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Primus

American rock band

Primus is an American rock band formed in El Sobrante, California, in 1984. As of 2026, the band consists of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde, and drummer John "Hoffer" Hoffman.

Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by drummer Jay Lane, though the latter two had departed by the beginning of the band's recording career in 1989, replaced by LaLonde and Tim "Herb" Alexander respectively.

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Primus

what: a band
from: El Sobrante
since: 1984
on the air here: 0 songs
still after: 1 song

File card: Primus

members: Les Claypool, Todd Huth, Jay Lane, Larry LaLonde, Tim Alexander, Bryan Mantia

formed in: El Sobrante

labels: Caroline Records

genres: progressive rock, progressive metal, alternative rock, alternative metal

Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.

funk metalalternative rockfunk rockrockamerican

The Glitch WeeklyExtra

The early years, Suck on This and Frizzle Fry (1984–1990)

In 1984, singer and bassist Les Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth began playing together in El Sobrante, California, under the name Primate. The duo were initially accompanied by a LinnDrum drum machine as they had trouble finding a drummer, until Claypool's friend Vince "Perm" Parker returned home from a stint in the army. Claypool, Huth and Parker recorded the band's first demo tape together, financed by Claypool selling his car. Primate then changed their name to Primus after "about a month" when they were contacted by a member of the group called the Primates pretending to be a legal representative for the group threatening legal action over the similarity of their names as a joke. Parker was soon replaced by the band's second drummer,...

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The Glitch WeeklyExtra

Musical style and influences

Primus emerged from a metal background, with Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde previously having been part of the 1980s Californian thrash metal underground. Kirk Hammett, guitarist of Bay Area band Metallica, remarked in a 1991 interview that Primus are "unique, they're a square peg in a round hole". The music of Primus has been described as "thrash-funk meets Don Knotts, Jr." and "the Freak Brothers set to music". The Daily Freeman described the band's style as "a blend of funk metal and experimental rock". The A.V. Club described the band's music as "absurdist funk-rock". Primus have also been described as "prog rock" or "prog metal". AllMusic places Primus within the first wave of alternative metal bands, saying that they fused heavy...

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Legacy

Primus have been credited as an influence to the nu metal genre, being cited as an influence by such bands as Limp Bizkit, Deftones, Incubus, and Korn. Limp Bizkit's frontman Fred Durst, who produced a song on the Primus album Antipop, stated in 1999 "I fucking love Primus. Spawned by pure rhythms, Primus has and always will be the most innovative and original source of groove to influence me in this decade. If you listen you will learn." Incubus vocalist Brandon Boyd said "Primus was one of those bands that myself, José from our band, Mikey from our band, the three of us fully bonded over them. We would just crank their music in the car, outdoors."

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Bass-centric alternative rock band, with prog and funk leanings, who formed in Berkeley, California, USA during the mid-1980s. Originally named Primate. Also known as: Festus Clamrod and The El Sobrante Twangers From Discogs (free to use). Their entry