Search Results - Primus (band)

The diversity of their sound has allowed Primus to gain a modest segment of fans from many different rock sub-genres. They are characterized by their irreverent approach to music. Primus release their records on Claypool's Prawn Song Records label, a parody of Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label.

Primus began as Primate in El Sobrante, California during the mid-1980s with singer and bassist Les Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth. Claypool rounded out the band with a drum machine which they named Perm Parker.^[5] The band would go through many drummers throughout their early history, eventually settling on Jay Lane. When another band called "Primate" threatened legal action, the group decided to change their name.^{[citation needed]} They settled on the name "Primus." The word is Latin, meaning "chief" or "first".

After rising to local music scene stardom with their brand of funk metal fusion, Huth and Lane left in 1989 to pursue other projects. Claypool then recruited former Blind Illusion bandmate and one time Joe Satriani student Larry "Ler" LaLonde, and eclectic drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander. Claypool and LaLonde recorded and toured with the early thrash band Blind Illusion. Larry LaLonde was previously a member of the seminal Death/Thrash Metal band Possessed. Primus received praise from Testament's Alex Skolnick very early into their career.^[6] Tim Alexander is originally from Jerome, Arizona and was the drummer in Major Lingo.