Kyle Meredith with... Maynard James Keenan & Les Claypool (Tool / Primus)

Maynard James Keenan & Les Claypool on Thwarting Criminals, Performing in Costume, and Drinking Wine
For the 1000th episode of Kyle Meredith With…, Kyle sits down with two icons of rock-Primus lead man Les Claypool and Tool’s Maynard James Keenan-to talk about their ongoing collaboration and friendship, highlighted by the upcoming “Sessanta Tour.” The conversation quickly turns hilarious, with the two bantering about everything from thwarting bank robberies and wrestling bears to recalling their first meeting during the 1993 Lollapalooza. They discuss the challenges of blending their distinctive styles while playing on each other’s songs during their live shows, and adding a fishing pond behind the stage for Les during downtime. Les also teases the idea of finally finishing his long-awaited projects with Sean Lennon and Billy Strings, giving fans some hope for more boundary-pushing collaborations.
In classic Claypool and Keenan fashion, the duo keeps things unpredictable, talking candidly about the creative process, their love of stepping into character, and their dynamic stage presence. Les likens his approach to performing to Halloween-a celebration that allows him to become different personas while entertaining the audience. Maynard, for his part, opens up about his initial insecurities that led him to take on different characters during his performances, noting that doing so still serves as a buffer between himself and the audience, allowing him to focus on entertaining rather than baring all. The conversation also takes a fun detour as Les recounts a surreal acoustic jam session he had with Eric Idle, Weird Al Yankovic, and Puddles the Clown, revealing the kind of unexpected encounters that add magic to his life. The two also recount a story about an amplifier failure at Red Rocks that became an unforgettable moment for the band and audience alike.
#maynardjameskeenan #lesclaypool #primus #toolband

[@KyleMeredith]

Thank you for watching! If you liked it, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE! I’m posting three new interviews every week!

[@michaelmonthly5152]

Holy crap this is amazing😂. They are everything. Sessanta was amazing and Sessanta 2 will be also.

[@danmondrella3922]

This really is amazing. In the last year I've gotten into tool and primus simultaneously and have since become a genuine and serious fan of both bands for completely different reasons. I am in a major change in my life at the moment, the biggest in the last decade by far. Tomorrow I find out what the future will look like, the last night of uncertainty is coming to an end. But anyway, this last year, I have heavily relied tool's music to help get me through the very serious times, and have used primus to help me not take life so seriously, again, simultaneously. To see my two newest heros being interviewed together on this night of all nights has brought me to a place of calmness and relaxation that you can not imagine, from just one person who is infinitely greatful for this video and these two immensely talented artists, thank you, i really really needed this right now

[@Chris_Sherwood]

Facts. I saw that tour and Maynard the Cat was definitely a highlight.

[@clonesteak]

Les is more.

[@drphdmd7064]

Yeah, more or Les.

[@BeardGuy-vz8tn]

Les bein. 😂

[@ALLofYOU2]

Les move on

[@BillyPowell-e5e]

Les talk

[@ALLofYOU2]

@@BillyPowell-e5e Les NoT

[@SkyNetGeneral-]

Two living legends . It’s going to be an unbelievable tour next year . It’s heaven on earth.

[@stephanieleger3744]

Man what I would give to hang out with these two....the vibes came through well in this interview. Can't wait for Sessanta V.2 in Toronto! Hollywood Bowl blew my mind... ready for more.

[@nikiintampa916]

My husband I got to hang with Les about 7 years ago. We were part of a meet and greet. Les was into promoting his wine (not great) and he sat around with us. We couldn’t record or take pics but we could ask him questions. He talked about his wine making and his dinner at French Laundry in Napa. No discussion that I could recall about music. It was all about the wine.

[@thoughts_are_free]

THANK YOU all 3 ... such a great interview... love the insight and also the humor of you all... so great... well well done... stickies becomes a hole new dimension now hehe 🤘🏻❤

[@aaroncole3941]

I was at the first Sessanta show in Boston. Freaking amazing!

[@ZIG4ZAG20]

Great interview-those guys are a trip, cha-ching and subscribed.

[@MetalChic4life]

We had tornados around in Kansas at SESSANTA. Unfortunately, there was a delay and a noise ordinance curfew, so we only got about an hour and a half. That hour in a half was great. I see Primus and Puscifer every time they come around. Unfortunately, the economy will not allow for SESSANTA 2.0. I loved the Rush tribute Les.

[@13christbane]

im so glad Maynard talked about the stage setup for Tool so all the "experts" can shut up about their stupid ideas of why he does it.

[@thefluxcapacitor1]

To be fair Maynard kind of started the whole thing by feeding them random information. Lol.

[@Biggreenhat7]

He is the shadow man simply put

[@aaroncole3941]

No Angel is a masterpiece and I need more!

[@stevehurtado2921]

Absolutely hilarious. Thanks

[@JamesSharkey223]

Reminds me of 2 class clowns giving the substitute teacher a run for there money

[@notyetskeletal4809]

Just had a wicked jam while listening to this. intuitively wound it down as it was closing

[@qtfarm560]

Congrats on 1000 episodes! Love your guests to mark the occasion, Maynard the Cat and Gold Mining Les! ✨️♥️😎

[@greylizard1040]

We loved Maynard the cat.

[@cynical_rd]

It's a lot more fun to watch the performers have a lot more fun!. Sessanta has been such a wonderful concept!. I walked away after the show, so happy, feeling like I just witnessed a baby being born.. All bands together, new songs to consummate the show, exciting overlap of genre.. I really felt like we were witnessing a Lollapalooza type thing being born, with a genius twist!

[@tmfury29]

LOVED IT! Great stuff!

[@ZIG4ZAG20]

Saw them together in a proper tour w/Primus opening for Tool in Jan 2016. Was amazing double bill with a lesser known band opening for them and was my third Tool concert and fifth Primus concert-3rd time as a opener(twice for Rush in '92 and as headliners in '93 and '95. Really disappointed I didn't get to see them on the "A Farewell to Kings" Rush tribute show. Saw Tool fourth time in Jan 2024. ALL GREAT CONCERTS!

[@raechel0116]

I saw that same tour in January 2016. Saw both nights at Red Rocks in April. Going back for 2.0

[@TheNickDili]

LEGENDS!!!

[@jtlemay4878]

At bridgestone [first fear tour] maynards voice was literally hitting the ceiling Saw roger waters the wall there and said this room has terrible sound. Mind changed. Les with sean is KILLER

[@chickenman151]

Funny how Les is bass but his interview was so Trebly ...love it, great banter

[@jtlemay4878]

Singing john henry in north nashville every morning 1st period as a class THATS pork soda changed my life.

[@ChrisMiller-vc2gn]

Congrats to Les and his daughter on the wedding. Nice beard. At the VIP session in Omaha, Les said he was thinking of growing a beard in hopes of getting a grand baby. 🤞

[@Eon-Blue]

I would have loved to hear more about Maynard’s and Les’s relationship with Layne Staley. Maynard hasn’t talked about him too much but they were good friends. Next time you need to ask Maynard if he or Alice In Chains has any recordings of his 2005 performance with Alice In Chains at the earthquake charity event. There’s only a single audio recording on someone’s phone that exists on KZbin.

[@te9591]

Yes, i saw a photo of AiC with Front 242 on stage.

[@humaniodalien]

Maynard is never serious on interviews!

[@Eon-Blue]

@@humaniodalien what are you talking about? Maynard was good friends with Layne Staley. This is a known fact.

[@billyalarie929]

@@Eon-Bluethat’s not what they said. They’re not saying he was KIDDING ABOUT THAT, they’re saying he DOESNT TALK ABOUT some shit bc he places in front of it layers of humor.

[@Eon-Blue]

@@billyalarie929 I want whatever you’re smoking

[@jtlemay4878]

Passing notes between these 2

[@dax9799]

If we all carpool, there would be Les Claypool!

[@BroncoKnight34]

Two legends. Tool and Primus forever❤

[@Thedr-oj8ck]

Where you goin Banana Boy?!

[@eric20ike]

90s rock icons gravitate towards tan cowboy hats?

[@RLongmire78]

with the vertical phone cameras, obviously showing their age

[@paulauksztulewicz7381]

You guys need Robert Fripp sporting his Mohawk on stage! That would be something to write home about!

[@JoshuaTurner-v5w]

I feel the need to address this. Skittles do have several flavors... I think the proper reference would've been m&ms.🤫

[@JoshuaTurner-v5w]

Great interview, none the less.🖕

[@JoshuaTurner-v5w]

Also, I went to sessanta... definitely one of the top 147 shows I've ever seen.

[@waterboatmanfan]

Do you think theyve ever explored eachothers bodies

[@starsaza2378]

For sure

[@LeeByerly]

Haha😂

[@salvulcano91]

absolutely

[@jtlemay4878]

I get why this kid gets this interview.

[@BillyPowell-e5e]

Attn. Les Claypool, ive heard that Dec. 30, in Oakland for the Primus show fans are supposed to dress up in a costume?

[@MetalChic4life]

Carina is beautiful with a beautiful voice...

[@MetalChic4life]

Lol..Carina

[@BatmanWangChung]

The ol hijinx!

[@SkyNetGeneral-]

Hope jimmy’s arm is ok I know the guy works hard on his vineyard and his martial arts !

[@warehousejamsessions6302]

Saw maynard disguised as photographer the other day.

[@billyalarie929]

“Were you thwar’ting a crime?”

[@begoodalwaysbegood9519]

System of a Down hits different now you know. #inJesusChristsNameWePrayAmen

[@MimosaSector]

Hurt!

[@brianwalkosz9567]

IPHAR TOELOT

[@SkyNetGeneral-]

Les must be the skinny brother of Andrew Zimmern. Ha

[@MimosaSector]

Holy Cow! Zero.

[@mixhex7344]

Tool sucks! Wait, no...

[@jonborrmann3124]

Sure Looks like Les Claypool to me..

[@jolemite2639]

Who looks like Les Claypool? Maynard or the other guy in that funny hat?