Primus’ Les Claypool Wasn’t Interested in a Band Reunion

Legendary bass guitar-driven band Primus are known for charismatic, quirky frontman Les Claypool and his stellar fretless bass attack. So, when the band reunited to spit out their first full-length in 11 years this fall, the dizzying ‘Green Naugahyde,’ many low-end fans rejoiced and counted down the days until the Sept. 13 release. But, surprisingly, it took a while for Claypool to warm up to the idea of getting Primus back together at all.

“To be honest with you, I wasn't really that interested in doing it,” Claypool told the Colorado Springs Independent of the reunion. “I like turning over new rocks, and it didn't feel like it was a new rock.”

The clincher was the notion of drummer Jay Lane getting back with Claypool. “ … We got together and played, and we were getting along really great. It felt good. It felt right,” he said. “We did the tour and then we said, 'OK, let's do the real thing here. Let's make an album and make a good run of it.' So, here we are.”

Claypool is glad he made the move to rekindle one of the wackiest art-rock groups alive. “I like being challenged, and that's what we're dong with Primus right now” he said. “And Jay Lane is really good at shooting from the hip, so we do go off into sort of strange territory every night, and that to me is very enjoyable. I mean, it's great to play the old tunes and play them the way they should be played, but you also have to have that little bit of stepping off into new territory, that element of dancing on the edge, so to speak.”

Read Loudwire’s review of ‘Green Naugahyde,’ which bundles dizzying bass guitar and drum grooves, here.