Les Claypool

As the founder of Primus and a self-proclaimed workaholic, Claypool has been the busiest of the Primus musicians in establishing side bands and releasing albums in different band settings. While Claypool had been prolific even during his Primus days, using their time off to record and tour with both Sausage and the Holy Mackerel, since the breakup of Primus and his acceptance as the leader of legitimate and interesting jam bands, the number and extent of his side projects has proliferated.

To promote all of his side projects, since Primus has been on hiatus Les has opened his own website: (www.lesclaypool.com). It includes an excellent interview titled "One of those Peniuses", in which Les covers his time with Primus, his desire to form the Frog Brigade, and reflections on the music scene and on his fans. It also contains some interesting live info, including Les' set lists from the 2001 Sno Core tour, complete with doodles and pictures.

A late 80s Bay Area death metal band in which both Lalonde and Claypool played. The band's leader and vocalist was also their main songwriter, so the music bears little resemblance to Primus. Lalonde mostly played 80s metal rhythm guitar and had little chance to show his distinctive style, while Les was buried under the twin guitar attack (although the occasional bass solo would showcase his already aggressive, busy style).

This band is somewhat of an anomaly in the sense that it is the only example of a Claypool project in which he is not the de facto leader and impresario (even in the power trio Oysterhead, Les was the band's public voice). However, the band does deserve historical mention since it was the first live format in which Les and Ler played together, albeit in a musical style quite different from that of Primus. In fact, when Todd Huth was looking to leave Primus in 1988, Claypool asked Lalonde to join largely because they had a common working relationship and friendship from their Blind Illusion gigs.

This Claypool side project reunited him with two earlier Primus mates, Jay Lane and Todd Huth (although Brain played some of the live shows). The trio recorded the Riddles Are Abound Tonight album, which was released in early 1994 on Claypool's own Prawn Song label. The material consisted largely of Primus material circa 1988, the songs that had been dropped from Primus setlists when the band lineup had changed to Lalonde and Alexander. Claypool has mentioned in interviews that Sausage was his first major chance to give Todd Huth the opportunity to enjoy some of the artistic and commercial success that had eluded him when he left Primus to start a family.

The trio toured twice - in the spring of 1994 as the headlining act with MIRV and several other small time Bay Area bands, and in the summer of 1994 on a triple bill with Helmet and Rollins Band. Tapes indicate a 60 min set on the spring tour, and a 40-45 min set on the triple bill. Since the material was a little less orchestrated and more laid-back than the Primus stuff, a lot of the songs had brief theme and variation jams and a loose quality. The Frog Brigade played longer, tighter, and overall more interesting versions of many of these same songs in 2000 and winter 2001; as did the Fancy Band in 2005 with Jay Lane.

Prelude To Fear - Similar to the studio version. Officially released on the 5 Gallons of Diesel DVD.
Riddles Are Abound Tonight - Similar to the studio version, with short improvs. Officially released on the 5 Gallons of Diesel DVD (Fancy Band version) and Live Frogs 1 CD (Frog Brigade version).
Here's To The Man - Similar to the studio version, with short improvs. Officially released (Frog Brigade version) on the 5 Gallons of Diesel DVD.
Shattering Song - Frequently involved some improvisation. Officially released on the Live Frogs 1 CD (Frog Brigade version).
Toyz 1988 - Similar to the studio version.
Temporary Phase - Similar to the studio version, with short improvs.
Girls For Single Men - Similar to the studio version, with short improvs. Officially released on the Live Frogs 1 CD (Frog Brigade version).
Recreating - Similar to the studio version, with short improvs.
Caution Should Be Used While Operating Heavy Machinery - Similar to the studio version.

Special Shows

Historically Important Shows - none known
TV/Radio Appearances - none known
Classic Shows
10/15/94 - One off show in San Francisco, this set featured all of the songs played during the two prior tours, plus several extra songs not heard on other tapes.

Claypool released the Holy Mackerel album in summer 1996, making this his first true solo venture. The touring band included MIRV on lead guitar, Joe Gore (of PJ Harvey and Tom Waits fame) on rhythm guitar, and Brain on drums. The band played one tour in the fall of 1996, headlining a bill including MIRV (he played in both bands) and Vernon Reid's Mistaken Identity; and some scattered shows since.

The band typically played a 60-75 min set, with minimal variation between shows. MIRV and Les got plenty of room to solo throughout the shows, but for the most part these song performances were very similar to the album versions, with little variation. As with the Sausage material, the performances of many of these songs by various Claypool jam bands, have been more epic and improvisational in nature.

Claypool

MIRV

NOTE: Carolina Rig and Delicate Tendrils have never been played live by this band (the latter was played only by the Fancy Band). Les, under the moniker From the Corn, also released a solo track (presumably a precursor to Carolina Rig) entitled Carolina Do Nutt'n Worm on a Prawn Song sampler entitled Shrimp Cocktail - it too has never been played live.

Guest Performers

Historically Important Shows - none known.
TV/Radio Appearances - none known