The vast majority of reviewers can generally agree on one word to describe Primus - weird. Formed in San Francisco, California, USA in 1984 by Les Claypool (b. Leslie Edward Claypool, 29 September 1963, Richmond, California, USA; bass, ex-Blind Illusion), seven drummers passed through before Tim "Herb" Alexander (b. 10 April 1965, Cherry Point, North Carolina, USA) settled in, with Larry Lalonde (b. Lawrence Lalonde, 12 September 1968, Richmond, California, USA; guitar, ex-Possessed, Blind Illusion), replacing original guitarist Todd Huth shortly before the band recorded their debut. Musically, they are highly talented and original, mixing funk, punk, thrash, metal and rock in their own intense manner, once described by Claypool as "psychedelic polka". Claypool and Alexander produce quirky, sometimes hypnotic rhythms, accentuating each other's playing, while former Joe Satriani pupil Lalonde creates and colours within the framework, although his playing owes more to Frank Zappa than to that of his old teacher. Claypool's vocals lean towards cartoonish narrative, with lyrics of a suitably abstract and humorous nature, drawing from both life and his film and literary influences. A common theme to all their albums is marine life, reflecting the band's passion for sea-fishing (they have played with fish-shaped covers on their vocal microphones).
The band's 1989 debut, Suck On This, was a self-financed live set successfully released on their own Prawn Song label, and much of the material was to feature on Frizzle Fry, an independent studio release that won them a Bay Area Music Award and, helped by touring with Faith No More, Jane's Addiction, 24-7 Spyz and Living Colour, a major recording contract with Interscope Records. Sailing The Seas Of Cheese further raised their profile, with their reworking of "Tommy The Cat" from the debut (with a Tom Waits guest vocal) featuring in hit movie Bill And Ted's Bogus Journey. A lengthy world tour in support of Rush was then followed by stadium dates with U2. Any doubts as to the band being a sufficient draw for the closing (effectively headlining) slot on the 1993 Lollapalooza tour were dispelled when Pork Soda debuted in the US charts at number 7, producing a hit in "My Name Is Mud". The erratic Tales From The Punchbowl included the novelty hit "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver".
In the mid-90s Claypool hooked up with Huth and drummer Jay Lane to form side-project Sausage, recording Riddles Are Abound Tonight in 1994. Claypool released a solo album in 1996, the same year Alexander left the band (he was replaced by ex-Godflesh drummer Brian Mantia). In 1997, Primus reaffirmed their slacker credibility by performing the theme music to cult US cartoon series South Park. On Rhinoplasty the band wildly misinterpreted a wide range of material by artists including Metallica, Peter Gabriel and the Police, before returning to original material on 1999's Antipop. A four year touring and recording hiatus ensued before the original band members reunited to promote a new DVD and a national tour.
