LES CLAYPOOL

Eclectic Prog • United States

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Les Claypool biography
Where do we begin to tell the story of Leslie Edward CLAYPOOL? Well, he was born in Richmond, California on September 29, 1963 into a family of auto mechanics. However, he quickly diverted away from his family's line of work to become a musician, specifically as a bass player, beginning to play the instrument around the age of 14. As he went to school, he worked as a carpenter while trying to land a position in a band. While attending school, he became friends with Kirk HAMMETT. With this connection, he was talked into auditioning for the bass position in METALLICA which was left open after the death of their bassist, Cliff BURTON. However, James HETFIELD said that CLAYPOOL was not given the job because "he was too good". CLAYPOOL admitted he wasn't into metal.

CLAYPOOL joined the band BLIND ILLUSION as their bassist where he worked together with guitarist Larry LaLONDE. In 1988, this band released their album "The Sane Asylum". In the meantime, CLAYPOOL had formed his own band called PRIMATE in 1984, which quickly changed to PRIMUS, in which he was the lead singer/bassist, together with guitarist Todd HUTH, and later decided on Tim WRIGHT as drummer and Jay LANE as replacement for HUTH. Together, they released two demo albums under the PRIMUS name called "Sucking Songs", and "Sausage". Soon after this, both LANE and WRIGHT left the band and were replaced by LaLONDE and Tim ALEXANDER and thus the beloved PRIMUS line-up was formed.

After much success, CLAYPOOL started working on other projects. Even though the PRIMUS line-up would change a little through the years and would reform several times, he still produced quite a few different projects and albums under those project names. In 1996, he released a solo album under the name LES CLAYPOOL AND THE HOLY MACKEREL. He collaborated with Trey ANASTASIO (PHISH) and Stewart COPELAND (THE POLICE) in the year 2000 as the band OYSTERHEAD, and in the same year formed the band LES CLAYPOOL'S FEARLESS FLYING FROG BRIGADE and in 2002 he collaborated with BUCKETHEAD, Bernie WORRELL (PARLIAMENT-FUNKADELIC, TALKING HEADS), and Bryan MANTIA (PRIMUS) to form COLONEL CLAYPOOL'S BUCKET OF BERNIE BRAINS.

All during this musical activity, he also managed to do a mockumentary film called "Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo" and write a book of fiction called "South of the Pumphouse". Continuing with his music career, he released more solo albums, but also created other musical projects incl...Where do we begin to tell the story of Leslie Edward CLAYPOOL? Well, he was born in Richmond, California on September 29, 1963 into a family of auto mechanics. However, he quickly diverted away from his family's line of work to become a musician, specifically as a bass player, beginning to play the instrument around the age of 14. As he went to school, he worked as a carpenter while trying to land a position in a band. While attending school, he became friends with Kirk HAMMETT. With this connection, he was talked into auditioning for the bass position in METALLICA which was left open after the death of their bassist, Cliff BURTON. However, James HETFIELD said that CLAYPOOL was not given the job because "he was too good". CLAYPOOL admitted he wasn't into metal.

CLAYPOOL joined the band BLIND ILLUSION as their bassist where he worked together with guitarist Larry LaLONDE. In 1988, this band released their album "The Sane Asylum". In the meantime, CLAYPOOL had formed his own band called PRIMATE in 1984, which quickly changed to PRIMUS, in which he was the lead singer/bassist, together with guitarist Todd HUTH, and later decided on Tim WRIGHT as drummer and Jay LANE as replacement for HUTH. Together, they released two demo albums under the PRIMUS name called "Sucking Songs", and "Sausage". Soon after this, both LANE and WRIGHT left the band and were replaced by LaLONDE and Tim ALEXANDER and thus the beloved PRIMUS line-up was formed.

After much success, CLAYPOOL started working on other projects. Even though the PRIMUS line-up would change a little through the years and would reform several times, he still produced quite a few different projects and albums under those project names. In 1996, he released a solo album under the name LES CLAYPOOL AND THE HOLY MACKEREL. He collaborated with Trey ANASTASIO (PHISH) and Stewart COPELAND (THE POLICE) in the year 2000 as the band OYSTERHEAD, and in the same year formed the band LES CLAYPOOL'S FEARLESS FLYING FROG BRIGADE and in 2002 he collaborated with BUCKETHEAD, Bernie WORRELL (PARLIAMENT-FUNKADELIC, TALKING HEADS), and Bryan MANTIA (PRIMUS) to form COLONEL CLAYPOOL'S BUCKET OF BERNIE BRAINS.

All during this musical activity, he also managed to do a mockumentary film called "Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo" and write a book of fiction called "South of the Pumphouse". Continuing with his music career, he released more solo albums, but also created other musical projects including LES CLAYPOOL'S FANCY BAND, M.I.R.V., SAUSAGE, LES CLAYPOOL'S DUO DE TWANG, THE CLAYPOOL LENNON DELIRIUM (with Sean LENNON), BEANPOLE, and god knows what else.

Les CLAYPOOL's music is definitely eclectic, ranging from a wild array of styles from hillbilly music to punk. CLAYPOOL has cited several influences including Chris SQUIRE, Tony LEVIN, Roger WATERS, Geddy LEE, Paul McCARTNEY, Geezer, BUTLER, Bootsy COLLINS, John Paul JONES, and THE RESIDENTS. If you know your bass players, you know who Les CLAYPOOL is. If you don't, then you must be confused after reading this; what are you waiting for, discover him for yourself!

======Bio by Tcat======

See also:
- COLONEL CLAYPOOL'S BUCKET OF BERNIE BRAINS
- THE CLAYPOOL LENNON DELIRIUM
- The Les Claypool Flying Frog Brigaderead more

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LES CLAYPOOL discography

Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

LES CLAYPOOL top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 4 ratings

Of Whales And Woe
2006

2.33 | 3 ratings

Of Fungi And Foe
2009

LES CLAYPOOL Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

LES CLAYPOOL Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

0.00 | 0 ratings

5 Gallons Of Diesel
2005

0.00 | 0 ratings

Fancy
2007

LES CLAYPOOL Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

LES CLAYPOOL Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

LES CLAYPOOL Reviews

Showing last 10 reviews only

Of Whales And Woe by CLAYPOOL, LES album cover

Studio Album, 2006
3.00 | 4 ratings
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Of Whales And Woe
Les Claypool Eclectic Prog

Review by Hiram

This is really a solo album as Claypool plays most instruments himself. This includes drums, except on one track, and guitar. He does quite a decent job at both of them, although if you compare with his virtuoso bandmates in Primus, his skills are quite limited. But it works well in this context. He's assisted by his Frog Brigade mates Mike Dillon on vibes, marimba and other percussions, and Skerik on sax. A couple of tracks feature Gabby Lala's sitar and one has Claypool's kids playing percussion. But it's of course Les' trademark bass and vocals that lead the whole thing. With slighty different arrangements and instrumentation, most tracks could've been done by Brown Album -era Primus.

There's obvious influence from Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart and, as usual, the Residents. Emphasis is on rhythm, sounds and weird stories. "Lust Stings" is not terribly far from something Morphine (Claypool is their fan) could've done, although Mark Sandman probably wouldn't have have sung about eating worms. "Iowan Gal" has Claypool playing a bass banjo and that's a sick sounding instrument if there ever was one. Whether it's positive or negative, is up to you, but I find it difficult to listen to.

Primus fans have likely checked this out already, but it comes recommended to all who like it weird and quirky and/or are interested in the names dropped in this review.

Thanks to tapfret for the artist addition.