Bassist and eccentric (to put it mildly) Les Claypool is a proud representative of the ugly underground from which a great deal of the greatest music in history is created. His primary group, Primus, has abashedly constructed sounds and visions strange enough to freak people out, but also great enough to keep the band in the limelight for years at a time. If you watch South Park, you should know that the opening song was written and performed by Claypool. Now Primus is out in support of their first album together in twelve years, set for release sometime this year Get your tickets now for Primus at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh May 31st.
I remember being alone at my parents’ beach condo when I was very young and the video for “Mr. Krinkle” came on MTV and it scared the living shit out of me. A pig man playing stand up bass? At that point the novelty was more enticing than the music, which turned around quickly when I was older and braver. Sailing the Seas of Cheese and Pork Soda were the two albums which held the highest content of ripping musicianship, dark humor and style that set Claypool, drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander and guitarist Larry LeLonde apart from anything I had ever heard.
Primus, although deranged in appearance, had major success in the 1980's and 90's with hits such as "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver", "My Name is Mud" and "Wynonna's Big Brown Beaver." Also, Claypool's style as a bassist is percussive in many ways. He can slap the strings with his thumb (which, according to legend, has a spring implant) creating a sound similar to a drum roll.
You may remember Claypool teaming with Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio and Police drummer Stewart Copeland to form Oysterhead. The trio made made one record, The Grand Pecking Order, and toured ferociously, playing to the jam band crowd who hilariously tangled with Primus's hard core fans. Other projects Les Claypool formed include Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, which was made up of drummer "Brain", anonymous and frightening guitar virtuoso Bucket Head and former Parliament Funkadelic and Talking Heads keyboardist Bernie "Woo" Worrel. His touring band as a soloist - Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade toured in the early 2000's during Primus's hiatus.
Get your tickets now for their performance at Memorial Auditorium May 31st.
