Les Claypool

Introduction

Les Claypool was born September 29, 1963 in Richmond, California, U.S. and is best known for being the bassist for the band Primus. Les Claypool is also the main singer in the band Primus. Claypool combines finger-tapping, flamenco-like strumming, and slap techniques to create a funky style of playing.

Biography

Early Years Claypool was born September 29, 1963 in Richmond, California, U.S. but he was raised in El Sobrante, California. His parents divorced when he was young. He listened to players such as Stanley Clarke and Larry Graham in which he developed his slap technique. In 1986 Claypool auditioned to play for Metallica after the death of their bassist Cliff Burton, but did not get the position.

Primus

The band primus began in the mid-1980s, and began selling out local clubs with their out of control live act. From 1989 to 2000, Primus steadily became one of the most bizarre bands to gain significant mainstream airplay.Primus even make an appearance at Woodstock '94 where they performed their Pork Soda hit My Name is Mud and were pelted with mud. In 1997, they were asked to play, and record, the theme song for the animated television show South Park. Also in 1999 he let Activision use the song "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" on the hit video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Claypool has let the video game Guitar Hero 2 use the Primus song, "John the Fisherman," one of two songs in the game using the actual recording instead of a cover.

C2B3

Also in 2002 Claypool collaborated with virtuoso guitarist Buckethead, Parliament-Funkadelic, keyboardist Bernie Worrell and former Primus drummer Brain(Brian Mantia) under the name Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains(C2B3). The band began an 18 state tour in 2004 with multi-instrumentalist guest Gabby La La.

Personal Life

Les Claypool lives in Sonoma County, California with his wife Chaney Claypool and his two kids. He records most of his music at his home. He is famous for his wacky sense of humor and overall very eccentric personality. Claypool is an avid fisherman and even appeared as a special guest on a 2004 taping of Fly Fishing the World filmed in Idaho.

Discography

1988 Blind Illusion - The Sane Asylum 1988 Primus - Sausage (demo) 1988 Primus - Sucking Songs (demo) 1989 Nov Primus - Suck on this 1990 Feb Primus - Frizzle fry 1991 May Primus - Sailing on the Seas of Cheese 1992 Mar Primus - Miscellaneous debris 1993 Apr Primus - Pork Soda 1994 Apr Sausage - Riddles Are Abound Tonight 1995 May Primus - Tales from the Punchbowl 1996 Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel - Highball with the Devil 1997 Jul Primus - Brown Album 1998 Aug Primus - Rhinoplasty 1999 Apr Buckethead - Monsters & Robots 1999 Oct Primus - Antipop 2001 Apr Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade - Live Frogs Set 1 2001 Jul Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade - Live Frogs Set 2 2001 Oct Oysterhead - The Grand Pecking Order 2002 Sep The Les Claypool Frog Brigade - Purple Onion 2003 Oct Primus - Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People 2004 Sep Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains - Big Eyeball In The Sky 2006 Jun Les Claypool - Of Whales And Woe 2006 Oct Primus - They All Can't Be Zingers