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".

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

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

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

2 жыл бұрын

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

@marcusjones6586

2 жыл бұрын

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

2 жыл бұрын

@@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

2 жыл бұрын

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

@EiriUesugiKun

Жыл бұрын

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

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

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

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…

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

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 🙏🤘

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

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.

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

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

"Primus sucks" was something fans used to chant at their shows, encouraged by Claypool himself. You can find plenty of video clips of him saying something to the effect of "Hey, we're Primus and we suck." Thanks for the entertaining vids, Geebz!! :-)

@Janmba_

Жыл бұрын

They opened for Slayer a little while ago and they were all yelling “Primus Sucks!” it was so funny and it really brought energy

Saw Les when I was 15. Never looked back

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

@StefanMedici

2 жыл бұрын

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.

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.

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

2 жыл бұрын

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

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

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.

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

2 жыл бұрын

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

@davidbrezinski313

2 жыл бұрын

@@deryk3017 metal face

‘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. 🤘🏼

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.

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

@danholmesfilm

2 жыл бұрын

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

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

@aragnophy

2 жыл бұрын

Especially bass plays….

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. 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘

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).

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

Жыл бұрын

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

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.

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

Goth Kids version of the South Park theme is awesome

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

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. :)

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

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.

Man you have only scratched the surface!

By the way, I love, love Buckethead. He's released so much it's really overwhelming but, there are many jewels within the pile from him. His newest stuff is more emotional and laid back. He doesn't need to prove his abilities anymore and I like that he is stepping back and taking a breath. One my favorite tracks oddly enough has vocals on it and it's called COMA. Yes, please do an episode dedicated to Buckethead.

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

2 жыл бұрын

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

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

@stonedphilosopherza4915

2 жыл бұрын

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

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

Жыл бұрын

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

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!

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

"...so I was feelin a little hhhhaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy" ...XDDD

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.

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

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

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

2 жыл бұрын

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

2 жыл бұрын

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

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

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

2 жыл бұрын

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

2 жыл бұрын

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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

Жыл бұрын

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

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

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

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 :)

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

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.

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

Primus is for if you like a mix of prog, funk and Americana with a hint of metal lol

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

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

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

It's funny you mentioned Frank Zappa when hearing Larry Lalonde play guitar. As I recall, Lalonde was tutored by Satriani, who was tutored by Zappa... So, a little bit of trickle-down going on there.

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

2 жыл бұрын

Great recommendations dude!

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

To add to it, Les Claypool did the Robot chicken theme, I believe it's on his of whales and woe album

Oysterhead! Les Claypool, Trey Anastasio, and Stewart Copeland. No Moog, just Trey. They put on a fun show even though it's just all the songs off their one album, plus a token Phish, Primus, or Police cover.

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

2 жыл бұрын

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!

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

@schat2724

2 жыл бұрын

(in echo) Primus Sucks! PRIMUS SUCKS!

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

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

Жыл бұрын

Great suggestion.

i believe Les is playing his Resonator Acoustic Bass.

check out The Claypool Lennon Delirium. it's a psychedelic rock project with Sean Lennon. I recommend the songs Blood and Rockets or Little Fishes but any tune of theirs is a banger, that do a great Astronomy Domine cover as well

Chur! Love Primus. Their drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander is a legend - so creative! Primus suck you ask? Listen to their live album called called Suck on this.

thank you! i'm still here!

So bummed they cancelled the European leg of their tour, I'd been looking forward to it for a while.

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

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.

Yeah, I'm still here!

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.

Oyster head & the purple onion albums are mega start to finish.

Great video! Just an interesting aspect about Oysterhead, the sound you’re referring to as an early Moog is actually from a guitar that Trey had customized where it has a deer antler attached to it which is modified to work as a type of theremin.

Still here Geebz! Hello my friend, great group of songs from Les. All great picks but he has another band named Sausage ( RIddles Abound Tonight) you should check out. Kind of like Primus but super spacey/trippy, enjoy!

@stonedphilosopherza4915

2 жыл бұрын

Damn, didn’t even know about this side project- how many does Les actually have- he must even rival Maynard from tool for number of projects

If you do a block of Buckethead, you have to include his first band, the Deli Creeps. His vocalist is so rad!

That instrument in Booneville Stomp is a bass banjo

Yes!!!! Buckethead is amazing!!!

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

I’m still here! Keep it up Geebzy!

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

Dood fuck yeah thank you. I forgot about the purple onion. You are the man Dad.

Hey Geebz, to answer your question, the instrument on Boonville Stomp is Les' modified Regal RD-05 Resonator bass

You should listen to the Claypool-Lennon Delirium, his project with Sean Lennon. They've released 2 full albums, Monolith of Phobos & South of Reality. Boomerang Baby is one of my favorites by them. Also, in August they're having 2 nights of a 25th anniversary South Park concert at Red Rocks in Colorado. Primus and Ween will be playing, and Trey & Matt from South Park will be at them. I'm going to at least one of the nights for sure, already got my ticket. Might be able to get one for the other one too still, will have to see.

I copped my first blowie to Primus My Name is Mud..Primus warped my fragile little mind

Guitar player- phish front man Trey Anastasio. Also love that you called out that his riff had a bluesy sound, I always tell phish friends that all of Trey's most badass sounding riffs are blues based and that ends up being controversial.

This was awesome, man! Thanks for taking the time and effort to putting together a huge vid like this, and all of the slow burn vid's you so frequently do, they are much appreciated! Love ya, man, keep on rocking! #ImStillHere

YES, Please. long form on buckethead. insanely great player and just plain fun