10 Primus Bass Lines that PROVE Les Claypool is an ALIEN

[@devinebass]

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[@restojon1]

Your computer-ma-bob has gone all weird again. I clicked the link and got tab for something about Thundercat Going Beast Mode 🤔

[@Ishkybibble]

Where’s muh tabs

[@leiferickson3183]

I saw Primus at - No Kidding - Shenk Hall in Milwaukee with about 6 people in the audience. They invited us all backstage after the gig to hang out and eat up the rest of the catered food. About 6 months later they blew up huge! Super nice guys.

[@MegaSean06]

Sooo jealous

[@free0the0hawk0]

That’s fuckin awesome

[@JivecattheMagnificent]

That's wild bro.

[@wackyruss]

Best Napoleon Dynamite Voice: “LUCKY!!!”

[@TheDude420.69]

They sound like good people, can't waste the expensive catered food might as well feed the audience.

[@olivermcbad1076]

He's like that goofy uncle that is secretly really good at something

[@Tracer9GTRider8]

His steampunk look along with the way he stalks and struts around the stage 😂

[@AnnaKissed36]

He's Rick from Rick and Morty

[@Tracer9GTRider8]

@@AnnaKissed36 but with the Monty Python ministry of silly walks stage antics 😂

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Right, as if there’s a complete wall dividing Freddie Mercury from Farruhk Bulsara.

[@josku5]

Just like Devin Townsend. Funny uncle who can shred

[@SeniorCharry]

My Name is Mud has one of the greatest, and most unsettling, bass lines I’ve ever heard.

[@BIGSTRINGMAN]

it was my introduction to the band

[@devinebass]

💯💯💯

[@eLiBoBBer]

in fact, if you don't have 20-30 kilowatt subwoofers, then you haven't heard this song.

[@theprezenz]

Yeah, where was it?

[@TheBonusHoles]

​@@eLiBoBBer I don't, but I have heard it played live twice, and the second time, I was right up on the barricade in front of Les and could hear it coming not just from the PA speakers but directly from his amp as well.

[@scarab944]

Les is a true original. You guys nailed it when you said that no one sounds like him, even if they're essentially playing the same thing. If the bass playing wasn't enough, the fact that he sings over all that dexterous chaos is (to me) what makes him an alien. Superb job, Scott & Ian.

[@doriangrayest]

not only sings but actually wrote most of the long, complicated and nonsensical lyrics

[@davidbarnes6410]

Tony Levin was playing these in the 60,s then got better from there. Les even said that Tony was an inspiration.

[@julianthesmooshyhusky8976]

Les can slap, sing and duck walk at the same time better than I can do any of the three at once. He is from another world for sure

[@bean9seventy]

interesting video ,,, loads of stoner bass slap ,, alien mode for sure

[@aarontaylor6638]

Don't forget the stomp!

[@InsaneDeathMachine]

Les Claypool's music was the reason i started playin' bass 20+ years ago. Legend. 👍

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@architectjeff]

Haven’t listened to Primus, but now I will. You guys are a great duo for this channel. Thank you, sirs. 🙏🏼

[@devinebass]

Cheers, and have fun checking out Primus!!

[@scosstard3542]

Please MORE Claypool on this channel!!!! Awesome content guys! Great breakdowns of the parts and your joy and excitment are so communicative, that I am willing to break my fingers trying to play those riffs :)

[@andrewpappas9311]

I first heard Primus in Rock Band 3 with Jerry Was A Race Car Driver and was absolutely blown away since I’ve never heard anything like that before, and even as a Primus fan I will never understand how he comes up with this shit (WHILE SINGING, mind you) but I absolutely love it. Les will always be one of the absolute bass GOATs and I also got into slapping because of him and Flea, so I still have them to thank for that as well

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@MrJbassrw]

Great video my fave dynamic duo. Can’t get enough Les

[@d0nk7]

The "Jerry was a race car driver" riff was a riff from King Crimsons - elephant talk and it's originally done on a chapman stick

[@SymaticStar]

true - Tony Levin ;) is a legend

[@xlfc]

When I was cca 17 I was obssesed with Primus. I learned almost every bass part there was. They are definitely not easy, but with some work one can master them. But the most insane thing to me is, that he is even able to sing while he's playing those.

[@devinebass]

💯💯💯

[@bcproduct]

One of the things I really love about him is that he is an example of what it is to be someone who just starts trying shit and does what they feel and ends up creating a style that’s copied or tried to figure out if that makes sense. To me,so many of my favorite players are those types. Plus, the singing and songwriting and creating a vibe is an even huge or part of it.🤙🏻

[@merlijnaurich1939]

30 years ago this video would have been quintessential as a (relatively) young bass-player. Now I just press the "like"button. Great stuff!!!

[@matheusbarreto4615]

His lines in The Claypool Lennon Delirium are awesome! Love the "Monolith of Phobos" album.

[@MosinAttractedPerson]

I love south of reality

[@95ZR580]

I dont play bass. Major primus fan. Totally enjoyed every second of this. I want more! Every album series😊

[@pidong]

Videos with both of you always makes me smile. Thank you for your content.

[@Sapfu100]

I'm not even a bass player and I love this channel :D

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@WEAREALLJUSTMEAT]

People don't understand how hard it is to control that strum man incredible stuff guys

[@danmorrison8194]

It’s one thing to be able to play these bass lines but the thing that gets me- and I find this with a lot of the orchestral music I play- is that these things were just bouncing around in someone’s head.

[@jway288]

No my name is mud? Fail.

[@sniperjoe58]

Go back and listen to the bass on that song and you'll know why they didn't choose it. That's more of a Ler LaLonde song.

[@gleventhal]

Fun fact, I have been a huge Primus fan since 1990 and Tommy is something I've been trying to figure out for decades. I came up with basically exactly what you guys did. Is it luck is played while he is holding a whammy bar (he has a 4 string with a whammy bar).

[@aspalovin]

I have a friend who is an incredible Bass player and when I hang at his place I play around and learn stuff but you guys are making me buy a Bass since I can have you over to my place any time to learn.. Thanx..... My guitars are gonna be mad at me.. I think I'm gonna go with a J-bass for my first.. Not a real one tho lol.. Thoughts anyone? My buddy said I may find it a bit more versatile than a P for messin around on

[@Bob-of-Zoid]

I was tech at a few shows with but not for early Primus, and it was mind blowing, and I worked for another mind blowing band (I will say no more). At the time people still smoked everywhere but most venues had No Smoking signs you could put on your dressing room in a have it your way fashion, and well there wasn't one on theirs. I walked peaked through the door with a cigarette, held it up to the first person I could see asking if it was OK, they knodded, I walked in, and someone started conversation.... Then I see Les point me out to what may have been a minion, who gallantly dashed over grabbing an ash trey off a table mid flight and lunged at me! Of course I already reached to accept it and apologized... it was all good though, and Les really is a character, and because I am too we had a good time.

[@tomtomthebear]

Golden boy is my favorite Primus groove, I’d say it’s a hidden gem but they all are 😂😂😂

[@ontiretsemagome9154]

Please make a video about the difference between slapping on 4 vs. 5 vs. 6 string bass

[@sinakaedwards2009]

Hoinfodaman needs a mention. Also, Mama Didn't Raise No Fool. Both great.

[@mynameaintelijah]

I’m not seeing any answers for what he played before a Carl Thompson but I’m pretty sure he played a Fender Precision bass

[@daleskidmore1685]

I only found Les a couple of thrre monts ago but I am hooked on him and everything he has done. A great man and musician. I still think you should check out Richard Sinclair from Caravan, etc.

[@haydenquakenbush8626]

Primus is why you don't give hillbillies acid! Also, me and my bestfriend used to trip out on that part on Lacquerhead and we would rewind it over and over endlessly! lol

[@duckyjp17]

Really great video guys. Loved it.

[@devinebass]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@baiocchiv8]

The best ARTIST in the bass world!!!! Les rules!!!!

[@och70]

That strumming technique that Les uses will tear the crap out of your hand until the skin toughens up, but man it is a fun tool to have in your toolbox.

[@sipos66]

Les Claypool is the best. I was going to suggest doing a vid on Geezer Butler, Getty Lee, or Lemmy

[@Nomad_za]

Yes Kahler is the only company that makes a whammy bar for a bass guitar. Primus is awesome!

[@Liberty4Ever]

Every famous bassist has a unique style, but I don't know any more distinct, unique and recognizable than Les Claypool. Even though it's not one of his more complex bass lines, I was hoping this collection would include Lee Van Cleef. What ever happened to Lee Van Cleef?

[@devinebass]

Didn't make the list unfortunately, great line though it is! There were quite a few lines that could have made the list on a different day!

[@MusicMaestro221]

It’s actually quite nice to see two players as accomplished as Ian and Scott listen to another player and go “THERES NO WAY”

[@devinebass]

With Les' playing there is a lot of that 😅😅😅

[@Buffalo_ill]

Videoplasty is a fantastic watch.

[@mlucho009]

Hey SBL, I think uou should check out Serú Girán, it's an Argentinian band from the late 70'. The bassist is Pedro Aznar and his bass lines are absolutely amazing, like what he does on Frecuencia Modulada. I'd realy like if you could make a video about them

[@djnone8137]

Les claypool is the buckethead of bass

[@MikeNevill3]

Southbound pacaderm. Is super hard. I'll let you figure out why

[@manobap]

With all respect for the genius Les the first one Jerry is very similar to Elephant talk"s bass line created by Tony Levin, despite of played on a stick. But it's a clear direct influence not a copy with plagiarism intensions.

[@papablue3015]

Primus great band! Different!!

[@devinebass]

🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@capesy87]

Oh man.....i'm binging the hell outta Primus after this....

[@devinebass]

👍👍👍

[@javoannikian391]

great video !

[@hil3007]

I'm just an average mortal, humbly knew Primus is out of my league. I had to click just to see you guys suffer 😂 Great video guys!

[@Tommy-fr5nm]

This is my favorite Scott & Ian video! Les may be the most creative bass player ever, with the grimiest grooves. I've never heard anyone like him. Primus Sucks! 🤘

[@telepathic9747]

Can y’all check out “Sleepless” performed by Tony Levin in King Crimson.

[@stinkmunky1]

Insta subbed for the minnesota hat

[@no_one_consequential]

Please, for the love of all that is good, get Les on the channel

[@devinebass]

We would LOVE to have Les on for an interview!!

[@harrystone8053]

love the vid, but are you guys sure John the Fisherman is strums then slaps? I think its strums into standard fingerstyle on the (e)4567, either way you killed it :))

[@MrBongobongbongo]

Don't laugh I love you- Ween, next?

[@Thezuule1]

How did Les become this guy? That's the real question.

[@redshift912]

Ten classic king crimson riffs

[@buddykaiser2380]

Have you done any Mudvayne (album LD 50)? I searched and didn't see anything. You should definitely check their bassist Ryan Martini (i think thats how you spell his last name).

[@devinebass]

Not yet, though we should really do a video on Ryan, he is an absolute beast both in Mudvayne and Soften The Glare!

[@tomasjung4460]

He played Ibanez Musician before C.T.

[@BroKEnCaPSLoCk1]

Imagine if Claypool and Zappa collaborated…

[@heztorm]

As a guitar player Primus Lover I had no option but subscribe I wan't to be a fisherman

[@Thedoug369]

I'm pretty sure Les played Jazz basses before Carl Thompsons.

[@MatChew75]

I can't believe you all didn't do anything off of tales from the punch bowl

[@bobpond6381]

Ok fine. Out of respect for you guys I’ll listen through and see what I get out of it from a bass technical standpoint even though the base music sounds like nails on a blackboard to me

[@ej1_drew]

subbed

[@Garrett12362]

Are you doing those power chords with just your pointer and pinky? I usually use pointer, ring and pinky. Maybe that's an error of my ways. Thanks

[@devinebass]

Yes!

[@eduzenmetal]

Les Fuck'n Claypool is a GOD!

[@nicholaslott3556]

Not an alien just a bad ass.

[@Guest-jp3jl]

I LIVE 5 MILES FROM THE PURPLE PACHYDERM!!!! 6:21

[@juanarocho973]

Les is another great player who has to be invited to SBL!!!!!

[@shinyrain7784]

les claypool bass tales i would cry if that happend

[@russellzauner]

Make him bring WINE. He makes WINE!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

First thing I would ask him is how many layers of coating he puts on the neck of each fretless bass model he plays. The way he rips into each of them, you would almost expect the fingerboard to peel off like skin.

[@DeadlySpecies]

​@@russellzaunercept he hasn't earned a dime in months or maybe years

[@devinebass]

We would LOVE to have Les on to do a Bass Tales episode!!

[@TheMadMedek]

Primus? Instant watch. Les was quoted saying “Suddenly, there were a lot of things I could play that I couldn't do on my Ibanez.” When referring to playing his first Carl Thompson

[@cyberdemon7612]

Les Claypool, in a Q&A, Admitted that he actually kind of stole the Carl Thompson. He played it in a store, fell in love, then went to get the $600 it was being sold for. When he got back with the money, the shop had learned how much the bass was worth and raised it to something like $1200 (80s money). Les told the salesperson that he was promised to be sold it for $600, so the salesperson split the difference and let him buy it at $800. Les only had the $600 in his account, so he wrote a check that 100% bounced. But, by the time the store would have found out, he was long gone. He also said he tried to repay them, but their store went out of business.

[@Einnor084]

All cause of him! 😊

[@elliottryan13]

That's the same QnA story he told us! Wild!

[@bokaboka4675]

In no way shape or form is the conclusion of that story that he stole it. But cool story tnx for sharing

[@Peter-ff1tp]

Ian is KILLING the Claypool stuff. That shit is hard. He 100% earned you a subscriber.

[@IanMartinAllison]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@TheChadPad]

@@IanMartinAllisonyou’re a mad lad!! Thank you so much!!

[@juanarocho973]

You know that Les is a huge fan of Geddy Lee!!! A good idea for video is reviewing Geddy’s bass work on Power Windows album!!

[@veggie928]

My favorite Rush album!

[@mlinderict]

... and Geddy is a huge fan of Les! It is so interesting that they have cross-influenced each other.

[@poindextertunes]

Geddy Lee almost produced Master Of Puppets for Metallica

[@fox_4740]

Yes!! I’m so happy that Les Claypool/Primus is finally getting the recognition he deserves!! Thank you so much guys!!

[@poindextertunes]

idk about finally but it is deserved no doubt

[@dumpywhite]

@@MongoHongosthat’s cuz *PRIMUS SUCKS!* And I’m in love with them

[@spoonysmalls]

huh? they have long been considered legendary.

[@fox_4740]

@@spoonysmalls I’m talking about from this channel

[@MaskedJackal87]

"I'm gonna send this to my enemies..." - Did you notice the 'friendly' beef Danny Sabko only recently started (just to make it to this comment section I suppose ;-) )

[@QWRTkeyboard]

I wonder if he got it

[@michaelglidden4765]

I'm always amazed by his angular lines... big leaps between notes, and the tritones. His guitar player is equally insane, similar to Frank Black of the Pixies, or Buckethead. Constantly searching for the tones that rub the most, and cause the most tension. Almost like they're playing a different song completely. "Careful with that axe Eugene"... Nobody else writes like this... it's unique.

[@JimDuggan-tq2lv]

I'm a massive fan of Ler his guitar work is absolutely insane! His weirdness is perfect for Claypools weirdness also lol

[@4unkb0y]

Frank Zappa on Larry LaLonde: "Larry is the only guy I ever met that learned all the chords so he could play outside them"

[@jaydub5515]

Southbound Pachyderm is my favorite bassline

[@4unkb0y]

& a great way to learn how to use your bass in quite unconventional ways :-)

[@killerb720]

Tales From The Punchbowl and the Brown Album are forever burned in my brain. So good

[@jakebeaudrie]

Scott's "WTF??" on "Is It Luck" was epic!!

[@devinebass]

🤣🤣🤣

[@patmeadows345]

“Golden Boy” is the absolute most fun bassline of all time. Please do a whole entire video on it. At the very least, learn it for your own enjoyment and jam sessions. Your drummer will love you for it too.

[@adammee5437]

I'm quite proud I can play these songs...even 'Is it luck'. Always bust out some Primus licks for a warm up in the studio...my mate always tells me 'It isn't a Primus tribute band' 😂

[@RyTrapp0]

Can't warm up with ANY bass line that's recognizable to not-bassists without getting shit for it😂

[@michaeldelazerda4434]

My patriarch of bass knowledge just passed(my brother), and I just wanna say this video brings so many warm thoughts to my heart... Thank you for this beautiful video...

[@Keychain-]

sorry for your loss. im relatively new in my bass journey but whenever i learn these songs i'll do it in honor of your bro!

[@michaeldelazerda4434]

@Keychain- much love to you and yours, brotha man 🤘💙💚🤘

[@joecasa85]

I will never forget that the friend who introduced me to bass, unluckily passed away 15 years ago, was a strong fan of Les Clayppol and Primus. He was obsessed with him! ♥

[@KevinOMalleyisonlysmallreally]

i respect that schott clearly doesn't like Claypool, but isn't stopping Iain from doing the vids about him.

[@doctersound9630]

Scott & Ian are the bass players I would want in the STUDIO with us! They are the real deal. Love you guys! More Primus! This is Epic as always! Stay frosty!

[@chucku00]

_You're the guys from the hamburger train, right?_

[@nebulaneka8946]

Beat me to it.

[@JawnCoffee]

Claypool is awesome but I really think lar is an incredible musician for being able to make the guitar parts. I always said a good 3piece is the way to go

[@Exera80]

As a bass player (a terrible one but still) that loves practically everything Primus and Les Claypool, it still annoys how overlooked Larry and Tim are, this is a bass channel so it's ok, but everyone seems to forget the genious of the other two. Anyways, nice video! Big love from Trondheim, Norway (where we have one of my favourite bass players of all time playing in my favourite band of all time).

[@IanMartinAllison]

This video killed me 😂

[@driftingalong30]

You crushed it 🙌🏼

[@devinebass]

🤣🤣🤣

[@FelipeAndreoliBass]

Les is great! Awesome video, guys

[@davidgriffith1552]

Les Claypool and Mark Sandman two most underrated/unknown bass players of the last thirty years. Do Morphine next! DON’T ACTUALLY DOOO MORPHINE… Didn’t work out for Sandman, obviously, or a lot of others… but his music is out of this world!

[@Kang2112]

I love Les Claypool he is an absolute monster.

[@alexanderednie1205]

Jon the Fisherman is my favorite Primus groove. James Brown fishing on Acid

[@CoachSet]

My childhood just flashed across my eyes. Les Claypool broke down all barriers of music for me. I truly appreciate how talent could be so different across all genres. What a fun time to be alive blasting Primus Sucks out my ‘81 Honda Accord 😂

[@TheBonusHoles]

Met Les Claypool. I can confirm he is, in fact, a human being...or at least has a really convincing human disguise.

[@Zfrk]

Ian: "Hey Scott, I've got more Claypool riffs to go over for the channel!" Scott: *bludgeons Ian to death with his bass and scrubs all evidence he existed from the site and channel*. "No, you don't"

[@jaredmcleish]

I actually just spoke to Les and Lar a couple weeks back in Indiana. Les said that his first Bass was an Ibanez. He chose it over the Rickenbacker that was in the same store and regretted it later LOL. He never owned his own Rickenbacker until Primus did their Rush Tribute to Kings tour and Tribute shows for Neil Peart.

[@VojtechRozsival]

That would have been my first time seeing them alive. And then they cancelled the European part of the tour. 😭

[@SlayerUvAlienGods]

I know a guy that knows a guy who also knows a guy that is an expert at this stuff

[@WilliesGarden]

I might actually resign back with you since you're finally getting my guy's on here. Les ain't the only alien. You might be behs guys, but Ler is soooo not talked about like the legendary guitarist he is.

[@Ducastef]

That's great, thanks for that video. It should be interesting to do something about his more recent stuff, as Duo de Twang

Love the passion of you guys to express how unique is Les Claypool, is like me and my friends when we had 15 years old and we discovered this sounds of freakiness. Great to see you play in the most correct way Tommy the Cat!

[@tehbald]

Would have loved to see Winona’s big brown beaver in this one but still a great watch! I’d really love to see a breakdown on Ryan Martini’s works sometime too.