Primus Tracks chronicles the recordings of the rock band Primus, one track at a time. Join Josh, Frankie, & Primus friend/assistant Tim Soya as they create the ultimate Primus companion - for beginners and hardcore fans alike.
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Sep 29, 2026 · 1:03:50
Jeff Roscher, newly-minted CLD devotee, retuns to discuss the life and times of Marvel John Jack Whiteside Parsons, as fascinating a 20th-century figure as you'll find. Oh, and…
Sep 21, 2026 · 1:07:01
Lalo and Haro Fierro rejoin the pod to discuss Little Fishes, the big opening number to the track. What dynamics does it share with iconic tunes by Ozzy Osbourne and The Beatles?…
Sep 14, 2026 · 44:01
We've reached 2019's South of Reality by Claypool Lennon Delirium! It's time to dig into the nine tracks that are encapsulated by brilliant cover art from Hisaki Yasuda. We have…
Sep 1, 2026 · 56:55
Frankie takes us back to the Jay Lane days of 2013 with this edition of LSD, which serves as a fine example of the adventurous and imaginative spirit of Jay's second tenure with…
Aug 24, 2026 · 48:04
Primus invaded Europe to throngs of joyous concert-goers who couldn't seem to get enough of the band, which stands to reason as it's been heaps of time since Primus last played…
Aug 10, 2026 · 1:01:19
In this Primus Legacy subseries episode, Kevin Comeau of the impressive, progressive duo Crown Lands gets to talk Primus! Kevin discusses his fandom, how finding grainy videos of…
Aug 3, 2026 · 47:10
The "A Handful of Nuggs" 12" is out in the world, finally! We discuss the new material and dig into The Ol' Grizz, which serves as a teaser for a forthcoming Primus LP in 2027.…
Jul 28, 2026 · 1:02:54
That's right! Perm Parker, the very first Primus drummer (Linn drum machine is officially number zero) joins the podcast! Perm went to De Anza High School alongside Les Claypool,…
Jul 20, 2026 · 49:05
Primus made numerous radio appearnces throughout the 90s and into the 21st century. Two standout radio appearances are the 1989 KZSU at Stanford University and 1990 at VPRO in…
Jul 13, 2026 · 50:54
We recap the madness of the Claypool Gold tour, from the stage production to the lineups and songs, sit-ins, cross-pollination, and all the little tidbits that made the tour…
Jun 22, 2026 · 1:14:43
Former Primus manager David Lefkowitz makes his long-overdue return to Primus Tracks to discuss the Tales From the Punchbowl album cycle, whic pushed the band to their highest…
Jun 8, 2026 · 1:02:00
CLD gave us an EPPP of four cover tunes in 2017, three of which had been performed live on the previous tour. We sample the originals, discuss some of the circumstances of the…
Jun 1, 2026 · 36:04
We conclude our Monolith of Phobos discussions with the album closer, in which we ride stardust to the furthest edges of known space. We also debate the song title and dig into…
May 18, 2026 · 39:37
NEW PRIMUS MUSIC. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. I mean, it's mostly new. Handful of Nuggs is already out there on Youtube and other streamers, with a vinyl edition on the way. Collecting…
May 11, 2026 · 56:27
The penultimate track on Monolith gainded the most notoriety for its music video and demo bonus track. Sean Lennon tells the tale of hanging with Michael Jackson and his chimp…
Apr 30, 2026 · 39:36
Thanks for the downer, CLD! This tale of addiction (and another anti-pharmaceutical anthem) is possibly the saddest set of lyrics we've ever gotten from Les Claypool, but boy,…
Apr 20, 2026 · 51:16
Sam Stewart of Flagman returns to Primus Tracks Towers to discuss Ohmerica, which he labels as possibly his top track from Monolith of Phobos, putting him in the vast minority.…
Apr 13, 2026 · 1:03:00
Captain Lariat is a mysterious figure; a legendary carouser, or so he'd have you believe. Josh's pal Jeff Roscher, a recent CLD convert, drops by to discuss the finer points of…
Apr 8, 2026 · 1:00:48
The great Bret Crow of TikTok fame joins the pod to discuss CLD's Breath of a Salesman. You've likely seen Bret's creations even if, like me, you've never used TikTok, likely…
Mar 24, 2026 · 57:05
Frequent guest Anthony Garcia joins the pod to discuss Boomerang Baby, a Lennon brainchild that is disarmingly charming in its time signature and slow build to a flourish that…
Mar 16, 2026 · 1:01:24
We resume our Monolith of Phobos coverage with Mr. Wright, which contains a very Beatle-esque bass lick that drives a lyrical story about a distasteful voyeur. Kello Gonzlez…
Mar 9, 2026 · 57:17
We pause our nascent Monolith of Phobos episodes yet again due to irrational excitement for the forthcoming CLD record, and this time the great Rich Ragsdale joins the podcast to…
Mar 3, 2026 · 44:14
The Claypool Lennon Delirium's The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy is a really long album title, but it serves the purpose of what we can only imagine is a…
Feb 23, 2026 · 1:06:56
It's a double dose of delirium! We've packaged both the Cricket and the Genie tracks together, as they were released as one to promote the release of Monolith of Phobos, and…
Feb 16, 2026 · 42:51
What do you get when you put on the early Pink Floyd, pair it with Carl Sagan's Cosmos, and throw Buzz Aldrin in for fun, then drink loads of red wine with Sean Lennon and Les…
Feb 9, 2026 · 46:20
In 2016, Les Claypool had some time away from Primus and invited Sean Lennon to Rancho Relaxo; Sean had guested on some Primus encores during their 2015 summer tour and jammed…
Feb 3, 2026 · 48:30
Tim Slowinkski, the man behind the excellent Oysterhead album cover art, tour poster and iconography, joins Primus Tracks to talk about his dinstinctive art style and subject…
Jan 26, 2026 · 1:09:09
The Duo de Twang album is a fun listen, but the shows were where the guys really let loose and silliness reigned. Soya and frequent Twang contributor Wylie Woods drop by to talk…
Jan 19, 2026 · 52:47
We turn our attention to Duo de Twang, the "vacation fuck-off band" that Les Claypool started after a couple special California gigs gave away to a full-blown vision for a…
Jan 7, 2026 · 53:55
WE WERE THERE at the Fox Theater on December 30 & 31, 2025, to witness Primus send in the clowns over two nights of inspired musical madness. We detail how it all went down, and…
Dec 15, 2025 · 1:01:49
This week on the podcast we welcome Robi Bean, who drummed with Primus for about half of 1986. Although he doesn't appear on any demo tapes, and live footage of his playing with…
Dec 1, 2025 · 1:09:16
For our next entry in the Primus DNA sub-series, we swing for the fences by daring to take on the mighty Rush as a major component of the Primus makeup. Gerry Schramm of the…
Nov 24, 2025 · 38:06
We end our Of Fungi And Foe review with Ol' Rosco, who may be one of the more abhorrent characters in the Claypool lyrical universe, perhaps for being all too real. This is the…
Nov 17, 2025 · 35:45
This week, we cover tracks 10 and 11 from Of Fungi and Foe: Pretty Little Song with guest Bryonn Bain, as well as the title track. These tracks are buried on the back end of the…
Nov 11, 2025 · 46:01
Primed By 29 has a fetching title for a Primus fan exploring the solo works of Les Claypool. Although the lyrics don't necessarily refer to anything Primus-related, they're…
Oct 27, 2025 · 37:57
This lounge jazz number is an ode to the dog, in particular, Les Claypool's hound, Kazoo. It's another musical departure for the man, and it sounds like Skerik wasn't available,…
Oct 20, 2025 · 29:31
Do you know a boy who's taken a bite out of life? I suppose that description qualifies guest performer Eugene Hutz, a man of fire and energy whose work with Gogol Bordello has…
Oct 13, 2025 · 36:55
This week, we tackle a track that could easily appear on a Tom Waits record, most notably Real Gone, which Les Claypool actually guested on. There's something about the…
Oct 6, 2025 · 37:13
On this OFAF track, Les Claypool ponders what one of his heroes might do in numerous situations around a trip to London in which the airline loses Les's luggage, he's without UK…
Sep 29, 2025 · 28:27
The fourth track of the Of Fungi and Foe record, Boonville Stomp was composed specifically for the film Pig Hunt, which takes place in and around Boonville in the woods of…
Sep 23, 2025 · 38:46
Remember 2008? What do you mean, you'd rather not? Yeah, me either, but Les Claypool won't let us forget the person who helped define the year and the followers who molded…
Sep 15, 2025 · 44:51
Fungi or Foe? Both! Amanitas is another cautionary tale that has a few unexpected twists and turns. It's another tune originally intended for the Mushroom Men soundtrack…
Sep 8, 2025 · 34:20
Of Fungi and Foe's opening track is solidly on the Fungi side, as the music for this track is exactly as Les Claypool conceived and recorded it for the Mushroom Men video game,…
Sep 1, 2025 · 36:56
As we chug along in the Claypool chronology, it's time to address 2009's Of Fungi and Foe, the second album to be credited simply to Les Claypool. Frankie has it on regular…
Aug 25, 2025 · 1:21:18
At long last, we welcome the legendary Toaster to Primus Tracks. Toaster is a prolific Primus/Les taper who started toasterland.com over 20 years ago as a respository for show…
Aug 18, 2025 · 45:44
Primus have completed their first headlining tour with drummer John Hoffman, who has been plenty busy since his hire in January 2025. This latest tour spanned 25 dates in 24…
Jul 28, 2025 · 1:22:55
Sometimes, Primus Tracks listeners have questions that we cannot answer, and that's when we fire up the Soya Signal for a round of your queries. Soya joins from yet another hotel…
Jul 21, 2025 · 56:32
Tim Wright drummed in Primus from 1986-1988 as Primus gained a larger following in the Bay Area, and played a key role in helping advance the band's fortunes via endless practice…
Jul 14, 2025 · 48:01
Jordan Kravitz recently joined the Primus crew to photograph some 2024 dates, including New Year's Eve. He's currently out capturing the band on numerous dates of the 2025 Onward…
Jul 7, 2025 · 55:35
Dave Kloc is a prolific artist who designs posters for a wide variety of artists, but when PRIMUS comes calling, he ups his game. Enjoy a peek behind his creative process and…
Jul 3, 2025 · 28:24
We conclude our Of Whales And Woe coverage with this sendoff instrumental that airs a bit of mystery with its abrupt conclusion and sound samples/field recordings. We take a stab…
Jun 23, 2025 · 54:23
Sam Stewart of Flagman returns to discuss Filipino Ray, an acrobatic bass jaunt that comprises the penultimate track of Of Whales and Woe. The bass lines go hard, but there is a…
Jun 16, 2025 · 32:07
We all know about the South Park theme, but were you aware that Les Claypool wrote and performed the theme to Robot Chicken, another long-running animated television program?…
Jun 9, 2025 · 50:00
The hips of the record have arrived! This utterly accessible, catchy track doubles as a slice-of-life study of a commercial fisherman, whose solace is the sea, despite its…
Jun 2, 2025 · 46:32
The great Kello Gonzalez returns to the podcast on short notice to discuss Nothin' Ventured, which we interpret as our version of a Les Claypool motivational speech, particularly…
May 27, 2025 · 46:53
Les Claypool's ode to his wife, Chaney, starts side two of Of Whales and Woe, and there's certainly no woe to be found in this joyous track, which reflects the irrational…
May 19, 2025 · 1:21:35
This week, we offer up a commentary track on the hour-long Primus Interstellar Drum Derby finale. Receiving this much video footage of the band auditioning, practicing,…
May 13, 2025 · 47:42
NEW TRACK ALERT! Primus have released Little Lord Fentanyl, the first track to include newly-minted drummer John Hoffman. The track was a part of the final drum auditions for…
May 5, 2025 · 55:25
Today's track tells the tale of Richard McCaslin, a self-proclaimed superhero, who, disguised as the Panthom Patriot, invaded the Bohemian Grove in search of child sacrifices and…
Apr 28, 2025 · 56:42
The great Gene Meyer (@genemeyelol on the socials) of Bandit fame returns to the pod to discuss Vernon the Company Man. We get literary with some associations to Kerouac,…
Apr 21, 2025 · 57:04
We tackle the title track this week with the help of old friend Lalo Fierro, who, even as a seasoned gigging bassist, maintains an uneven relationship with Claypool's bass…
Apr 7, 2025 · 39:16
After the bicep of One Better, we head straight to the crotch for Lust Stings. Les seems to want to highlight the body parts that the people want to see. Lust Stings gleefully…
Mar 31, 2025 · 1:01:15
The great Luke Bemand returns to Primus Tracks to tackle One Better, the "bicep" of the Of Whales and Woe record. Luke shows us how Les flexes all over this track, and it's not…
Mar 24, 2025 · 35:26
Les Claypool followed up his Electric Apricot jaunt with a collection of taut, focused tunes in 2006's Of Whales And Woe record, which largely sees Les on his own in the studio,…
Mar 17, 2025 · 1:03:43
We are thrilled to speak with Soya and Steve Freeman, aka Extrakd, who has created loads of diverse music over the years with the likes of Brain, Disk, Mirv, Ler, and Buckethead.…
Mar 3, 2025 · 52:36
Les Claypool was quite productive in the mid 00s, including these two discs - one a smattering of videos and live cuts from his numerous non-Primus projects; the other a live…
Feb 24, 2025 · 51:53
In 2005, Les Claypool spawned an idea that would form Electric Apricot, a fictitious jam band of goofballs and misfits chasing their dream gig at Festeroo. The "band" formed and…
Feb 17, 2025 · 1:16:44
Flapjax has been there since the beginning and seen it all in the world of Primus and Les - the long, slow rise to notoriety, life on the road, making music a sort-of career, and…
Feb 3, 2025 · 58:26
In our newest sub-series, Primus Legacy, we speak with pro musicians who have a fondness for Primus, and how the music impacted their musical paths. We begin with the great Tye…
Jan 21, 2025 · 1:03:09
We conclude our c2b3 experience with the towering album closer, Ignorance Is Bliss. Peat Rains of You Bred Raptors? joins us to explicate the music and lyrics, and to discuss…
Jan 13, 2025 · 45:27
Note: We recorded this episode prior to NYE, and I thought it fitting to include our postulations as to what we'd witness, you know, for s&g. 48 Hours To Go is another tune…
Jan 6, 2025 · 1:14:44
WE WERE THERE. The two-night stand for 2024 New Year's Eve dubbed Claypool Gold contained numerous surprises and delights to the senses as Les and Larry recruited numerous…
Dec 23, 2024 · 50:51
Jackalope is the third of three instrumental tracks on the c2b3 record, and it doesn't stick around too long. However, it does have some unique aspects to it that separate the…
Dec 9, 2024 · 54:32
The title track of the c2b3 record inspires divergent thoughts from Josh and Frankie, but Matt Hunter holds us together with his bass breakdown and a look the tune's foundations.…
Nov 25, 2024 · 57:15
The heavy instrumental Scott Taylor attracted the attention of our old pal Luke Bemand, who had to marvel at its wildness with us. This tune's title was a mystery at the time of…
Nov 11, 2024 · 52:46
The first of many tracks on the c2b3 that airs grievances and frustrations with the George W Bush administration, Junior directly derides W through a variety of vocalizations,…
Oct 28, 2024 · 41:31
Possibly the most challenging track of the album for its messiness and seeming lack of structure, there are redeeming qualities - Bucket's strange guitar sounds, a guest turn…
Oct 21, 2024 · 58:08
The epic instrumental positioned at track 4 is mix of wistful pathos and chill dub, eliciting a wide range of interpretations and emotional responses. At Primus Tracks, we tend…
Oct 7, 2024 · 47:04
The tyranny of the hunt will take you by surprise, and so will the origins of this track! We have deep background on the lyrics of this track thanks to some interviews around the…
Sep 30, 2024 · 1:02:03
The great Rory Dolan of Lespecial rejoins Primus Tracks to deconstruct Brain's unusual drum performance on the second track of the c2b3 record, which, actually, already sounds…
Sep 23, 2024 · 1:04:53
The great Kello Gonzalez rejoins Primus Tracks amid his jam-packed schedule to discuss the fiery opening track to the lone Bucket of Bernie Brains release, Buckethead. The second…
Sep 16, 2024 · 1:13:58
As we turn our attention to Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, Tim Soya made sure we opened proceedings in style with two of the band members, Brian "Brain" Mantia and…
Sep 9, 2024 · 1:09:55
We continue our DNA sub-series with a less obvious influence on Les Claypool and Primus: XTC. This English band influenced Les in his formative years, perhaps subconsciously…
Sep 2, 2024 · 35:24
Les Claypool was busy enough in 2002 with the release and support of Purple Onion, but he also found time to complete a cover of Hot Rod Lincoln for a compilation album, land…
Aug 26, 2024 · 52:11
As the 2024 Primus summer tour concludes, we take a look at the number of set list surprises and other goodies that packed the 33-date sojourn with much mirth, merriment, and…
Aug 19, 2024 · 1:02:44
David Lefkowitz returns for another Master Class. Dave managed Primus/Les for about twenty years, and additionally was the president of Prawn Song Records when the label pivoted…
Aug 12, 2024 · 55:10
Our latest Legendary Show Dissection takes us back to 2004 as Primus marauded across North America to bring Frizzle Fry in its entirety to the masses in a two-set evening-with…
Aug 5, 2024 · 1:13:31
The great Kello Gonzalez returns to wrap up Purple Onion in style with a breakdown of (and on) Cosmic Highway. We get into what makes this track a fan favorite, why it ends the…
Jul 29, 2024 · 43:12
David Makalaster II continues the saga of our newscaster, whose manipulative messaging has taken a turn to the bellicose. Mak II stands as commentary on the media landscape post…
Jul 8, 2024 · 1:05:37
Sam Stewart of Flagman joins Primus Tracks to discuss Up On The Roof, and explains what makes it a certified banger in the Claypool catalogue. The track has familiar foundations…
Jul 1, 2024 · 40:19
Lights in the Sky is another structured, thoughtful piece that seems simple, but allows maximum space for Frog Brigade collaborators to shine. In this case, they keep it…
Jun 23, 2024 · 1:01:33
This week on the podcast, we address the Les Claypool live staple D's Diner, which has been performed by so many iterations of his bands that everyone has lost count, except for…
Jun 10, 2024 · 57:17
Barrington Hall is a legendary location in the Primus world, and its debauched past pairs well with the refined nature of the music from this Purple Onion track. Matt Hunter…
Jun 3, 2024 · 56:00
Ding Dang is a forceful number, both in terms of music and lyrics. We speak with bassist Alex Dalasio about the musicality of the tune, and what makes it memorable, as well as…
May 27, 2024 · 47:48
Les Claypool started banging on the Whamola on February 14, 2001, at a Frog Brigade show in Boston, Massachusetts, and it's accompanied him on nearly every subsequent tour, and…
May 20, 2024 · 45:02
With Long in the Tooth, Les Claypool takes a page from the Tom Waits book of music, and puts his own spin on the concept, evoking numerous auti-biographical details - some clear,…
May 13, 2024 · 1:04:03
Frequent bass contributor Louis Ortega returns to model and explain the hooks behind Buzzards of Green Hill, Frankie's favorite track from the album, and perhaps his top Claypool…
May 6, 2024 · 50:32
This week, we discuss David Makalaster, often referred to as Mak 1, which brings Purple Onion to life after the ambient opening track. Mak 1 and 2 somewhat bookend the Pruple…
Apr 29, 2024 · 36:57
As we begin to peel back the layers of Les Claypool's 2002 album Purple Onion, we discuss the background of the record, its place in (and out) of its time, the inspiration for…
Apr 22, 2024 · 38:33
No Forcefield was an experimental collaboration of Larry LaLonde, Brain, Adam Gates, DJ Disk, and Extrakd for Stray Records, which produced two albums: 2000's Lee's Oriental…
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