Primus

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Primus is a rock band formed in California in the mid-1980s by two ex-members of thrash metal band Blind Illusion, Les Claypool and Larry Lalonde. Les (vocals and bass guitar) has been the only constant member. They have had two guitar players (although Larry has held onto the role for the past 20 years) and many different drummers (although Tim Alexander and Bryan Mantia were the only ones who recorded with the band, and Jay Lane was the only other one who had creative impact) in the past.

Their music has proven difficult to define; while usually considered by critics to be funk-metal or alternative metal, Primus has been called everything from “thrash funk” (as the band blends funk-style bass technique with thrash influenced guitar riffs and songs tempos), to “alternative rock” to “the Freak Brothers set to music.” Les Claypool himself once described their music as “psychedelic polka.” Thanks to the diversity of their sound they have been able to gain fans from nearly all rock subgenres. Primus is the only band to have their own ID3 genre tag in Winamp. They are characterized by their irreverent approach to music — they release their records on Claypool’s Prawn Song Records label, a parody of Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song, and their catchphrase was, for several years, “Primus Sucks!”. In 2003 the band dropped that catchphrase, as well as Tim Alexander’s nickname “Herb”.

Early Days (1984–1991)

Tagged as:

alternative, rock, alternative rock, funk metal, funk
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Sailing the Seas of Cheese
Primus
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Pork Soda
Primus
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Frizzle Fry
Primus
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Tales From the Punchbowl
Primus
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Top Tracks

1	Jerry Was a Race Car Driver full track	1,350
2	Tommy the Cat full track	1,074
3	My Name Is Mud full track	1,055
4	John the Fisherman full track	1,007
5	Too Many Puppies full track	756
6	Wynona's Big Brown Beaver full track	712
7	Here Come the Bastards full track	612
8	American Life full track	541
9	DMV full track	532
10	Sgt. Baker full track	499
11	Mr. Krinkle full track	485
12	Seas of Cheese full track	481
13	To Defy the Laws of Tradition full track	453
14	Electric Uncle Sam full track	449
15	Welcome to This World full track	436

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niandra_lades wrote:
3 hours ago

going to see les claypool live did he also play some primus songs when he toured solo?

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HareMettleAdlib wrote:
Friday evening

Primus sucks.

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panda_williams wrote:
last week

man i was a little kid in the 90's i was born in 1992!! my name is mud was the scarry'est song i've ever ever heard! cause of the ending feed-back! THAT SHE FUCKING HAUNTED ME!! it gives me the chills still today! primus sucks(';

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timahall wrote:
last week

I still like to say "Primus sucks" cos it reminds me of the good old days. Sue me.

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LucifericLumber wrote:
last week

DJBastine - there's a story Les tells on BIOTF dvd. They were rehearsing once and Les felt kinda shitty in the stomach area. Tim used to wear some kind of outfits with pockets in front, and pockets full of various stuff, so he used to reach in tha pocket and take out the needed thing for the moment or whatever. That time he suddenly just reached in and took out some herby stuff to feed Les with - and it helped aboot the pain. So Tim became "Herb".

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BANDITOATTACK wrote:
15 days ago

sʞɔns snɯıɹd

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DeadDeserted wrote:
15 days ago

Primus are pretty alright

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smallpoxchamp36 wrote:
16 days ago

Why do brides wear virgin white? Frizzle Fry owned the first 3 years of my adolescence.

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DJBastine wrote:
18 days ago

It's quite obvious why they dropped primus sucks, but why isn't Tim Alexander called Herb anymore? And why was that his nickname anyway? btw i'd say the Brown Album! but all albums are good

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Chemo_Therapy wrote:
21 days ago

I'd say Pork Soda.

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Rogar wrote:
24 days ago

Frizzle Fry, for sure. Easily their best album.

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cjkisaragi wrote:
24 days ago

I'd like some help please, where's the best place to start with Primus/Claypool etc? Leave me a shout please, much appreciated and that.

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dos_bocas wrote:
last month

douchebags suck

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Exterus wrote:
last month

Les Claypool is incredibly sick of that "Primus sucks" thing these days. I can't blame him. It becomes markedly less funny when every douchebag who's seen the My Name is Mud video on MTV starts blurting it out at every opportunity.

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j0s2m21 wrote:
last month

Primus Sucks. lulz @ those who dont understand

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gonnhead wrote:
last month

I go through these comments and all i see are the "Primus sucks" comments which is old, and I see the people that are taking them seriously and saying how much the people that say Primus sucks suck. amirite?

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Foix-Jinn wrote:
last month

Por qué toca tan bien este loco de Les Claypool!!!!!!!! :D

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Skiye wrote:
last month

a band so great, so unique, they have earned their own genre....Primus. Les for Pres

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drthatguy wrote:
last month

Primus sucks

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JotainOutoa wrote:
last month

C'mon.. "Primus sucks" is already old. They have dropped it and moved on.. Apparently you people are still retarded.

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