ... Les was playing a shiny, all chrome/mirror stand-up bass. ... When they went into Jerry Was A Race Car Driver the whole place went nuts and it turned into one big mud pit

I didn't know Les was in Blind Illusion, I recently joined a band called Blessed Curse and we're about to play a show with Blind Illusion July 2nd at 3 Disciples Brewing in Santa Rosa

When I went to the green naugahyde tour, I was in the front row by the left speaker. During "pudding time" Les looked over to where I was and the dude next to me threw him a "🤘" and and Les lifted his strumming hand and waved back without missing a beat! He did so with such ease that you might have sworn he practiced that specific gesture, at that part of the song. Fuckin crazy 🤘

Being on acid in a plane during a blizzard. Now, THAT'S a rock 'n roll story! Always been a big primus fan. I saw them live in Colorado Springs in 2013. Great 3-d show. Great experience!

One f'n night in the east bay, concord junior college, my band at the time and I sat outside watching Blind Illusion kick ass. I think it was my bass play Edie R that said we had to hear this band. I had never seen Claypool before. We where all metal heads, but my head turned that night as i watched kids jumping off of cafeteria tables and some lanky bass dude roll out the funkiest lines I had ever heard. I never thought it possible to be funky and fun While thrashing. I think we had the Suck on This tape in our car or something over a J driving there. I felt something change in the water that night. #1987bayareametalscene Epic!

Les Claypool is one of the coolest, laid back cats on the planet. Oh yeah... and he's a fuckin' beast on the bass!

Les is definitely one of the most insane bassists I’ve ever heard, the dude has such a unique sound and the bass lines he comes up with are just insane and the fact that he can sing while playing super complex stuff like Jerry Was A Race Car Driver, Tommy the Cat, DMV and all those classic Primus tunes is just too unreal and I fucking love it. Primus sucks all the way \m/

I was a sushi chef at a sushi in downtown St. Pete Florida around the time of tge High Ball With the Devil tour. He played at Janus Landing behind my restaurant. He came into eat before the show, I recognized him immediately. I called my girlfriend and told her to bring my Primus albums up. About 15 minutes later she was there with a stack of them. I could not ask the guy to sign all of them so I asked him to sign the High Ball one. He did. Nice guy and complemented my sushi.

Tim can and does play his ass off. That guy is a beast.

Les is Amazing! Wasn't turned on till I was 22yrs. I'm almost 39yrs. Everything Mr Les touches is amazing. Thank you, Sir.

One of the more fun and creative 90s acts.

Mama Edna told me about Primus back in the day. I didn't even realize that Les came from Blind L at first. Saw a couple of shows, still love them to this very day♥

Man, Les never fails to entertain! I could listen to his stories of the old days and tours and just whatever for hours. He’s just such an amazing story teller and paints such a vivid picture, both when he’s just chatting or through his song writing. Bravo! Give us more! My older sisters BF at the time had both “Suck On This” and “Frizzle Fry” - must have been 91 or 92, but he gave me both of them because they weren’t his favorite and I was just going nuts over it because I had already been playing bass due to Metallica and Cliff Burton. Plus I just loved how wacky the songs were. But the bass playing was just insane. Great memories of me and my friends bouncing off the walls, blitzed out of our heads, listening to Primus.

Interesting. Totally cool to learn about the roots of Primus.

My favorite bass player. The originality, precision, speed, and just the way he puts chords together he is one of the all time best.

Les is such a genius but so down to earth. It would be great to sit down and have a beer with him

First time seeing them was at the Warfield,it was Les' birthday...Out of nowhere Kirk Hammet walks onto stage,Larry hands him his guitar mid song.After completing the song,(don't recall which one), they explode into Master Of Puppets and followed it up with Theives...I think it was 1991

I need more of this interview! God I remember those early days, living up outside Sacramento and hearing about these bands from the bay. Primus became such a large part of my high school experience and now I've turned my kids onto them.

Being an immediate Primus fan in the 90's, and coming from a long history of artists and eccentric-types of varying success (myself included,) I was curious to learn the name "Claypool" shows up in my family tree for 3 or 4 generations starting with a cartooninst/painter/visual artist in late 1800's. I'm from New England however but maybe something to it... Parody voices at any time or place for no particular reason is just kinda what we do too... LOL

Les is still just that blue collar guy at heart. He seemed like he would've been happy going back to being a carpenter if Promus hadn't have taken off. Cool guy.

One night in the late 90s,I worked a 12 hour shift building neons,for Chrysler,then drove to 6 hours to Iowa to see Primus,I was asleep at the wheel but I made it!

Years ago, around 97-98 or so I was an auto parts delivery boy in Vacaville, CA. I had a delivery to a transmission shop. I walked in and noticed a couple platinum records (I think platinum) and a big metal sculpture thing that said primus. I handed the parts to a guy and asked about the primus records and sculpture. He said he was les' dad. I must admit, I was JUST getting into them. Wished I had talked to his dad more, but none the less a cool experience. I'm a huge primus fan now, yet have only seen them once. Thanks for all the crazy ass songs.

I could listen to Les all day long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope there’s loads more of les’ memoirs to come out. Many a tale to tell…..

Lucky to be from the East Bay, I was at one of the Suck on This shows at the Berkeley Square, Larry dated a good friend of mine in Pinole, Ca

Recently got into Primus, been listening them for months, shame I didn't checked them out sooner, I knew about them for decades but never got around to check them out. Current favorite is Tommy The Cat, amazing bass playing.

A friend of mine introduced me to Primus back when I was a teen, Spegetti western was the song, when the bass kicked in I fell to my knees and bowed in front of the stereo in a I am not worthy way.

Dude. I totally wasn’t ready for this video to end when it did. I did not know this about myself prior to watching this but I could’ve sat and listen to him talk about every single detail of Primus, from what he discussed, up to present day lol

I've been a huge primus fan all of my life. Never had the opportunity to see them when I had the funds and when I did have extra time, I couldn't afford it. Thankfully my buddy and his wife are awesome and gave me an extra ticket to join him on his birthday and go see them live last year when things started opening up. It was the second time she had did that and the first was to go see GWAR. Unfortunately never got the chance to see Brockie when he was among us, but seeing Les was amazing!

Primus, and Tim in particular, changed my life. they were MY band, and will be for life.

Herb is one of my favorite drummers! I was sad when he left the band in the late 90s. Love hearing these stories!

These guys have earned the love and their place with the greats.

I was an undergrad at Cal in the mid 80s when I was first taken to the Berkeley Square to see Primus - and they freakin’ blew my mind. Thank you!!!

I was fortunate to meet Mr Claypool briefly outside of a venue in Spokane many years ago. He was very nice to visit with us and signed my daughter's cast. Not all performers would take the time. He's a good guy.

Les Claypool is a musical genius! I was all in when Seas of Cheese hit the stores and I've loved every note since.

Was fortunate enough to see Primus on that Public Enemy w/Anthrax tour. Was in Detroit at the Fox Theater. The Young Black Teenagers were the openers. The bands and crowd were incredible. Unforgettable night.

Les Claypool s a great guy. Totally amazing bassist.

I saw Primus at least 4 times in Petaluma at the Phoenix, I played Suck On This on the Sonoma State radio station. Now Les has a freaking wine he makes in Sebastopol?

Now that's an interview 👍 More like that please 😎

Man I got so into Primus while strung out on meth for years, the music is just exactly what it feels like to be awake for 12 days. But Primus inspired me to move on to psychedelics, clean from dope packing the mushroom hope nowadays. Primus was there for me, crazy awesome shit!

Les, you have been a big influence on me over the years. Started off as a guitar player, then Rush got my attention, I bought a bass! Well, my parents did. I was 11. Then you guys showed up,, and I dug deeper!! Moved to Nashville in 02, to play guitar, drums,, or bass.. I didn't care. Turns out everyone needed a bass player, that could sing. Harmony mostly, but landed a gig as the front man of a jazz, rock, fusion thing. We did some interesting things with, sunshine of your love. Wish you were here, into, Walking on the moon. We also did a handful of Primus! Never could convince them to do Tommy the Cat, but God knows I tried! Lol! Thank you for changing my life in a musical way. Thank you.

Got to see Primus live in small Bay Area venues, late '80s-early '90s -- always a great show.

Where is the longer version of this? HOLY.

My stepbrother introduced me to primus way back in 2000. Changed my life man

Awesome story, seen them live many times and always a great show!

Hell of a story. Love Primus. Herb is a BEAST.

He's shockingly humble and genuine. And the creator of one of the actual greatest bands of all time. And the most interesting bass player of all time. (American Life - Live at Bass Hall 2012 is 11:32 of sheer music making like nothing else. Actual genius.)

Saw them the first time last Tuesday, it was amazing and Ler tossed me the pick after

I saw them in Fort Wayne Indiana and my jaw is still dropped they were so good and I was so happy to see actual legends

My uneducated, but music wise brilliant uncle introduced me to Primus at around 1992 or so. His description of Suck on This was something along the lines of "I've got something that'll drive your parents crazy". He got me right then and there despite the ongoing grunge frenzy. Their first three albums are all super, after that the quality varies. And the Sausage album is also great. And Les seems to be a great storyteller as well, I'd love to hear more!

I found out about primus through the little section of rolling stone magazine that was about 'alternative rock.' For someone living in a rural area before public internet, rolling stone was a great tool for finding new music

Primus held the only concert I've been to in my entire life. The venue they played at was not packed but they certainly played like it was. Thank you for the memories!

I've seen Les in 5 different bands and I've seen Primus with 3 different drummers. I sat behind Ler at a Grateful Dead show. One of the best shows I ever saw was Primus opening for Rush at the Omni in Atlanta after 3 days of the Grateful Dead. It was AMAZING!!

I've mostly moved away from the metal scene but, primus and Les in particular will always have a place in my heart.

Since his first word until the last, he is singing. Les Claypool is a masterpiece, genius. Thanks for all that he gave us, forever!!!

I used to see them in 87-88 at Berkeley Square. Possibly the greatest little shows I’ve ever seen - and Berkeley Square was a shoebox of a place.

Les, please never stop

I love all these old band stories. Peter Gabriel meets Metallica. Love it. so many amazing musicians here in Sonoma County.

Thanks for the South Park intro 🙏

Les is just the coolest! And Tim “Herb” is in my top ten of awesome drummers! I can play drums but nobody can do,what that oddball does! He’s the greatest because he’s odd! Thanks for this was wicked cool to hear the stories, I had no idea