Les Claypool

This is a real pleasure for me as a guy who has been a fan for decades and first opening Frizzle Fry. He is the bassist of Primus and generally considered one of the best bass players in the world. So quite the introduction, Les. Thanks for doing this. How are you?

All right. Efficient. So this drummer search, it's not something that you've not had to do before. So it's covered territory with the history of Primus. But what was different about this?

All right. Efficient. So this drummer search, it's not something that you've not had to do before. So it's covered territory with the history of Primus. But what was different about this?

All right. Efficient. So this drummer search, it's not something that you've not had to do before. So it's covered territory with the history of Primus. But what was different about this?

Yeah, the tryout part of it. How many different drummers did you try out? Because I know there were kind of different stages of the tryouts, but I loved reading about the journey of this.

Yeah, the tryout part of it. How many different drummers did you try out? Because I know there were kind of different stages of the tryouts, but I loved reading about the journey of this.

Yeah, the tryout part of it. How many different drummers did you try out? Because I know there were kind of different stages of the tryouts, but I loved reading about the journey of this.

So, yeah, it felt it was just a very classic Primus thing to do where I was like, I don't know if they're going to put this on Craigslist, but it it feels like once we were over 6000 applicants, it was it was similar. But now this is for a drummer who not only knows your music, but understands the level of musicianship that you bring in the history.

So, yeah, it felt it was just a very classic Primus thing to do where I was like, I don't know if they're going to put this on Craigslist, but it it feels like once we were over 6000 applicants, it was it was similar. But now this is for a drummer who not only knows your music, but understands the level of musicianship that you bring in the history.

So, yeah, it felt it was just a very classic Primus thing to do where I was like, I don't know if they're going to put this on Craigslist, but it it feels like once we were over 6000 applicants, it was it was similar. But now this is for a drummer who not only knows your music, but understands the level of musicianship that you bring in the history.

I have to imagine those tryouts, like as much as they're just supposed to play and impress you, it had to be kind of like noticeable to you, like who's playing freely and who's trying to win the job.

I have to imagine those tryouts, like as much as they're just supposed to play and impress you, it had to be kind of like noticeable to you, like who's playing freely and who's trying to win the job.

I have to imagine those tryouts, like as much as they're just supposed to play and impress you, it had to be kind of like noticeable to you, like who's playing freely and who's trying to win the job.

Because of your playing style, and I think there's almost like a joke where the older brother gets the guitar and the younger brother gets the bass. And there's just so many bass players. It's like, you just hang out in the back. We don't want to hear from you. We don't want you having any of the stage presence or anything. And you've been the opposite of that, which I want to get into.

Because of your playing style, and I think there's almost like a joke where the older brother gets the guitar and the younger brother gets the bass. And there's just so many bass players. It's like, you just hang out in the back. We don't want to hear from you. We don't want you having any of the stage presence or anything. And you've been the opposite of that, which I want to get into.

Because of your playing style, and I think there's almost like a joke where the older brother gets the guitar and the younger brother gets the bass. And there's just so many bass players. It's like, you just hang out in the back. We don't want to hear from you. We don't want you having any of the stage presence or anything. And you've been the opposite of that, which I want to get into.

But based on how powerful your playing is, is there something that you look for in a drummer that maybe other bass players aren't looking for?

But based on how powerful your playing is, is there something that you look for in a drummer that maybe other bass players aren't looking for?

But based on how powerful your playing is, is there something that you look for in a drummer that maybe other bass players aren't looking for?

I'd love to go back to some of the beginning stuff. I was watching all these YouTube clips the last couple of days in preparation for this. I was watching your Stanford radio gig, I think in 89. Oh my God. Shirt off.