How PRIMUS conquered the world (they suck)

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

Use code PUNK50 to get 50% OFF First Box and free wellness shots for life with any active subscription at bit.ly/48fqYKv

[@TheFriskyComiskey]

Please do an video on Snot.

[@brianwnc8168]

You're wrong about other bass players not being able to match Les claypool. You got to check out Victor Wooten. I don't know who's better but I know Victor could play Les Claypool bass lines with no problem at all

[@smack_dab]

You need to check out Charles Berthoud. Best bassist by far. On KZbin.

[@Izziebell19]

Saw them live, best band ever!!!

[@Leeman69420]

Primus doesn't have a single bad album

[@ronaldQdobbs]

I was in line for the toilet at the Slayer farewell tour a few years ago just before Primus took the stage, and some drunk kid was trying to describe this band to his friend who had never heard of them, and he said "it's like metal with autism" and that is the best description of Primus I've ever heard.

[@serpenticide_555]

Polka metal haha

[@73685]

When I saw Primus the first time, some dude came up to me in the line for the bathroom with a coconut that had a carved face and a broken nose. “Norm broke his nose!” he said. I pointed him to in a random direction and said “find help!” He ran off. Best show ever. I saw the scooby doo mystery machine drive by immediately after eating my mushrooms. Kid you not.

[@ronaldQdobbs]

@73685 That's very common for a Primus concert lol. I've seen them a few times and every single one was an adventure

[@brandonvos4361]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@DJDESERT]

I was at the same show! Props!

[@bavelar8775]

"Primus sucks" going right over people's heads lol

[@dzamentmusic]

I ran into a high school friend who was wearing a Primus shirt and I said "Primus Sucks." He told me to fuck off. I thought he was joking but he actually didn't get the reference. Not gonna lie I was kinda shocked.

[@donbaker5707]

For real lmao when they opened for slayer on slayers final tour I screamed Primus sucks and some moron no nothing next to us said no they don't to which I rolled my eyes and said bruh u just don't get it😅

[@jackdubois1512]

Going over peoples heads is what primus are best at.

[@MrMCDiggles]

Primus sucks.

[@gregbors8364]

Only true Primus fans know that they really suck

[@startervisions]

their success speaks volumes to how experimental music was supported by major labels in the 1990's...they are most likely the oddest weirdest and strangest band to ever grace mainstream media

[@ramcharger154]

Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart and Brian Eno would like a word....😂😂❤❤

[@Link-ji7kx]

Yeah. It just goes to show, if you have a unique sound and a few standout characteristics - you can really go far. Even if your music (at times) sounds like the most dissonant shit you’ve ever heard 😂

[@johndutkiewicz9401]

how do i keep seeing you everywhere?

[@startervisions]

@@johndutkiewicz9401 because we're everywhere

[@MatthewGill-nv4tb]

​@@ramcharger154 just saw Frank discussing that. You beat me to it

[@Halberstramshaberdashery]

Frizzle Fry is such an incredible album. As a drummer, I remember being blown away by Herb’s playing and how perfect it fit with what Les and Larry were doing.

[@brutesquadbbq2268]

I was 13 when Frizzle Fry came out and Tim’s playing absolutely blew my mind. I’d never heard drumming like that before and I’ve been hooked ever since.

[@OleksiiTheAngry]

It wasn't an album, it was a pure masterpiece ❤

[@drummerdaddy7743]

As another drummer, I 100% agree. I was 14 and hadn't heard double bass drum used in such a manner before. Way different than how metal guys like Lars played his double bass...

[@danielhenderson3753]

It was incredible, but to date I view it as their most 'normal' album. Their song structures and their sincerity were on par with any band's sincere early effort. And the production, to me, sounded like any other 3 piece would have sounded. With Sailing, they just left normal completely behind. Unfortunately I thought the mix left a lot to be desired. Pork Soda was the first where the mix engineers finally figured out how to capture their sound with the full subby bass, crisp drums and biting guitars. I still love listening to Frizzle Fry from time to time but honestly Tales From the Punchbowl has come to be my favorite from them.

[@mastervader218]

@@drummerdaddy7743 Exactly! def. an inspiration fro me as well.

[@marlonisaac1]

Larry is totally underrated as a guitarist and deserves way more recognition for his playing. Such a humble dude too.

[@metalrap9567]

primus sucks

[@ClaytonMacleod]

Guitar players know.

[@kehmisst]

unfortunately that happens when someone is just crazy at their instrument in their band, like mitch mitchell gets nowhere near as much praise as he should

[@ClaytonMacleod]

@@kehmisst He does from drummers. Same thing. The general public doesn’t know anything anyway, so who cares? This is actually a very common thing, where musician X is an animal and all musicians know it, but for some reason gets called underrated. Nobody should care what the laymen think because they don’t know what they’re talking about anyway. You see the opposite all the time, too. Truly mediocre musicians being called virtuosos by laymen. It doesn’t matter. Those that know, know. Anyone that’s taken a year of their life to become competent with the basics of any instrument knows what it takes to be awesome at that instrument, and they recognize all the so-called underrated musicians that are actually superb at their instruments. The general masses might not know, but peers all know the cream of the crop in that peer group without question. Just like somebody who doesn’t know anything about cars is going to see an R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R and think it’s just some random run of the mill passenger car, but cars guys all know it for the sports car beast that it is, despite its relatively generic looks. It doesn’t really look all that different from econoboxes of the era. But car guys know. Guitarists know. Bassists know. Drummers know. And so on.

[@bojcio]

@@ClaytonMacleod it does matter though. Mediocre and sub par artists potentially make a good life based on false perceptions, while brilliant artists barely eke out a living and constantly scrape the bottom through no fault of their own really. And a lot of it is based on "lay people's perception". It does matter!

[@possiblylame]

“Jerry was a race car driver” was on the Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack 🔥

[@thomasgoude8800]

Yes! Primus reminds me of THPS and Pat Duffy’s plan B part. Love their unique style and crazy aesthetic

[@juvedoo99]

@@thomasgoude8800Yo Pat Duffy. Deep cut Iykyk

[@cha0ss0ldier-4]

It was on the ATV Off-road Fury soundtrack as well

[@monomcr]

And "American Life" as well.

[@r.b.rozier9692]

This is news to me🙄

[@chadcarrdrums]

Larry is one of the most underappreciated guitarists ever. He's a total bad ass often overshadowed by Les and Herb.

[@Louie_Chihuaha]

Larry is the founding guitarist of the band Possessed aswell! Which are known for inventing death metal with their 1985 album Seven churches, which literally has a song on it called Death Metal 🤘🤘🤘

[@A.B.Normal]

Absolutely!!!!

[@LinkToTheJax]

@@Louie_Chihuahafr?

[@sybentley6675]

agreed

[@ricksmoove123]

It’s funny to see guitarists hack on him - as them to play anything he did, and they won’t be able to. Crazy good player.

[@B2stealther08]

Primus is such an enigma to me. So much talent and skill just to make the most goofy music ever recorded.

[@Pahhu]

That's what makes them so rad.

[@robswystun2766]

Frank Zappa once said that he used comedy to draw in people who would otherwise be put off by intricate and complex music, so maybe that has something to do with it?

[@HansyPants184]

Can't tell you how many of my friends thought the humor was hilarious as teenagers and stayed lifelong fans after growing up realizing how much skill goes into their music palatable even for normies. Either way it's better than Dave Matthews Band. Every single member of that band have enough skill to make something interesting and they waste it all on making album after album of TJ Maxx core. Great mixes on their albums though!

[@bradyshannon8452]

Glad Metallica turned him down;" LES CLAYPOOL Recalls His METALLICA Audition: 'I Didn't Fit And They Saw That' " . His playing style is too unique to bottle up in another band. I've never seen anyone else play like him, I'm sure there are some who do, but his style unique to me.

[@ProudhonKropotkin]

Ever listen to Ween?

[@SevenGC89]

The best description of Primus I have ever heard was "Three incredibly talented musicians all playing different songs at the same time while a hobo talks in your ear". LMFAO!

[@My_trashtalking_account]

How every Primus song is written----- Step 1- Introduce self: I'm/my name is/they call me/I'm known as, etc Step 2 - State some facts about yourself, your hobbies/peculiarities: I like to..., I..., my job is.., etc. Step 3 - make sure to leave audience both confused, but impressed. That's it. You've done it.

[@tonytoofast]

Video to Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver is unhinged in the best way.

[@robertjohn8726]

Fun fact about the performance in that video: They mimed playing along to the song at half speed, and then sped the tape up in post production. That’s why they move around so jangly. The making of the video is floating around somewhere, I had it on a DVD. It’s really amusing watching them bop around in those costumes at half the BPM.

[@SuperStrik9]

@@robertjohn8726 Yep the making of the video is on KZbin. There's also a behind the scenes part 1 video that's 2 hours. Not sure about part 2.

[@robertjohn8726]

@@SuperStrik9 oh no shit! I haven’t seen the dvd since like 2003 so I’m not sure if we’re talking about the same feature, but now I gotta look into that.

[@SuperStrik9]

@@robertjohn8726 I just searched primus making of wynona on KZbin and those vids came up among others. 9 minute the making of wynona's big brown beaver vid and a 2 hour wynona's big brown beaver - behind the scenes part 1 vid. Glad I could help 👍

[@SuperStrik9]

I should add Tales From The Punchbowl is my favorite Primus album so I'm all about Wynona's beaver 🦫😜

[@pekerhed101]

Les was one of the only mainstream musicians to give shoutouts to "The Residents" in their music and liner notes. So he gains some extra points there.

[@bassplayer2011ify]

Now if you want an encore you might hear is it luck. But me I’d rather play Residents cause I don't give a…

[@lewisb85]

well devo and ween as well!

[@sebp400]

Ralph Records rocked. Snakefinger, Renaldo and the loaf(that sucked)

[@HotStrange]

The Residents fucking rule. Finn should make a video on them.

[@pekerhed101]

@@HotStrange That'd be great, but honestly The Residents is gonna be too "weird" for Finn. I mean, Finn thinks Mr. Bungle is weird. No way Finn would have the tolerance to do a deep dive on the history and catalog of The Residents. But maybe I'm wrong.

[@thomasgoude8800]

Blew my mind when I found out Les did robot chicken’s iconic song intro as well

[@Kodeb8]

Holy shit, I did NOT know that!

[@oneidawolf776]

same with south park for me lmao i didnt know that till I was an adult.

[@AugustBurnsRed181]

Wait what?

[@andrewn5922]

Check out the anime Tri-Gun. Guess who wrote and performed the closing credits song....

[@Kodeb8]

@@andrewn5922 Turns out, that's another guy called Les Claypool III, that by some coincidence also works in music.

[@joonaspalin848]

I started listening Primus when I was 12-13 years old.I’m turning 45 now,and their cool weirdness and musical brilliance still amazes me…!

[@joeldukes303]

@@joonaspalin848 you stole my comment

[@treesmantrees]

Im 50, we had the best music.

[@wombatburrito5896]

Same

[@KowProdMedia]

Can't believe you failed to mention Jerry Was a Race Car Driver being featured in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater cause that definitely gave them another giant push for sure. Some of us had already been jamming that track well before that came out, but after THPS they were definitely gaining some more mainstream traction for sure. There's definitely an entire subset of ppl that found Primus because of that game.

[@Chilimane]

Yup. THPS got me into them as a little kid lol

[@JoshuaPerkins-r8b]

A lot of us didn’t play those shitter games.

[@poindextertunes]

I saw them with Buckethead. What a combo 🔥

[@IHaveTheSchwartz]

And in turn, Primus had Buckethead as an opener and it blew my mind.

[@themarkedman72]

Ive seen the footage, looked like a brain melting combo

[@ianh6845]

Me too! Ozzfest '99. I was already a fan of Primus, but it was my introduction to Buckethead, who blew my mind. What a great show that was. \,,/

[@poindextertunes]

@@themarkedman72 He had an elastic band for a guitar strap and would stretch his arms and guitar down as far as he possibly could at different times during his solos. Brain melting indeed hahaha

[@marmarbinx3458]

Dude, that must have been wild.

[@TRAWLPortlandME]

One lasting legacy I think could be added is how influential Les was and is to bassists. I literally picked up the instrument because of how rad he made playing bass look and sound. I’m sure I’m not alone.

[@zimriel]

An earlier generation might point to Peter Hook. Joy Division became bass-fronted in their last year, which New Order ran with. In those days Sumner and Hook could work with that. Those were good days.

[@MrLemons11]

I’ve been playin bass for 4 years now and he was the biggest influence on my basses sound.

[@davidtyndall3786]

Preach on. Jesus ❤️ you !

[@simonf9856]

Own a 5 string now, journey started with learning how to slap my name is mud super slow lol

[@ideitbawxproductions1880]

That man is the sole reason I wanted a 6-string bass... I have 2 now 😊

[@DavidRFIT]

Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver video is downright awesome. Everybody loved it back in the day.

[@tubensalat1453]

Still love it today. :)

[@robertblackburn752]

Totally agree it’s a masterpiece!

[@bradyshannon8452]

Yeeeee he, he, he, he heeeeeeeeeee!

[@Torgo1969]

I play that on the jukebox at the bowling alley all the time FTW.

[@ernestnatiello]

I love Wynona's Big Brown Beaver.

[@joaomatheus6222]

7:46 "He played a fretless 6-string bass with a whammy bar" * shows him playing a fretted 4-string bass without a whammy bar *

[@Perculian]

They did have footage of it, but it was from the nineties so it was probably from like an iPhone 3.

[@Weneedaplague]

@@Perculianitd have to be an actual video camera. Just bit crushed to tv then to vhs

[@johnbutler2780]

@@Perculian iPhone 3 😂 iPhone came out in like 2008 or some shit. 05 maybe idk. Not nineties tho.

[@bellamango6708]

Primus honestly sounds like they were inspired by Devo in some parts, with how outlandish the lyric material is, how funky they can get, and how artistic their videos were

[@wormskull2454]

Frizzle Fry & Seas of Cheese are both fucking great.

[@francisbaxter4663]

And when they get played out, pork soda and tales from the punch bowl are great, and when they get played out, antipop, green naughahyde and the brown album are fucking great. 3 different eras, first 2 albums written by Todd huth and jay lane, second 2 the primus we all love, and the last few, primus minus herb.

[@Thrillhouse84]

A comment like this defies the laws of tradition...

[@applebutter4036]

​@@francisbaxter4663 I turn to Pork Soda quite often. Sounds incredible cranked up.

[@francisbaxter4663]

@@applebutter4036 I saw flying frog brigade twice last summer, recently I’ve been digging into the side projects myself.

[@pandanarkystudios5198]

It's all great dude From Frizzle fry to Conspiranoia

[@michaelregan6489]

Primus has heavy lore in the skateboard world as well , Pat Duffys legendary part in Plan B questionable 1992 he skates to tommy the cat.

[@juvedoo99]

100%

[@snuff411]

And DMV in Virtual Reality 👌

[@mmdetoro]

Yes Sir... Operation Ivy also comes to mind

[@lcdchase]

Pretty sure Over the Falls is on Volcom's Freedom Wig too

[@BillRandy-r9i]

My last friend had that VHS tape back when he was semi pro skater rip Jack Scott he has a page on YT it dvs344 or something like can't remember the numbers

[@TranzparentMethods]

For those that are old enough to remember, Winamp, the media player had a genre called "Primus". It really whoops the Llama's ass. Keep it up Finn, you are opening new eyes to the craziness of 90's "alternative" music, back when it really WAS the alternative.

[@BobbySacamano]

Holy shit, great pull! I actually downloaded a reproduction of Winamp a year or so ago, and decided to look for skins for fun and totally messed it up. I forgot about the Primus one!!!

[@Quiltfish]

Nothing to do with Winamp, you're thinking of ID3 Tags which were introduced a couple of years before Winamp stepped on the stage . And it's kinda bullshit, you know, they're telling me that Primus is so wild and wacky (And they are, a bit) that you can't possibly classify them with the 255 genre tags they've provided but whatever the hell The Residents is doing is a-ok? I mad.

[@capoman1]

Along those lines. Justin Frankel created Winamp as a kid, sold it to AOL for something like $40mil and signed a contract he wouldn't create a competing piece of software... Frankel later created and still develops the recording DAW called Reaper.

[@bukkaratsuppa6414]

You kiddin? I'm still using Winamp.

[@TranzparentMethods]

@@bukkaratsuppa6414 Fair enough. I used it not too long ago.

[@1nePercentJuice]

Primus is like nothing else. The musicianship of every single member is incredibly high.

[@robmccann689]

Sausage was actually recorded with Todd Huth on guitar and Jay Lane on drums. That's why when they got together for an album and tour, they called themselves Sausage.

[@Kodeb8]

You've done a video on the Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Mr Bungle, and Primus, now you need to do a video on Ween to complete the popular alt music saga.

[@mistersudz102]

I’ve been waiting for him to discuss the W

[@guyfartingT]

Ur on to sumthin here

[@troycassidy6177]

The Golden Eel is a banger

[@Kodeb8]

@@troycassidy6177 That whole album is, and so is most of their discography.

[@DavidSmith-lo7wm]

After ween follow up with phish

[@kevinsagendorph4998]

I got introduced to Primus in high school in the early 2000s. One of the things I appreciate about them looking back on it now was how they got me to appreciate a song’s aesthetic as an artistic statement in itself instead of just focusing on words and notes and chords. It actually made jazz, particularly of the free-form/avant garde genre, make a lot more sense to me in the following years. Great stuff. Great video as usual Finn!

[@meowtherainbowx4163]

Their most recent release, the Conspiranoid EP, is remarkably fresh. The main track is 11 minutes long and humorously topical for a post-COVID time, though "Follow the Fool" is my personal favorite. Les even throws in some new effects on his bass. They still got it.

[@Magnanimous17]

I like Green Naugahyde too🤢

[@korndogz69]

First time I'd heard anything from Primus was in 1990 when I heard them live at a club in Houston. They were playing on the 3 story club's roof. I was front and center and about 4 feet from the stage. I play guitar, bass, and drums myself, so I was freaking amazed watching what Les was doing. They were playing mostly Frizzle Fry material, but also some yet-to-be-released songs including Damned Blue Collar Tweakers, and Tommy the Cat. It was a great show.

[@danielhenderson3753]

Professor Nutbutter's House of Treats is one of the best snapshots of what this band can do. I can't get that album loud enough.

[@BroadwayJoe99]

I remember watching Primus when they opened for Rush. While my seats were complete shit - actually behind the stage - I could clearly see Geddy and Alex watching Primus play from behind the curtain, in what could only be described as awe. And one of the first articles I ever read about Primus was in one of the hair-metal mags of the day - pretty sure it was Hit Parader - and one of their regular columnists was Randy Coven (RIP), who wrote a monthly column on how to play bass. Randy Coven was a really, really good bassist - people routinely described him as a "virtuoso" and "shred legend" - but when he wrote about Les Claypool, the article led with this: "How the hell does he play like this and sing at the same time?" FUN FACT: Tim Alexander made some kickass ciders, though his cidery, Bellingham, WA based Herb's Cider, was in all likelihood a casualty of COVID.

[@booyrnes]

Wow! I totally remember that article. I remember him saying that playing like that and singing at the same time bordered on genius.

[@brandocalrissian3294]

​@@booyrnesit's insane levels on body control.

[@Torgo1969]

What Rush tour was that?

[@stephleobisson]

And some of the side projects the two groups did together were awesome. Victor (1996) w Alex comes to mind and there was one with Neil

[@themarkedman72]

Great rush story...made me smile

[@thomasgoude8800]

I love primus so much. They are all insane at their instruments and have a unique twisted sound that reminds me of classic skate culture and goofiness. Their strangeness always allured me. Mad respect to Finn for making videos even about bands he personally doesn’t like

[@elikerr785]

Same here, I go back to my skating days every time I hear them! Fucking love them

[@malkasianmuses]

The 90’s was the most diverse and interesting era of mainstream music next to the late 60s! All that attention and energy behind artists and “quirk” was inspiring!

[@microchrist6122]

That’s the 20 year cycle effect. In the 80s the 50s was huge in the 90s the 70s were celebrated, in the 2000s the 80s came back (think metalcore) during covid nu-metal and jnco jeans and chokers were back… it never ends

[@Torgo1969]

IMHO the 90s had too much "quirk". Originality is not enough.

[@Norsilca]

The 80s had some phenomenal stuff, even in the mainstream

[@ghostandbell2006]

Thank you to the exec who put Jerry was a race car driver on t.v. I'll never forget where i was standing. Put me on the on right track/direction

[@ickystrashcan....anothersm9749]

Saw primus starting in 1990..,for about 3 years ..they blew everyone they played with away....many never have heard them. It was great ...big named bands red hot chilis ..fishbone ..rage agaibst machine ...public enemy ..antgrax ..soundgarden ...megadeth ..ice cube ..kings x ...x...Ramones .... Amazing to see...propss to fishbone and redhots as they seemed to take primus on tour or play a lot of gigs together in Los Angeles..orange county ..

[@slipspectrum9253]

If you’re young, into any kind of hard music, altered on any kinds of substances, you are going to move, probably violently, whenever you hear their grooves, period. I’m in my 40’s now, and stared watching this video comfortably on my bed, now I’m upside down on the floor in the living room, and I have no idea how I got here.

[@spamsandwich6854]

As a 17 year old in the modern day and age i concur

[@felixjones9198]

My man, I completely understand.

[@bnine6669]

@@spamsandwich6854 if you ever have any opportunity to catch a concert with them being the headliners, don’t hesitate. Just saw them recently and I still can’t believe how absolutely amazing they were live, it was more than just a concert, it’s a whole damn experience, there wasn’t really a starting point or ending for any of the songs, they just emerged to take you on a journey. I was blasted off 4x geltabs and told my wife that it wasn’t fair for primus to have the stage lights so damn trippy while also blending the songs together seamlessly. It was like having some bizarre acid trip if your sober, or the best psychedelic experience ever on shrooms

[@jackypapp6785]

lol 😂nice man 👍🏽

[@UnwrittenSpade]

Shake Hands With Beef from the Brown Album is unironically one of the best songs ever!

[@ricothepoolboy1758]

That whole album is severely underrated. The Return of Sathington Willoughby, Kalamazoo, Fisticuffs, Puddin Taine, Bob's Party Time, Arnie, there are many bangers on it. Doesn't get the respect it deserves, but I can understand why people dislike it. It's not as technical as their other stuff.

[@realidadoficcion]

es espectacular ese tema y todo el disco

[@johannesandersson9477]

It’s all right

[@SuperStrik9]

@@ricothepoolboy1758 Brown Album is in my top 3 Primus albums along with Sailing The Seas Of Cheese and Tales From The Punchbowl. Love that album. I know when it was released it was the first album with Brain on drums so maybe that's another reason why some don't like it as much. 🤷‍♂

[@justinelliott4127]

@@ricothepoolboy1758 I'm gonna have to go with Punchbowl on that one. I remember Brown was recorded analog etc. Both great. Haven't listed in a while so you may be right.

[@CreepyKat86]

I’ll be seeing Primus for the first time this year in April. I’ve seen a ton of concerts but never managed to see them.

[@poindextertunes]

they are one of the best live bands of all time 🔥 Enjoy the show!

[@chrismcgovern6514]

Sit near the soundboard. First time I saw them was fantastic. Next time I was too far away at the back of a balcony and couldn't hear the subtlety in Les's playing. It sounded like Korn, which is fine, but not what you see Primus for.

[@CreepyKat86]

@@chrismcgovern6514 It doesn't really matter too much where I sit, I'm partially deaf so it's all about being able to feel it.

[@gravitymike]

I've seen Primus many times - but the most memorable was when they played with Public Enemy, in Oakland, on the night of the Oakland hills fire! Insane!!!

[@richardwelsh2051]

Yes! Omni, with Young Black Teenagers as well.

[@dez1989]

The Desaturating Seven sounds just like Rush during the A Farewell to Kings album. Including Les and his Rickenbacker 4001 going through an Ashley preamp. Damn!

[@andyharman3022]

And Primus has played A Farewell To Kings in its entirety on a recent tour. I already liked Primus, but that raised my opinion of them even more.

[@dez1989]

Exactly! They nailed it! All 3 are monster musicians!

[@florianfrank6699]

Their Woodstock '94 gig is still one of my most favorite live concert ever.

[@GREYBLOOD_G59]

@@florianfrank6699 PRIMUS SUCKS.

[@mikebaltierra]

First time I saw Primus was in 1989 when they opened for Testament and Annihilator at the Omni in Oakland, CA At the beginning of this video, the song Puddin' Time is labeled as John the Fisherman - FYI And the first time I had heard Byran (Brian's) drumming was with a band called the Limbomaniacs - they were AWESOME. Got to see them open for Primus at the Warfield in San Francisco

[@Flockem666]

Primus had one of the best pits at the 2011 Soundwave in Australia! Up against Slayer, A7X, BMTH & Iron Maiden and many more, hands down Primus & QOTSA were the best pits with the best energy

[@Familia_17]

In slayer's last show at the forum... all the slaytanics were so pissed at Primus! Lol it was amazing 😂

[@underscoreisnotvalid]

Haha yes dude, I was at Melbourne soundwave 2011 and I would wholeheartedly agree with you there. Such a fun pit, I'll never forget it

[@klubstompers]

Lollapalooza 93 at the Gorge in George. $12 Primus Alice In Chains Tool Rage Against The Machine Fishbone Front 242 Dinosaur Jr. Arrested Development Mercury Rev Thurston Moore Sebadoh Luscious Jackson Babes in Toyland Unrest

[@Flockem666]

@@klubstompers Now that! Would have been a show 🤘

[@klubstompers]

@@Flockem666 Yea, the Fishbone pit was by far the craziest there, during their song "swim", and when they decided to throw a saxophone into the pit. But an even more insane pit than that was Pantera at the Paramount in Seattle, in Nov. 92 for their Vulgar Display of Power tour. Entire stage and floor was a pit, with people jumpin off the 25' upper deck into the pit. Had to push people away from Dime bag so he could play. Someone was in the pit with a knife slashing people. Anselmo stopped the show and said "if you find him bring him to me". 30 minutes later The guy was brought on stage, then Anselmo kicked him into the pit, where everyone made hamburger out of him. 30 minutes after that there were paramedics in the pit with a stretcher trying to find him on the floor.

[@JacobSnover]

MonoNeon is probably closest to Les nowadays, but I agree that his sound is his own and forever changed me when I was growing up

[@mojodank]

Primus is legendry. One of a kind band with unique, raw talent and creativity.

[@marksoberay2318]

Les has incredible stage presence and charisma, he was truly born to do what he does

[@novarity6561]

I saw Primus twice during their recent "A tribute to kings" tour where they played their own material, and then played A Farewell to Kings album by Rush. Both shows were absolutely excellent through and through. they play so tight and well together. Also both shows had a different set list of their stuff so it kept it fresh!

[@primusbolt]

I saw the Tribute to Kings show as well, it was awesome. Better yet, I saw Primus for the first (and second) time when they opened for Rush in 1992!

[@jasonjohnson4028]

Do you like the stuff they played from Pink Floyd?

[@WeGachaMetal]

Primus = Originality and a whole lotta talent.

[@scottovegtable]

Solid vid bro. I love primus. Grew up on south park and got into them and never stopped

[@johnvoneichhorn7955]

Fun trip down memory lane here. The Sausage Demo was with Todd Huth and Jay Lane though. Todd left to play a more steady gig with The Freaky Executives and that's when the Suck on This line up with Tim and Larry came about.

[@the78wildcat]

I'll never forget watching "Wynonna's Big Brown Beaver" in the middle of the night on MTV. Good ol' highschool days. It's been a while but i think the show was or is called Insomnia Theater.

[@toothgrinder2760]

My first Primus album was Frizzle Fry that I bought in 1991 at 11 years old, so I had been a fan of theirs for years when Wynonna’s Big Brown Beaver dropped in ‘95. Needless to say I wasn’t particularly pleased when I showed up to school after that song blew up, and a bunch of posers were rocking Primus T-Shirts. I told a lot of people that day that _Primus sucks_ and got a ton of backlash for it. LMAO, little did they know what that actually meant, and soon enough when the next pop-culture song hit they all moved onto that.

[@Trackdayroadtrip]

I saw them in ‘96 in Vegas when they opened for the band Living Color - They opened the set with a song by Rush called “YYZ” - being a drummer myself they won me over with that!

[@TimmyTickle]

Primus opened for Living Colour in '96? I thought it would have been the other way around at that point

[@maxwellbrand]

They also jammed with Phish while they were there.

[@alistairogilvy7696]

Oh ffs..even non-drummers gotta respect anyone that can cover YYZ..

[@ScottMosier12345]

I do not know after Tales, but Tales from the Punchbowl was recorded in Les's house. In a good financial move, he took the studio money for recording the album and built a studio where he could reuse it and still pocket some profits.

[@NoukSilver]

Yeah, they recorded everything at 'Rancho Relaxo' from then on.

[@armhunter]

Seen them live a few years ago. They are amazing, I was blown away. Also got to meet Tim Alexander backstage. Super nice guy.

[@NickelbackSavedRocknRoll]

Will be seeing them in May in Daytona then July in Missoula! I love how Les always makes sure to always come to Missoula. Never miss em when they do!

[@richpeltier9519]

Back in the 80's I went to local band showcase at The Stone in San Francisco. A guy I worked with was in a band and they'd worked their way up to their first headline show. Potential Threat rode the line between metal and punk in a way that few bands could, they just went back on tour recently as well. But after the first band played, I ran into Mike in the crowd. He warned me not to miss the next band, but even though he repeated it a few times, I couldn't make it out over the crowd noise. A little while later, three guys came on stage. One was carrying one of the most beautiful instruments I've ever seen, a custom bass. He looked at the audience and said simply, in an odd voice "Hello, we're Primus and we suck" and they began playing. The sound was amazing and I was literally leaning against the stage with a small crowd behind me. Les was standing right in front of me playing and i was so overwhelmed by the overall output of these 3 guys that it took me almost a full minute to realize they were playing Floyd. In The Flesh, off The Wall to be precise. 3 guys, playing Pink Floyd and not just covering it, but absolutely destroying it. I picked up a copy of Suck on This at the next show and the rest is history,. 🤟🧙‍♂🤟 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast

[@purdyboi807]

Sweet! I saw the Bullet Boys @ The Stone in the early '90's...that place was it back in the day for sure.

[@RoxanneBarbelo]

Their EP "Miscellaneous Debris" is one of my favorite albums from the 90s. And the album Sausage "Riddles Are Abound Tonight" released in 1994 is amazing

[@ricothepoolboy1758]

Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People is another severely slept on EP by them.

[@RoxanneBarbelo]

@@ricothepoolboy1758 I was surprised that album wasn't mentioned in the video because that was an important album. "Rhinoplasty" was really good too. They did a great cover of Metallica on that and I love how they had DJ Disk on "Silly Putty". Their EP albums are all really good.

[@michaelegan3522]

Miscellaneous Debris is all cover songs. Rhinoplasty is mostly cover songs, except for 3 tracks: they rerecorded their own song Too Many Puppies and included two live recordings of songs from past Primus albums.

[@lorhoff]

A genius band that I love without a trace of irony. Completely unique, impossible to label, no one else like them.

[@spankyjeffro5320]

Jam Band. Primus are a Jam Band. Very easy to label them, wtf.

[@lorhoff]

@@spankyjeffro5320 if you say so spanky

[@Adidas_Crocs]

The antipop is actually my favorite album by Primus, and for me it’s surprising to learn that Les Claypool hated it.

[@คัดชลน้อยนิล]

Having an icon like Finch associated with 4ra makes every event feel premium and top notch

[@lightfeather9953]

I recommend their live performances on KZbin like woodstock. Their fun energy and crowd makes it significantly better than their studio releases to me

[@jeffreyhanc1711]

Their MTV Spring break performance too (‘91? ‘92?) is also epic. And I remember reading That Les was tripping on acid the whole time. (And yes he plays brilliantly)

[@TerryBollea1]

Why is EVERYONE talking about Primus now??? Did someone die??!!??

[@GREYBLOOD_G59]

@@TerryBollea1 Nah but Primus sucks

[@TerryBollea1]

@RigtheousPerpetrator late!!! Awesome to know that I can still hook a gen zer with 8 month old bait!!

[@TerryBollea1]

@RigtheousPerpetrator thanks for biting on it!!

[@TerryBollea1]

@RigtheousPerpetrator did it smell like roses??

[@TerryBollea1]

@RigtheousPerpetrator why did you bite it so hard?????

[@lejoskonejo7632]

of course i start getting into primus and then this comes out. I never gave primus the time of day because of jerry and my name is mud. Im just now discovering how good they are at almost 40. experimental funk jazz metal or whatever it is its awesome

[@lejoskonejo7632]

frizzle fry is good!

[@tonykramer949]

Love how Les never plays a bass solo, always doing there own thing.

[@ClaraR.Blanco]

4ra with Finch as ambassador is just next level always ensures the best vibe at events

[@iamslav6158]

Quick note, if my memory serves correct from Les’s auto biography, suck on this was actually Tim and Larry’s first couple performances

[@listenatwork99]

Legend says Les Claypool auditioned for Metallica but was rejected because he was way too good.

[@paulanthony1689]

That was a direct quote from James, and was said in jest. But obviously it was because his playing didn't fit with the band

[@newusernamehere4772]

​@@paulanthony1689no, its because he IS too good to play in Metallica and would have upstaged everyone else in the band effortlessly. Nothing stopping Les from playing in Metallica's "style" and he absolutely knew that or else he wouldnt have auditioned (Claypools not really one for wasting his time). Its just Les had a lot more faith in his metal brothers than they deserved and didnt consider the fact that they couldnt and wouldnt ever be good enough to play in a band with him

[@raddastronaut]

Primus is amazing. I love the South Park outro. Ler’s Locrian run is brilliant. Also, I feel Primus became more like the frog brigade and the claypool Lennon delirium on Desaturating seven. It’s a masterpiece. Moving to more like Pink Floyd and yeah king crimson. It’s amazing. Les and Tom waits are my favorite.

[@JustinTheMan369]

Winona's Big Brown Beaver is one of the best songs from my childhood. Absolutely hilarious. "I recognize that smell, that beaver eats taco bell." 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Dangerzone334ArchiveOfficial]

One of the songs that made me a fan

[@AvidCat5000]

Les is a bass god.

[@spddiesel]

I started college in fall of '91, right as "Jerry was a Race Car Driver" started getting big on MTV. I'd grown up a metalhead, but was also a huge Prince fan and in high school got into Suicidal and RHCP, so Primus was the logical next step into musical weirdness. Primus was also who got me to try Zappa again, because I just didn't get him when I was a kid. Still don't most of the time, but I can appreciate his music much better now lol.

[@DrProfessorMD]

Top 3 favorite band. Awesome to see you do a video on them.

[@johnriggio1405]

I have seen them numerous times and have never been disappointed. Les also also has plenty of side projects that are great.

[@LegoDork]

The bass is a severely underestimated instrument.

[@codingtranquility]

I find them in the same camp as Frank Zappa or Ween, they're nowhere near my favourite, but I really appreciate their music and am glad they exist.

[@timmyden]

I was scouring the comments for a mention of WEEN! I was hoping they'd get a mention, and I'd love to see a WEEN video on this channel.

[@codingtranquility]

@@timmyden fuck yeah definitely

[@smelltheglove2038]

Ween for sure, and also, Phish. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the Oysterhead side project with Trey and Stewart Copeland. It’s really good.

[@Werdisbond]

When I describe Primus to people I simply say, “it’s the most impressive, childish music you’ll ever hear.” 😂

[@joeldukes303]

@@Werdisbond perfect, I’m stealing that. Thank you

[@PhiloBedo]

@3:35 states that Primus' lineup finally solidifies with Herb and Lar and they go onto record the Sausage demo @3:51 shows picture of said demo that shows that the lineup was actually Jay Lane and Todd Huth. #WhoopsieDoodles

[@darkgoku200]

Also says the demo came out in 1998😂

[@benweaver9151]

9:58 “The legendary critic Roger Christgau”

[@wombatburrito5896]

I’m in my 40’s and my buddies dad introduced me to primus. He’s in his late 60’s He always listened to bad ass music. He introduced me to a bunch of awesome bands.

[@Sashimiburger]

Headbanger's Ball, way to make me feel old, man.

[@gregellis3859]

As was mentioned by others, I also saw Primus for the first time when they opened for RUSH on the Roll the Bones Tour in 91. They were great. They were so different than anything else and a breath of fresh air for me. I still listen to them to this day.

[@MrVincentoliver]

When talking about how Primus sound, your first reference should be King Crimson - Discipline era

[@sepalot100]

Hey, Finnerty! Forgot about "Too many Puppies"? Legendary. ;)

[@InhaleJD]

Love how Les said that south park would never go commercial with their show even though you know.. no one thought primus would go to the top 10 charts 😂

[@evanfiend]

exactly what i thought. how could les not see himself in that show, especially at that time?

[@JoelTheKven]

I WATCHED THAT SPRING BREAK PERFORMANCE! It made me want to be a musician, which I never got far with, but led to a lot of fun times.

[@microchrist6122]

All the stoners and pill heads who skipped class but came to Art n Lunch got me into these guys

[@joshmclaughlin2488]

😂😂😂 you win the comments. That's exactly who listened to primus when I went to high school too lmfao

[@pinkribbonskies5731]

Best music, ever. We are fucking blessed that Les is still touring.

[@xXMachineGunPhillyXx]

Well they have less than 1 million monthly followers on Spotify.. so I’d say they basically conquered Montana.

[@MichaelBrown-ff3go]

Montana resident/musician/pirate here. We gave Les and Buckethead both equal dictatorship of our state full of methed out pregnant mountain lions and attack otters( yeah, that's right. We got a navy...) Unfortunately they have yet to remember this and we are left to suffer our fate at the hands of the federal government 🤷 Come back dudes! We need you! Lol 😁🤘🏴‍☠️

[@xXMachineGunPhillyXx]

@@MichaelBrown-ff3go Montana has a *navy?* I’m impressed and kinda terrified for my freedom!

[@MichaelBrown-ff3go]

@@xXMachineGunPhillyXx don't be too worried there. Some angry otters and 309 fly fisherman in driftboats isn't much of a threat 😅

[@xXMachineGunPhillyXx]

@@MichaelBrown-ff3go why does that sound like a Primus lyric

[@MichaelBrown-ff3go]

@MachineGunPhilly (ahem) crystalline methamphetamine Lol I mean, if we are seeking a common denominator, it'd be that... plus weed and mushrooms mixed with a whiff of 2-stroke motor oil 😁😉🤘

[@sbultitude-paull303]

It wasn't just the fact Les could play outlandish basslines; he sang in a completely different rhythm while playing them. Insane.

[@voodoolife]

I was BLESSED to see them in Sacramento at The Lite Rail Inn. I remember being completely jaw dropped at what I was seeing/hearing. It was AMAZING!

[@The-Sea-Dragon-1977]

"Primus sucks" "yeah!" "No, really dude, they really fucking suck." "Yeah"

[@lestersmiley1781]

Here’s a fun game to play, every time he says that they do something amazing “somehow” ask yourself what you’re learning

[@jonnybarnard8578]

Last primus show i went to i was close enough to the stage that Les could hear me screaming John the Fisherman for the encore, and they played it. He knew it would make my night, which jus goes to show how cool of a dude he is.

[@donkeypuncher81]

They were going to play it regardless, do you actually believe they played it for you 😂

[@messaroundhandleit]

They were huge in the 90s. I remember always seeing videos on mtv and listening to them on the radio.

[@umyum1895]

Id say les claypools base is one of my favorites just because of how precussive and forwards it is. It almost keeps the rhythm just as much as the drums do and I can't help but feel he plays it like it's a banjo it's like u just cant ignore it's funky beat

[@biggiefitz6275]

Les is a serious fisherman

[@sk8rjoel567]

One of my favorite bands off all time! A friend of mine described primus perfectly one day, "they're like tool but for hillbillies"

[@Scoots1994]

Primus were a band from my home town and my best friend at the time had a tryout with them as a drummer. They liked him but he was a devout christian and didn't think he'd fit in the band. Not long after they started showing up on MTV. It was strange and fun. The Bay Area has always had some strange music ... Jello Biafra and Buckethead are not down the middle normal :) I always loved that Primus took their advance from the major label and built Rancho Relaxo, their own home recording studio that they still use.

[@paulalverson7211]

They are a top 3 concert experience for me. It was just pure fun the entire time during their set.

[@Anonymous47373]

primus is so fun and unique, thats why i like them