Les Claypool and his band of misfits Primus are set to emerge from the studio with their first album in 12 years. Claypool confirmed the new album is in the final stages in a letter on the band’s site, “The Primus record is nearly done. Every song is pretty much a variation of ‘Don’t Fear The Reaper’ by Blue Oyster Cult. Everyone should buy two copies.”
The official release date is not yet set in stone, but the band is set to hit the road for much of the year.
Claypool also talked about a new song that the band has played at shows late last year, called “Salmon Man.” "For those of you that enjoyed the new song, 'Last Salmon Man,' that we played New Year's, you'll love the record because every song basically sounds exactly the same as that one. In fact, we just kept recording the same song over and over and I would just change a few of the lyrics around. I hear that's the way Pink Floyd used to do it and those guys are no slouches."
Here’s a live snippet of the new song:
Primus 2011 Tour Dates:
02/26 – Brisbane, AU @ Soundwave Festival
02/27 – Sydney, AU @ Soundwave Festival
02/28 – Sydney, AU @ Enmore Theatre
03/03 – Melbourne, AU @ Palais Theatre
03/04 – Melbourne, AU @ Soundwave Festival
03/05 – Adelaide, AU @ Soundwave Festival
03/07 – Perth, AU @ Soundwave Festival
05/21 – Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Music Festival
06/18 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
06/22 – Paris, FR @ La Cigale
06/24 – Vitoria, ES @ Azkena Rock Festival
06/27 – Rome, IT @ Pala Atlantico
06/29 – Vienna, AT @ Arena
07/05 – Berlin, DE @ Columbia Club
07/09 – Kongsberg, NO @ Kongsberg Jazz Festival
Eternally odd trio Primus are returning this year with another reunion tour and an album that will be recorded later this year with a 2011 release date. Bassist and leader Les Claypool and his two band mates, guitarist Larry “Ler” LeLonde, and drummer Jay Lane, will hit the road this summer. It was announced in a particularly heady location online, The Dead’s Phil Lesh’s personal message board, where he mentioned that Lane was leaving the band Further to rejoin Primus for a tour. And thus the Primus cheese-heads lost their minds…
LeLonde had been recently killing time playing for System of a Down vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Serj Tankian. Of course, not to be outdone, ex-Primus drummer Tim Armstrong has been touring with Tool’s Maynard Keenan’s new project Puscifer. So many people helping people in music nowadays.
Anyways, the band will do a short tour this summer, and then will be heading into the studio after the tour to record their first full-length album since 1999. Openers for the tour are Gogol Bordello for most dates, though Wolfmother is expected to open the Vegas show.
One thing is for sure; this summer just became a lot more awesome with Primus on the road. Here come the bastards… Here they come…
The dates for this jaunt are:
07/27 – Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy
07/29 – Essex Jct., VT @ Midway Lawn at Champlain Valley Expo
07/30 – Brooklyn, NY @ Williamsburg Waterfront
07/31 – Bridgeport, CT @ Gathering of the Vibes Festival
08/01 – Charlotesville, VA @ Charlottesville Pavilion
08/03 – Cleveland, OH @ Time Warner Cable Ampitheater
08/05 – Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion
08/06 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
08/07 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
08/09 – Council Bluffs, IA @ Stir Cove at Harrah’s
08/10 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
08/12 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks
08/13 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Rail
08/14 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint (An Evening with Primus – Special midnight show)
08/15 – Santa Barbara, CA @ County Bowl
09/18 – Tempe, AZ @ Arizona Fall Frenzy