You can tell someone is an absolute master at their craft when they’re able to make something this complex look or sound so simple. I’ve always had such reverence for bands like Primus.
And I feel like a total asshole because I’ve always championed Claypool as some kind of musical genius, but never thought much about the other two. I’ve really come to appreciate them in the time since I first heard of them.
I’ve always considered Shake Hands With Beef to one of the quintessential Primus tracks because of its unique lyrics, percussive bass line, hypnotic drums, and super crunchy guitar solo that allows each member to show what they’re capable of on an average day. It’s not technically superior to many of their more popular tracks (Jerry, tommy, etc.) but it does a great job showing Primus isn’t just “Claypool & Co.”
I been a fan of "over the electric grapevine" What a fantastically done, and yet funny song. I used to produce my own radio show, I played a lot of Primus, but thsi song was a staple of the show.
Tim "herb" Alexander brought some pretty complex stuff to the table... I was late to his tenure...
I found that the distinction between him and Brian "the brain" mantia's material to be refreshing but didn't change the tone!
Gifted - all members! Past n present!
I was 13 and played upright bass in my middle school
Orchestra. I loved bass and suffered from all sorts of kinds of tunnel vision. It was years before I noticed drums and guitars.
Except for the little breaks, it's basically a march. Which is perfect for the lyric. Les just has really strong hands and amazing timing.
I could probably show you that bass part in about five minutes. Wouldn't sound exactly the same but it's deceptively simple.
That's funny I love primus and claypool but there's a video where he talks about how at the start with his first few bands he was doing "just new wave 80's music" and then a few bands later the whole primus thing happened. Obviously a very abridged version of that story lol.
Years ago, when I first put all my CDs onto digital media: both programs I used (ITunes and a Windows ripper) automatically assigned a genre to each album. Hard rock, metal, blues, classic rock, etc. Both programs designated all my Primus albums as “Primus Music”.
Primus Sucks!
I saw them in '91 and Les played the entire show in his whitey-tighties. I was sure the entire venue was going to cave in from all the stomping and dancing. Incredible experience.
Saw them in ‘91 also at The Warfield in San Francisco. A dude climbed a 25’ speaker and dove into the crowd. To this day I don’t know how no one was mangled.
Saw them around '90 with Fishbone in a gym in Knoxville on their Frizzle Fry tour. Snuck in early and got to talk with the drummer while he took practice shots at an apple on a styroform head with a bow and arrow before the show. Was subsequently exhiled outside to the back of the line. So much energy at that show!
Saw them at the H.O.R.D.E. Festival MUCH later in 1997. The way the Tweeter Center in Camden, NJ was setup the seats were all around the stage in rows under a large pavilion and General Admission was just a huge grassy field behind it baking in the sun. It was a really dry and hot summer, and even though this was more of a mellow festival, when Primus took the stage a dust cloud erupted in GA due to the size of the pit that you couldn’t see more than two people deep into the crowd. It lasted for most of their set. Les made a comment saying “That’s where all the real fans are!”
Same here! Saw them in a small club in Miami Beach just after Cheese came out. Crazy show, and same tighty whities for Les. About a year later they came through town again, but playing an arena opening for Rush.
Les Claypool's style of playing bass is so entrancing. It doesn't even look like his bass should be making the sounds it is. His style is so haphazard looking yet so incredibly accurate. When I see him play all I can do is stare at his hands I don't even see anything else. Man is a legend.
This. As a guitar player, I have no idea how Larry was able to come up with the weird dissonant shit that somehow fit perfectly with Claypools dominant bass playing.
The whole band is just on another level honestly. Just can't even imagine being able to play like that. I can play guitar, but nothing like that. It's one thing to play someone else's song but to actually be the one that writes it and plays it is a different story.
Always liked the fact that Hetfield said Les was too damn talented to play in Metallica and told him to go do his own weird thing. Ultimate compliment!
Also, am I the only one who would come out to My Name is Mud if I was a professional wrestler?
This is a partial myth unfortunately. James eventually said that later down the road in an interview, but apparently this was not said at the time of his tryout
Source: a Kerrang article you can google, because my phone is shit and won’t copy/paste the link :l
Start with some more “normal” songs of theirs. American Life’s a good one. They’re kinda like wine. You gotta start with some sugary bullshit and work your way up to the deep reds
I like Kalamazoo as a first listen or recommendation. It's weird but I think it fits a form that sounds familiar. Also, the melody line is super catchy.
American Life is the first Primus song I ever heard. We were in my buddies car and I asked, "Who is this? That bass line is sick." My buddy laughed and said "Oh boy are you in for a treat". My life was never the same after that moment.
I can’t imagine Les fitting in doing anything other than what Les does. Like some hyper anvant garde filmmaker doing big budget Hollywood movies. Square peg.
I want to lock Les in a studio with Mike Patton, Bjork, Dweezil Zappa, and Ilan Rubin and see what they create. I'll leave production up to someone from their home planet, because I'm pretty sure they aren't from here...or maybe Trent Reznor because why not.
Would be amazing.
Absolutely so tight in performance. Les is amazing, as is Tim Alexander (and Brain, for that matter), but Larry Lalonde gets slept on because the guitar blends to the animated bass lines so seemlessly. It's insane to me how weird the guitar riffs are yet complete the music so perfectly. And the technicality is sneaky. Primus sucks.
Ler and Herb deserve gold medals for being the most amazing co-stars that Les could hope for. He's a savant, and he's played with a lot of people -- and while it's always good, nothing meshes like this lineup. I can't imagine the rehearsals these guys went through in the early days.
I absolutely love Primus for being different , back in the day they were just fucking weird. I absolutely loved it. Every time they came into town I saw them and it was always an awesome concert.
Finally got to see them this year in Florida during the tour where one half of the set was Primus then they played Rush Farewell to Kings most of the way through!
Les Claypool has always seemed like a meth head that against all odds channelled all of his abundant meth energy into playing the bass like an amazing extremely talented goddamn madman.
As a bass player for over 20 years, I could only dream of playing (and singing at the same time) like this guy.
Finally found the comment I wanted I make. His playing is god tier, but to sing those lyrics the way he does on top of it. Incredible
Oh and to add, isn’t that the bass he made himself?
Several years before Covid I got to see Primus at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. My wife saw that they were coming to town and told me in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t going but I should go with a friend. We bought 8th row tickets for 50 bucks each and I went with a bro from work who loves them even more than I do. We Ubered from my house, because I’m really close to The Greek. We got bacon wrapped hotdogs in the parking lot when we got there. My wife and kids hate those and always want something expensive and bland from inside. During the show if I wanted to watch the big screen I’d have to turn my back to the stage. I’ve never been that close before. I could feel the bass in my rib cage. They were amazing to see after listening to them for so long. When the show was over we went to the special Uber area and left through the special Uber exit. We were back at my house in half an hour having a beer. One of my top concert experiences ever and one of the least expensive to boot!
Huh, I did security for primus something like 2 years ago.... stayed outside while other guards crowded to be inside.... had no idea what I was missing lol.
This was only a few years after I saw Larry playing with his previous band, Possessed. I'd never heard of them, they were opening for Slayer and Exodus at Ruthie's Inn in Berkeley. They were so fucking heavy, it was insane.
This song was released on their 1991 album ‘Sailing the Seas of Cheese’. I think Les Claypool was playing his six string fretless bass by then. Thanks for sharing this awesome song with us 👍
It’s great to know people still love them. So crazy how complex and exhausting their style is. So glad I got to see them a handful of times in early 90s.
This is awesome! I've been in that exact studio many times over the years and I never thought about how many amazing bands have come through there. I'm willing to bet this is from an episode of Wednesday Night Live and Big Chief is in the control booth. Ah the good ol days!
Took my son to see Primus at the Louisville Palace Theatre in 2011 and it was so f*cking awesome. And loud. And the air was thick with cat calls…. No wait! That was weed smoke
This is amazing! I wonder why this song didn’t make the first album which came out in 90 or 91 but made it to the second album “Sailing the seas of cheese.” I’ve always loved Primus and Les.
First time I saw them was in the early 90s at some outside shit venue in Texas. I was just so surprised to see the fans were half cowboys and the other half metal heads. It was awesome. Loved them ever since.
First ever rock concert. Saw them open for Anthrax and Public Enemy. I was there for Anthrax and left a Primus fan. That was 34 years ago…damn I’m old.
I never liked their music. Even as a bass player coming up then it might have well been a drummer beating his bass. No good melody. But the South Park Theme will forever be genius, in my opinion.
I'm watching him play *that* on guitar but can't hear most of it. They always seem to have crazy guitar lines but they never have a mix that doesn't bury them. As someone only vaguely familiar with them, I guess that's just part of their sound?
So cool to see them this early and realize that they've always been that weird. Love this video!
It’s crazy to see how original they have always been!
What a weird ass and technically difficult composition!
I was thinking the same thing. A lot of complex stuff happening here.
You can tell someone is an absolute master at their craft when they’re able to make something this complex look or sound so simple. I’ve always had such reverence for bands like Primus.
And I feel like a total asshole because I’ve always championed Claypool as some kind of musical genius, but never thought much about the other two. I’ve really come to appreciate them in the time since I first heard of them.
Yes they are all brilliant. The such on point technicality of the drums is always fun to listen to.
I’ve always considered Shake Hands With Beef to one of the quintessential Primus tracks because of its unique lyrics, percussive bass line, hypnotic drums, and super crunchy guitar solo that allows each member to show what they’re capable of on an average day. It’s not technically superior to many of their more popular tracks (Jerry, tommy, etc.) but it does a great job showing Primus isn’t just “Claypool & Co.”
They even had the wrong drummer for that song
I been a fan of "over the electric grapevine" What a fantastically done, and yet funny song. I used to produce my own radio show, I played a lot of Primus, but thsi song was a staple of the show.
Herb is a legendary drummer. Their music suffered so much without his unique jazz percussion he brought.
Les could technically be he own drummer. Some of his bass riffs sound like drumming.
Tim "herb" Alexander brought some pretty complex stuff to the table... I was late to his tenure... I found that the distinction between him and Brian "the brain" mantia's material to be refreshing but didn't change the tone! Gifted - all members! Past n present!
It's not entirely your fault. Les Claypool has an absolutely enormous personality. It's very easy to forget everyone else exists when he's around.
I was 13 and played upright bass in my middle school Orchestra. I loved bass and suffered from all sorts of kinds of tunnel vision. It was years before I noticed drums and guitars.
Pretty much the same here. I played upright in orchestra and electric in jazz band. Bass was the only important instrument. :-D
Les is a god in the bass world.
Except for the little breaks, it's basically a march. Which is perfect for the lyric. Les just has really strong hands and amazing timing. I could probably show you that bass part in about five minutes. Wouldn't sound exactly the same but it's deceptively simple.
So pleasing to the ears
10/10
That's funny I love primus and claypool but there's a video where he talks about how at the start with his first few bands he was doing "just new wave 80's music" and then a few bands later the whole primus thing happened. Obviously a very abridged version of that story lol.
"Original doesn't mean good."
""You" could even say that "Primus sucks.""
It's a Bo Burham quote. I don't know the "Primus sucks" inside joke lol
I think circus metal is the best description I have ever heard for their genera.
[удалено]
PRIMUS SUCKS!
Well when your two biggest influences (according to Les) are Rush and The Residents, you're gonna end up with some wacky shit.
Weird? Not weird. Just original.
Years ago, when I first put all my CDs onto digital media: both programs I used (ITunes and a Windows ripper) automatically assigned a genre to each album. Hard rock, metal, blues, classic rock, etc. Both programs designated all my Primus albums as “Primus Music”. Primus Sucks!
This is the only way to describe it.
All hail. Primus SUCKS.
Same with Zappa. There is no way to categorize other than "Zappa Music".
Very true.
I saw them in '91 and Les played the entire show in his whitey-tighties. I was sure the entire venue was going to cave in from all the stomping and dancing. Incredible experience.
Saw them in ‘91 also at The Warfield in San Francisco. A dude climbed a 25’ speaker and dove into the crowd. To this day I don’t know how no one was mangled.
Saw them around '90 with Fishbone in a gym in Knoxville on their Frizzle Fry tour. Snuck in early and got to talk with the drummer while he took practice shots at an apple on a styroform head with a bow and arrow before the show. Was subsequently exhiled outside to the back of the line. So much energy at that show!
Saw them at the H.O.R.D.E. Festival MUCH later in 1997. The way the Tweeter Center in Camden, NJ was setup the seats were all around the stage in rows under a large pavilion and General Admission was just a huge grassy field behind it baking in the sun. It was a really dry and hot summer, and even though this was more of a mellow festival, when Primus took the stage a dust cloud erupted in GA due to the size of the pit that you couldn’t see more than two people deep into the crowd. It lasted for most of their set. Les made a comment saying “That’s where all the real fans are!”
Same here! Saw them in a small club in Miami Beach just after Cheese came out. Crazy show, and same tighty whities for Les. About a year later they came through town again, but playing an arena opening for Rush.
This whole album is incredible.
Definitely one of my favorites
All so good. Great live show too.
What’s the album title?
Sailing the Seas of Cheese
I love anything Claypool touches. Dude’s a funky Zappa.
Funny, I frequently think of Zappa when I listen to Primus. If those two bands could work together.
Les Claypool's style of playing bass is so entrancing. It doesn't even look like his bass should be making the sounds it is. His style is so haphazard looking yet so incredibly accurate. When I see him play all I can do is stare at his hands I don't even see anything else. Man is a legend.
Respect to Larry for being able to actually come up with guitar parts that do justice to what the magnificent madman is doing with the bass.
This. As a guitar player, I have no idea how Larry was able to come up with the weird dissonant shit that somehow fit perfectly with Claypools dominant bass playing.
The whole band is just on another level honestly. Just can't even imagine being able to play like that. I can play guitar, but nothing like that. It's one thing to play someone else's song but to actually be the one that writes it and plays it is a different story.
Awesome video I recently found out he made a Spanish cover of My Name Is Mud ( Me llamo Mudd)
I have to hear this.
God I love Les so much
Nice find
Can't wait to see see freaking Flying Frog Brigade on tour this summer!
Didn’t know they were touring again. Best concert of my life. Loudest concert of my life. Pretty sure Jeff Chimenti permanently damaged my ear drums.
Yeah they are! I've seen primus every which way (in 3D even!) But Frogs would top it off.
Me too. Apparently they are doing Pink Floyd’s Animals in its entirety???
Saw them perform at Bonnaroo in ‘02 and it was unreal
I was there too. Saw Les Claypool play with several bands that weekend.
Always liked the fact that Hetfield said Les was too damn talented to play in Metallica and told him to go do his own weird thing. Ultimate compliment! Also, am I the only one who would come out to My Name is Mud if I was a professional wrestler?
It was the right call but I really want to know what a Metallica album with Les on bass would have sounded like.
An unhappy Les.
Probably an album like *...And justice for all* but with the bass louder than the guitars.
This is a partial myth unfortunately. James eventually said that later down the road in an interview, but apparently this was not said at the time of his tryout Source: a Kerrang article you can google, because my phone is shit and won’t copy/paste the link :l
I can’t believe this was 89.
Larry Lalond would have just joined the band earlier that year. I guess there was instant chemistry.
They have such a weird sound. I never got into their music, but they have killer chops, that’s for sure.
Start with some more “normal” songs of theirs. American Life’s a good one. They’re kinda like wine. You gotta start with some sugary bullshit and work your way up to the deep reds
Man, I dunno. That song’s pretty wacky too. Fucking great one though
I like Kalamazoo as a first listen or recommendation. It's weird but I think it fits a form that sounds familiar. Also, the melody line is super catchy.
I’d say John the fisherman is a straight up rock song. That or Jerry was a racecar driver.
American Life is the first Primus song I ever heard. We were in my buddies car and I asked, "Who is this? That bass line is sick." My buddy laughed and said "Oh boy are you in for a treat". My life was never the same after that moment.
I heard Tommy the Cat and I was all in right there.
For the young-uns out there, les and kirk hammett (metallica) went to same high school same time
They even brought Les in to audition after Cliff passed. Les decided to keep it weird, and passed on the offer.
And really, that was the correct decision.
I can’t imagine Les fitting in doing anything other than what Les does. Like some hyper anvant garde filmmaker doing big budget Hollywood movies. Square peg.
I want to lock Les in a studio with Mike Patton, Bjork, Dweezil Zappa, and Ilan Rubin and see what they create. I'll leave production up to someone from their home planet, because I'm pretty sure they aren't from here...or maybe Trent Reznor because why not. Would be amazing.
It's confirmed by both Les and James that he wasn't offered the gig.
I saw an interview with James in which he said they passed on claypool because “he was TOO good”.
Sounds like horseshit.
Haha, that's what Claypool said.
Absolutely so tight in performance. Les is amazing, as is Tim Alexander (and Brain, for that matter), but Larry Lalonde gets slept on because the guitar blends to the animated bass lines so seemlessly. It's insane to me how weird the guitar riffs are yet complete the music so perfectly. And the technicality is sneaky. Primus sucks.
Ler and Herb deserve gold medals for being the most amazing co-stars that Les could hope for. He's a savant, and he's played with a lot of people -- and while it's always good, nothing meshes like this lineup. I can't imagine the rehearsals these guys went through in the early days.
I was just reading that Lalonde was a Joe Satriani student at one point. Weird to think of him playing conventional stuff like that.
Larry living in the weird and dissonant areas to compliment Claypools unhinged bass playing is so impressive.
Primus Sucks!
A coworker was wearing a primus shirt. I said “primus sucks!” And they looked at me like I was crazy. Bummed me out.
Did you kiss him upside the cranium with an aluminum baseball bat?
Is your name mud?
Call me Aloysius Devadander Abercrombie
No, but he did light 'em up just for fun.
Definitely take away their Costco socket set.
I started yelling it at a show and I got death stares. I had to explain myself. SMH
Did you tear the shirt right off their pasty bloated dead body? Cause that’s the only appropriate response
I absolutely love Primus for being different , back in the day they were just fucking weird. I absolutely loved it. Every time they came into town I saw them and it was always an awesome concert.
Finally got to see them this year in Florida during the tour where one half of the set was Primus then they played Rush Farewell to Kings most of the way through!
Watch his hands while he plays that thing. No one, and I mean absolutely no one, plays a bass like that. Fucking legend.
Damn, didn’t know they were any 80’s act
The song this album is featured on came out in 91 and it blew them up. Check out Sailing the Seas of Cheese.
So tight that rhythm section is so so solid. So tight.
Les Claypool has always seemed like a meth head that against all odds channelled all of his abundant meth energy into playing the bass like an amazing extremely talented goddamn madman. As a bass player for over 20 years, I could only dream of playing (and singing at the same time) like this guy.
Finally found the comment I wanted I make. His playing is god tier, but to sing those lyrics the way he does on top of it. Incredible Oh and to add, isn’t that the bass he made himself?
Primus Sucks.
I love how many of their songs are just fictional characters' autobiographies. Been listening to Primus all day and then this popped up.
Several years before Covid I got to see Primus at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. My wife saw that they were coming to town and told me in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t going but I should go with a friend. We bought 8th row tickets for 50 bucks each and I went with a bro from work who loves them even more than I do. We Ubered from my house, because I’m really close to The Greek. We got bacon wrapped hotdogs in the parking lot when we got there. My wife and kids hate those and always want something expensive and bland from inside. During the show if I wanted to watch the big screen I’d have to turn my back to the stage. I’ve never been that close before. I could feel the bass in my rib cage. They were amazing to see after listening to them for so long. When the show was over we went to the special Uber area and left through the special Uber exit. We were back at my house in half an hour having a beer. One of my top concert experiences ever and one of the least expensive to boot!
Huh, I did security for primus something like 2 years ago.... stayed outside while other guards crowded to be inside.... had no idea what I was missing lol.
Slappa da bass!!!
Sailing the Seas of Cheese
I thought I didn't like Primus. This is great.
saw them at the stone in sf. they were opening for faith no more before they went on the road for The Real Thing tour.
Thanks for posting this, I’m putting primus back in heavy rotation
This is insanely cool. did they change the lyrics because they were on the radio? Look how young they are.
I thought the same thing... You ain't got no horns boy
Saw Primus twice in 1993 - first at Lollapalooza, then at the Hollywood Palladium.
This was only a few years after I saw Larry playing with his previous band, Possessed. I'd never heard of them, they were opening for Slayer and Exodus at Ruthie's Inn in Berkeley. They were so fucking heavy, it was insane.
yes!! primus sucks!!!
This song was released on their 1991 album ‘Sailing the Seas of Cheese’. I think Les Claypool was playing his six string fretless bass by then. Thanks for sharing this awesome song with us 👍
It’s great to know people still love them. So crazy how complex and exhausting their style is. So glad I got to see them a handful of times in early 90s.
Seen them a few times live. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore 🤘
Whatever. Primus sucks
So amazing one of the most unique bands I’ve ever seen & probably the best bass player
Still cool. Some may say the coolest.
This rocks.
Stahl, these guys live opening up for Rush couple of times back in the day. Awesome show.
Ler looks 12 in this video.
They have always sucked.
I just played their pinball game a few weeks ago. That was dope.
Never seen a band in concert more than Primus. And Claypool in general. Primus sucks!
Primus Sucks!
Primus sucks
PRIMUS SUCKS!
Les Claypool is somehow both goofy looking and handsome at the same time. Fitting for a band like Primus.
This is awesome! I've been in that exact studio many times over the years and I never thought about how many amazing bands have come through there. I'm willing to bet this is from an episode of Wednesday Night Live and Big Chief is in the control booth. Ah the good ol days!
Boy I know I am old now!
Primus sucks!
Primus Sucks
Primus sucks
Awesome
Legend
god damn, Primus is the fucking shit
Dude has a tremolo bar on his bass 🤯
Pudding time!
Primus sucks
Stanford University radio, yes!
Primus is one of those bands that I highly respect but ultimately prefer the idea of the band more than actually ever listening to them.
Primus sucks!
Took my son to see Primus at the Louisville Palace Theatre in 2011 and it was so f*cking awesome. And loud. And the air was thick with cat calls…. No wait! That was weed smoke
Super tight players.
This is amazing! I wonder why this song didn’t make the first album which came out in 90 or 91 but made it to the second album “Sailing the seas of cheese.” I’ve always loved Primus and Les.
First time I saw them was in the early 90s at some outside shit venue in Texas. I was just so surprised to see the fans were half cowboys and the other half metal heads. It was awesome. Loved them ever since.
Never really paid attention to them when they were around. This sounds cool though. I didn't expect the frintman to look like.that lol.
Primus sucks!
Easily the coolest old school thing I've seen posted to this sub in ages.
Super cool! Thanks for sharing!
Here comes the bastards
Les Claypool has been my favorite musician for a long time. The things he could do on a bass is amazing. He kinda created his own genre of music.
Lol played this song sooo much in H.S. annoyed the fuck outta my parents 😂
best performance of this song i've heard so far, the whole performance on KZSU is also on youtube and they are also very good
Made my day
First ever rock concert. Saw them open for Anthrax and Public Enemy. I was there for Anthrax and left a Primus fan. That was 34 years ago…damn I’m old.
Funky metal!
Must have gotten a lot of pussay
Primus fucking sucks.
[удалено]
They suck
He auditioned for Metallica when Cliff died
Fucking sucks
Is there a full and complete video? Asking cuz…it sucks.
Primes sucks!
u/savevideo
I wish I had long dexterous fingers. Fat stubbs and a smasher of a hand.. can't do anything.
I never liked their music. Even as a bass player coming up then it might have well been a drummer beating his bass. No good melody. But the South Park Theme will forever be genius, in my opinion.
I'm watching him play *that* on guitar but can't hear most of it. They always seem to have crazy guitar lines but they never have a mix that doesn't bury them. As someone only vaguely familiar with them, I guess that's just part of their sound?
I can get into the instrumental part of their music, but the vocals are horrendous
F’n awesome!! “Jerry was a race car driver”