LES CLAYPOOL Slow Burn Reaction The Decomposer Lounge

[@drekked6760]

One of my favorite Les Claypool quotes is when an interviewer asked him what he would be doing if he wasn't a musician. His response: "Isn't it obvious? Used car salesman".

[@SonofCletus69]

There is a fine line between genius and insanity, and Les does a jazzy little jig all over it!! He is a true artist!

[@ks5553]

There is a story that at one of their first shows a heckler shouted "you suck" when they went on stage and Les just went with it (not sure if that story is true). But for years Les would open the shows by saying "we're Primus and we suck". It caught on and it is something that the fans just say now. They even had tour T-shirts in the 90's that said Primus sucks. You should check out Les Claypools Duo De Twang doing "Winona's Big Brown Beaver" live for WNYC's soundcheck show. It's a pretty GD great acoustic take on one of their biggest hit songs. Even if you don't do a video just watch it for your own personal enjoyment lol. I promise you will dig it. Mahalo Geebz

[@therealnynetynyne360]

I can indeed confirm he has started at least 3 shows with that that I've seen. 2 live one on video.

[@marcusjones6586]

Their live album Suck on This, would be paying tribute to this phrase. I don't know what show it was recorded at, but it's the most amazing live recording I've ever heard! The snare drum has such an amazingly crisp snap it grabs me like nothing else!

[@Matthew-zu8yw]

@@therealnynetynyne360 I've been to ~8 Primus shows, first in '96. I'm pretty sure I've hear someone chant 'Primus Sucks' at each. First one threw me at first. "Why would you be here, then?" - "Oh."

[@therealnynetynyne360]

@@Matthew-zu8yw I've seen les open with were primus and we suck.

[@EiriUesugiKun]

Hey, "Stayin' Alive" is arguably one of the best things Duo de Twang has covered. And arguably the best song ever written. ;)

[@edenmurphy3387]

Oysterhead is Les Claypool, Stewart Copeland and Trey Anastasio… bad ass trio!

[@richpeltier9519]

Yes.. Buckethead 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘 Yes.. Buckethead 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘 Yes.. Buckethead 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘 C2B3 is grounded by the secret weapon, the late, great, Bernie Worrell. He was a main contributing writer in Parliament Funkadelic and it doesn't get any funkier than that. The source and wellspring. 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘

[@nicholasxridiculous]

Yes, Buckethead warrants a slow burn. Night of the slunk is my favorite

[@xxraddrummerxx]

check out The Claypool Lennon Delirium. there's some live performances where they covered "Up on the Roof" from that onion album and i really enjoy it

[@seriousbismuth2173]

Long form on _Buckethead:_ *200 albums later..* 😳

[@danholmesfilm]

Saw Les when I was 15. Never looked back

[@toddkelly5985]

A lesser known band Claypool was involved with was called Sausage. I think they may have only released one album, but the whole thing is gold. Just planting seeds 🙏🤘

[@ckvfamily]

OH, I CAN EXPLAIN PRIMUS SUCKS! It’s a very old saying from their very early days! Les used to come out onstage and say, “Hello! We’re Primus, and we suck!” then rip into some awesome bass riff, and the fans loved it, so they started chanting “Primus Sucks!!!” at shows as a sign of “appreciation” or just a very weird way of saying “we love you” haha! Les has stopped saying it like 25 years ago though…

[@jemhidiahssj4114]

Please never stop the slow burns, you’re killing it with the obscure songs mixed with the popular.

[@hampyonce]

I have the Clarke Duke albums. Killer stuff. I was into Stanley as a teen. "Rock Pebbles Sand" was my first. I stood behind Bernie Worrell, in the wings, while he and the P-Funk guys backed up the Sugar Hill Gang, at the Carowinds Paladium, in 1982ish. I supplied the band with some psychadelic supplements. The tour manager called me a couple of weeks later and thanked me for taking the show to the next level, amongst other things. Terry Hart, I think was his name. My mom was the hospitality coordinator and my sister worked with her. They came to the backstage, mid show, and discovered me being a stage dancer. It might have been the craziest day of my life. I ended up working on the stage crew two seasons later. Loved it.

[@FractilOpacity]

The bass Les is using on Boonville Stomp is a resonator bass. Pretty sure it's one of his favorites. You can see it in his Duo de Twang performances

[@deryk3017]

Is that the bass-jo? the banjo modified to work with the bass strings or the one with the metal face?

[@davidbrezinski313]

@@deryk3017 metal face

[@edenmurphy3387]

Man you have only scratched the surface!

[@jeffd824]

After 25 years, today I learned what Kenny is saying... and almost died laughing.

[@StefanMedici]

Glad I'm not alone in that discovery. Actually had to play both versions a couple of times over to confirm my ears weren't lying to me.

[@pierrehenri2297]

‘Primus sucks’ I had that patch on my jacket in the 90’s- that was their thing. Pork Soda great album as well as their back catalogue. One of the greatest rock bands for me. 🤘🏼

[@MrGmonkeywillruleyou]

Their first album is called suck on this. Then clay pool said we’re Primus and we suck. So fans loved it

[@xtldc]

There is so much great stuff to explore in the Les Claypool universe - I’m partial to Primus due to a major nostalgia factor and I also really love the live Frog Brigade album where they cover Pink Floyd’s Animals in its entirety.

[@jeremyredding9271]

Same here... just got tickets to see them play it live again on tour this year :D (with some different band members)!

[@fatsuperfly]

Les is a lover of music like us, but he is a freak of nature in a good way. Crazy to see him jamming. I started on bass n moved to guitar, but my love is bass. I still want to do what he does. Make music and love n jam.

[@KoRn_NuTT]

Yes Les is singing in all of his projects, he's actually tone deaf and that's why is voice is so unique 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙

[@todd8414]

My name is mud is my favorite song by them! Love the music and the words to the song! 😁

[@taylordutto9962]

Barely tipped your toe into the sea of cheese 🧀 So many good claypool tracks 👍

[@danholmesfilm]

Would love to see him cover that album. Sgt. Baker!

[@Meowmeow0506]

Hell yeah! Love me some Les Claypool. Still hoping for a Mastodon slow burn reaction. For another singular person slow burn you could do a Steven Wilson one with His solo work, Porcupine Tree, Blackfield, No-Man etc.

[@andeesrecordcollectionoilp2757]

thank you! i'm still here!

[@princeofpcos9804]

Goth Kids version of the South Park theme is awesome

[@DeagleLas]

I've been waiting so long for this one! Thank you for doing it! And yes, definitely, more Buckethead will be welcome! Whatever the form, long or short. Primus sucks was something Les would say in their first concerts and made the audience shout it. "We're Primus and we suck!" So it became sort of a motto amongst Primus fans, like an internal joke. "Primus sucks!", when you mean just the opposite. In Booneville Stomp he's playing a steel guitar, if I'm not wrong, stringed as a bass. But there's another musician playing a cello. He's always trying to find unusual sounds or instruments. He loves banjo! You can find him playing banjo sometimes. You should definitely check "Whamola" song live, so it can blow your mind totaly. If you like this kind of sound, you will love to know he covered "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and "Amos Moses". In fact, Les told in an interview that someone made Jerry Read listen to Primus' version of "Amos Moses", and Jerry started yelling, furious: "What?! Are you telling me this weirdos are influenced by my music whatsoever?! That can't be true!". The great thing is that he explains the anecdote laughing and totaly proud of it. And yes, anything you hear related to Les, he'll be singing. He's quite the character when singing. Have in mind that his heroes are: Stanley Clarke in bass, Robert Fripp in guitar and Tom Waits as vocalist and writter. He never talks about Zappa, but I'm sure he's also another referent of his. At least, his creativity and the world he paints and the way he paints it, it speaks volumes. But he's quite a transversal listener, as you can check for the variety of styles he likes to mix in his compositions. Purple Onion is a great album. Whamola is in that album. Oysterhead and The Big Eyeball in the Sky are quite similar works, if you wanna listen things similar to that vibe. And yes, Les is the one drawn playing in the Southpark intro. THANK YOU for this! I'm still here! Take care and recover from that nasty thing you have in your chest, man! Awwwright!

[@anotherdeadweirdo382]

Oysterhead was Les, Trey Anastasio (Phish, guitar), and Stewart Copeland (Police, drums). They were put together for some NYE show at the Saenger Theater in NOLA 2000(?) where they played mostly covers and jams. Mr Oysterhead, Little Faces, and Pseudosuicide all started in the rehearsals for that show then they put out an album like a year or two later. The record says it was produced by all three but it’s pretty clear Copeland’s fingerprints are the deepest in terms of technique. Especially by that point it’s probably one of the more complex productions Les had been a part of with Primus having only just gone on hiatus so most of the extracurricular projects you’re aware of were mostly on the drawing board if they were even an idea at the time. As far as the bass sound I think he uses something else now but at the time I believe it was an Electro-Harmonix Bass Micro Synth. The whole record is pretty solid but I’m partial to the track Polka Dot Rose. And I believe Of Fungi and Foe is when he first picked up the dobro bass so that’s probably what we’re hearing on Boonville Stomp. He plays the dobro bass exclusively with Duo De Twang. Their cover of Stayin Alive is a thing of beauty.

[@coma13794]

Excellent insight. Stayin' Alive is absolutely ridiculous. Duo De Twang is fantastic.

[@coma13794]

Echoing another person's suggestion, Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel has some very ballsy engineering. It's like the mic was placed in a different zip code on some of the tracks. "Delicate Tendrils" has a drum and bass riff that won't quit with a helluva story being told over the top (not Les' voice). "Cohibas Esplenditos" is absolutely fantastic, the syncopation and progressions are off the charts. Lastly, "Rancor" has enough dissonance to result in a spine fracture if you're not careful. I swear I thought he was just singing random notes the first time, but having heard it hundreds of times over the years, I've come to love it. Zero f*cks were given about quantizing any of it...the tempo gets clearly hosed once or twice. Pure magic.

[@pittsburghgrower]

Everything this guy does " it grabs me by the shorty hairs and drags me damn well every were".. fan for over 30yrs

[@larryhaug71]

What an awesome ride brother!! Oh yea , I’m Still Here!! Awwwright!!🤙

[@EvilSmurf76]

Yes on the BUCKETHEAD, long form. So many collaborations and variations of style

[@B-rad37]

This is a great video to see all of les’s subtlety and how great the supporting band is. Side now though love the shirt. That is a great movie!

[@jamesdfulhamfc]

This was a great 👍 watch. Enjoyed much plenty.

[@KeyOfGeebz]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Rench221]

Yes!!!! Buckethead is amazing!!!

[@t3hgir]

Primus was one of the first bands I ever got really into. Opened my eyes to so many other bands and great players.

[@aragnophy]

Especially bass plays….

[@slipknot95maggot]

I mean The Claypool Lennon Delirium, Blood and Rockets Primus is still my fav Claypool project but unless I'm crazy you haven't caught that yet so

[@hampyonce]

Being able to extract from your expertise is awesome. Your channel is top notched.

[@mattysxmusicxfiles9198]

The first group was Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains. Bernie Worrell on the keys was a legend. He was a founding member of Parliament Funkadelic. Also played with The Talking Heads

[@danholmesfilm]

You could do 10 more of these slow burns with Les and still not scratch the surface. Early PRIMUS is 🔥 Please do more of him.

[@BayouMaccabee]

Geebz, you really should check out Les on the Sausage album called "Riddles Are Abound Tonight". Check out these tracks from that album: "Riddles Are Abound Tonight" "Prelude to Fear" "Girls For Single Men" "Temporary Phase"

[@govs213]

I really enjoy the “Toyz” version of “The toys go winding down”

[@spoitras]

Yeah, I'm still here!

[@JohnSmith-fl4bj]

I'm still here. Take some rest there Mr Geebz. Get better soon

[@BayouMaccabee]

Geebz, since you asked...For the On Fungi And Foe song...I believe Les was playing his "whamola" on that song. It is basically a one-stringed, upright "bass" that he plays by striking the one string with a drumstick. He has been known to use it on a few songs here and there.

[@tjm6983]

I don't think that's what it was. If you look it up he's only credited as playing a couple other very obscure instruments (penny whistle) besides basses and vocals, on the entire album. Whamola is used in the newer, updated version of the South Park theme, though the part in it is basically taken right out of the song Whamola on Purple Onion by Les Claypools Frog Brigade. I'm not aware of any other songs of his it's been used in studio in. He would occasionally do "whamola jams" at his performances, but those have become infrequent. Except when he plays with Oysterhead, he plays it with Trey Anastasio & his "Matterhorn" guitar (with antlers attached) before they play the song "Shadow of a Man."

[@DeagleLas]

I agree with TJ M. If I have to say what it is, also taking a look to the official video, he's playing a steel guitar.

[@senseicorey9979]

This will be good. I'll watch this whole thing

[@brandongrayson456]

Les + bucket head + the brain= epic jams

[@ajdelprete]

Guitar player is Trey Anastasio from Phish. Drummer is Stewart Copeland of none other than The Police.

[@smeg4brainsukaya]

Love Primus, great to see you do a video on them.

[@conrad7858]

Interesting thing about Les with his rhythmic approach is he always says he was inspired by drummers more than bassists, and I think it shows a lot of his play style, I'd recommend looking up: Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade - Whamola They get some wild sounds on that track and I think you'd like that one. I believe a fan gave him his whamola which is basically a piece of wood with a bass string attached to a lever. Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains: The State Palace Theatre - New Orleans, LA 5/3/03 is a really good concert, the song at 1:14:00 gets pretty wild. Les Claypool featuring Matisyahu..Cant tell Errol anything is a good one too.

[@mikkokivela1205]

I’m still here! Keep it up Geebzy!

[@saragarland1270]

Someone else said it but I’m gonna say it too-check out The Lennon Claypool Delirium!! It’s Sean Lennon and Les.

[@stonedphilosopherza4915]

It’s like if the Beatles and Primus merged… Sean sounds so much like his dad and their vibe is a lot like Sgt Peppers album

[@palladinodessa8988]

There was a Primus (or Les?) song on the beavis and butthead "album" called Poetry and Prose - the guy is everywhere!!! I'm still here

[@Alnilam1973]

Bill and Ted's bogus journey was my introduction to primus and les claypool, 30 odd years later those first few primus albums still rank amongst my favourites and I've been introduced to soooooo many other great artists as a result. Coming from small town Ireland pre internet, I will always be grateful to that hilarious movie for the intro :)

[@JG-tr8ph]

15:35 - "Primus Sucks!" is a years-old joke among Primus fans. We chant it at live shows and everything, it's not an actual negative comment, rather confusingly for "outsiders", so to speak. :)

[@hutchhutchison4912]

THANK YEW GEEBZ!!!!!

[@_andy_gibb_]

I'm still here... That was a lot of fun 🤙 Oysterhead was a cool little project between three amazing musicians (not that Primus isn't that too) - I particularly like the first track, Little Faces.

[@zacharyford9182]

HOLY SHIT I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!

[@mattcranney9596]

Been waiting soooooooo long for this!!! 👏

[@GenieHolg3r]

I heard a lot of primus as a teenager, almost 20 years ago and its fun to hear more of les claypool even though I haven`t known any of his other publications. So thanks for giving me new input. You could do any demanding band out of every genre and do it right: Love metal, but also every musician with great abilities and sense for music. And you need to take a break, we will be sad but take care of yourself and recover.

[@BayouMaccabee]

Les Claypool does some great bass work on Adrian Belew's album called "Side One". Check out these tracks from that album (both of which include Danny Carey on the drums as well): "Ampersand" "Writing On the Wall"

[@chaosoul-seanleeriggs369]

Hell yes phenomenal tracks with a powerhouse trio (Danny, Les, Adrian) They are are also on a couple of tracks together again on Side Three.

[@colinburroughs9871]

I recall getting excited that someone got DC and Les together only to have my eyes opened to the Crimson universe via this record.

[@Gorgabesch]

Realize this is older now. "Primus Sucks!" is a phrase of endearment. Industrial rock group KMFDM also does this, to which has also been included in songs, if not centered around.

[@jaelaslett3991]

As far as I've understood it, Primus Sucks started from Les and the band self-deprecating during early interviews - saying "everyone says that their music rocks, that it's amazing - well we're Primus and we suck". They even introduce themselves as such in gigs - so it's a way for fans to say they're fans without fluffing the band's egos :p

[@jaysonwilson2697]

Loved that you picked up on the Hi-Hat engineering because it was for Mr. Stewart Copeland! The other Mr. Hi-Hat. Oysterhead was grand

[@coma13794]

Fungi and Foe has some sick tunes, classic Les. You Can't Tell Errol Anything and Ol' Rosco are excellent, too. I like Pretty Little Song, but it takes some gettin' used to.

[@michaelrene2551]

This channel rocks. this guy gets music and is versatile and open to new sounds I dig it.

[@mikesmelon5714]

The orchestral version of a lot of the South Park songs are going to be played in September with Primus and Ween live 2 nights at Red Rocks with Matt and Trey (South Park creators).

[@jameszimmerman9972]

He is one of the greatest guitar players from our generation for sure

[@Kevin_Fiol]

still here, and diggin it!

[@ShonnDaylee]

I'm still here! *chant* Primus Sucks! Primus Sucks! *chant*

[@schat2724]

(in echo) Primus Sucks! PRIMUS SUCKS!

[@Cukito4]

Greetings from Costa Rica! Come for the surf, stay for the peace.

[@Brahmin1887]

Primus Sucks was a chant that they would have the audience repeat back in their early days. If you go back to early Primus live like Suck on this(an album) they would encourage it and even say, 'We're Primus and we suck'. It just shows love for the band.

[@aprat]

Pseudo Suicide is the Oysterhead track that stuck with me, personally.

[@xXimf4m0usXx]

I think you should consider holding a poll on your YT/Patreon in the future to decide what tracks you do for the artist that you're doing a long format reaction for.♥️

[@xXimf4m0usXx]

Anybodys first reaction for an artist should be to their best or most impressive songs, not a bunch of their more abstract ones. I love most Primus tracks but imo a few of these tracks should have been replaced and visited towards the end of your introduction.

[@tomdewispelaere4727]

Primus... bringing back memories. Some more weird old stuff...check: Butthole surfers Ween King Missile Mr Bungle Keep up the vibes Geebz! Greetings from Spein

[@Monkeyshaman]

King missile - > Would love a breakdown of real men just to be difficult.

[@NotRKelly.]

Thank you Geebz

[@fragger6599]

My dad introduced me to Les and primus with my name is mud bc he knew my love of all things weird and different and I love how instrumentally it pulls you in so many different directions like the mind of a crazy person

[@fragger6599]

There's funk there's hard rock there's folk style singing there's punky grundgey distortion MM MM MMMM its one of my all time fav songs

[@jasongregorius96]

Hell yes every second of this vid was awesome 👏 One of my fav reactions of yours and I’ve been with ya for at least a year lol

[@KeyOfGeebz]

I appreciate that

[@dodgrblu]

I've never seen that orchestral South Park intro, that was cool haha I'm still here!

[@Alnilam1973]

Feel better dude, also thanks, great insights, as always

[@SpackleMcCrackle]

That is the very first Bucket of Bernie Brains performance at the very first Bonaroo. Claypool’s Frog Brigade and Praxis (Bucket, Bernie, Brain, and Bill Laswell) were booked but Laswell couldn’t attend. Rather than forfeit their spot, Les offered to jam with them. Everyone had played together in some configuration, except Bernie and Les and Les didn’t know any of the Praxis stuff. Brain and Bernie are tried and true session/funk jam soldiers but Buckethead definitely prefers his comfort zone. The solo you watched was the moment Les nonverbally got Bucket out of his shell and the accidental “supergroup” went on to tour and record for a couple years.

[@denis_stojkovic]

"M m m m Mud" 🤘🤪🤘 Excellent choice on Primus !!

[@brutisfletcher]

Kickass finale Geebz!

[@marcusjones6586]

Les is so out there, I love it! His projects, Les Claypool & The Flying Frog Brigade, as well as Les Claypool & The Holy Mackerel, were the first ones that comes to mind. Primus, Suck on This, is a live recording of their most popular songs, & is something that CAN NOT be missed by any fan. He uses a bass solo from The Holy Mackerel, in the middle of Tommy the Cat, that is FN beautiful! I suggest anyone to check it out. 🖤

[@twelvestepstonothing]

Great recommendations dude!

[@mikegabrielson3229]

colonel claypools bucket of Bernie brains song was at bonnaroo and that was the first time they all played together. they improvised that whole set

[@MrSlurry]

Thanks for doing this one! I got into Primus as a 16 year old in '94. There used to be a huge music festival in Aus called the Big Day Out, I was on the way to see Bjork at one of the stages and walked past Primus as they were playing DMV. Screw Bjork, I stuck around. I kept up with their stuff for maybe another 5 years and then lost interest, but the tunes you played have got me checking out Les' work again... Get well soon!

[@StefanMedici]

The whole ”Primus Suck” story goes back to when they first started and people screamed it when they were openers. By the time of their first album, which was a live album, Les had owned it, so you here him say "We're Primus and we suck”. Fans embraced it ever since to show their love.

[@jasonarmstrong4551]

The 1st "group" is Colonel Claypools Bucket of Bernie Brains. The drummer is Brain not Brian.....he played in Primus when Herb left for a bit. He's also drummed for Guns N Roses and alot lf Bucketheads solo projects. "Primus Sucks" comes from the early days. Whenever they would hit the stage Les would get on the mic and say "Hey we're Primus and we suck".....therefore...."Primus Sucks" was born.

[@chaosoul-seanleeriggs369]

Brain had also played with Primus while Tim was the active drummer (as a secondary co-drummer/friend early on in their careers as he's sited as such in early albums) plus Brain and Buckethead go way back as they were the ones who performed the Underscore to the first Mortal Kombat movie in '95... accompanied with George P. Clinton on keys! The soundtrack with all the bands was great for that movie, but that Score is phenomenal as it sounds both tribal and futuristic with all the crazy guitar work and electronics! Still listen to it over and over now and then!

[@edgeymon6290]

Honestly, the entire Oysterhead album slaps. I think you'd love any of the tracks off of it. I highly recommend The Armies On Ecstasy though *nods* Just a funky good time!

[@hampyonce]

Great suggestion.

[@heistkev]

I'm still here!

[@groverXIII]

I'm still here! Great video, and it really impresses upon me the depth and breadth of Les' discography, because there was only one Primus track AND there were a number of other Les projects that you weren't even able to touch upon. You could very easily make a video three times this length and still only cover a small portion of his career. If you ever decide to revisit him in the future, you'll have to check out something from Colonel Claypool's Bucket Of Bernie Brains (the studio version of the collaboration from the first part of this video) and maybe even something from Blind Illusion's album The Sane Asylum, a pre-Primus thrash metal release that featured Les and Primus guitarist Larry LaLonde. Great video!

[@michaelmarhal]

primus 1st album is called "suck on this" and primus sucks is a meme saying you like primus.

[@brandongrayson456]

They can't all be zingers

[@joeschmoe303]

Hey Geebz, you still gotta make your way back to Trivium, "Shogun" (the song) specifically, fits right in with the channel.

[@fragger6599]

WOW this is my first time hearing mister oysterhead mmm I love it so unique

[@chaosoul-seanleeriggs369]

Always a pleasure Geebz! Aloha still here take it easy and get some rest dear sir! Awwwright

[@Shezsheridan]

Always apperciate watching your videos, hope you start feeling better soon mucka, aloha 👍🏻👌

[@edenmurphy3387]

Made my night a whole lot better …. Wooooo!!

[@mikesmelon5714]

During "Mr Oysterhead" you are loving Trey Anastasio's Boomerang and Screamers. Definitely check out Phish. Oysterhead is a Super Group as others have mentioned. I love the Purple Onion as Les' best studio stuff but Claypool Lennon Delirium is worth checking out with Sean Lennon and Les Claypool on "Boomerang Baby" and great covers of The Beatles and Floyd live.

[@hanlonconnor]

Primus sucks! is a term of endearment from their fan base. Also Les is playing the whamola for that unusual sound, that's def worth checking out a live performance of

[@sacramento60]

Claypool had a couple of early side projects that were really good too. Holy Mackerel and Sausage are definitely worth checking out.

[@coleslaw8909]

Holy shit this channel grew fast