Les Claypool

Les Claypool

Leslie “Les” Claypool is a bassist and lead singer best known for his work with the alternative rock bad called Primus. Born on September 29th, 1963, in Richmond, California ( raised in El Sobrante, California in a working class family). Claypool’s mastery of the eletc

ric bass has brought him into the spotlight with his funky, creative playing style. Though he cites bass virtuoso Geddy Lee of Rush as his greatest influence. Claypool mixed metal finger-tapping, along with Larry Graham-like slap technique to develop his own style. (Slapping- Is to strike with a flat objetc

, such as the palm of the hand)

Influenced by Rush’s Geddy Lee, Yes’ Chris Squire and Paul McCartney, Claypool took up bass at age fourteen. After developing his chops in his school jazz band, where he received at least some formal training (reading sheet music), and learned to play upright bass. Well, needless to say he sucked, but the teacher was patient with him and he learned all his scales etc

(that’s why when your listening to Les play you’ll hear some upright bass work on his albums). Les was tuned on to rock music such as Led Zeppelin, Cream and Jimi Hendrix by a fellow classmate, Kirk Hammett ( yes, Kirk Hammett from Metallica fame). Hammett asked Claypool to join a band he was in the late 80’s, but Les opted for another group in his high school. He played in the band Blind Illusion with future Primus guitarist Ler Lalonde. Blind Illusion was a legendary SF Bay Area metal band for years, going through many lineups and style changes prior to their first release. The original lineup ( formed around 1979) consisted of vocalist David Godfrey (later of Heathen), guitarist Mark Biedermann, bassist Alvin Petty, and drummer Bret Hern. By the time of The Sane Asylum, only Biedermann remained, and in fact Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde departed soon afterward to form Primus. The Sane Asylum was a thrash album--a very good one at that, highlighted by Les Claypool’s inventive bass work ( a style he would fully develop later in Primus.)

After graduation Claypool played in a local cover band called the Tommy Crank Band where he was able to develop his slap technique through listening to Stanely Clarke and Larry Graham. They played mostly blues, R&B, funk, and mainstream rock hits. He sharpened up on his improvisation skills due to the fact he played several sets a night almost every night of the week. After a short time, there wasn’t a musical style that he couldn’t pull off convincingly.

Les Claypool bought his first bass as teenager after seeing it in music shop in his home town. His first thought was that it was the ugliest bass he had ever seen! He tested it out with his bass testing song, “Roundabout”, and as it turns out, it was the most comfortable bass he had ever played. He begged his mom for some money and they bought it the next day. Les now owns six Carl Thompson basses. The fourth out of the six basses is perhaps the most infamous Carl Thompson bass he owns, it’s a six string fretless multi wood bass. It is nicknamed the “Rainbow Bass” because it has strips of walnut, curly maple, padauk, purple heart, ebony and cocobolo. (Carl Thompson is a New York City luthier who created Les’s custom basses). The basses all are hand-carved and totally custom made. He has also created basses for Stanley Clarke and Anthony Jackson.

In 1986, after the tragic death of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton, Claypool auditioned to play bass for Metallica. Unfortunately, he did not get the position because his style was considered “too funky”. So he departed and created Primate.

Primus began as Primate with Todd Huth, Jay Lane and Les Claypool, who also contributed vocals (in a strange sing/speak style, almost a kin to a narrator) in addition to bass. Huth and Lane left shortly thereafter to purse other projetc

s. Claypool then replaced them with metal guitarist Ler Lalonde and eletc

ric drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander. Primus began selling out local clubs with their out-of-control live act and irreverent approach to music ( their catchphrase was- and still is- “Primus sucks!”) . How the phrase Primus sucks came to be, started before Ler and Herb joined, fans of Primate/Primus would follow around Les and the guys saying, “you guys are great”. Les would reply, “ Nah, we suck”. It caught on and the fans started yelling “You Suck” at shows. Les would then reply, “Why Thank You”. It caught on and the rest is history.

Primus and Primate are one in the same. They started out as Primate and as far as I know the last release as Primate was in 1984. Germ’s Choice featured a single by Primus in 1988. So sometime in between 1984-1988, the