47 Facts About Les Claypool

Leslie Edward Claypool was born on September 29,1963 and is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and author.

Les Claypool is best known as the founder, lead singer, bassist, and primary songwriter of the band Primus since its formation in 1984.

Outside of Primus, Claypool has been involved in a number of side projects, including supergroups such as Oysterhead and Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains.

Les Claypool has self-produced and engineered several solo releases from his own studio, Rancho Relaxo, in California.

Les Claypool was born into a working-class family of car mechanics in Richmond, California, in 1963, and was raised in El Sobrante, California.

Les Claypool learned to play the bass guitar at age 14, but didn't begin a career in music until much later.

Les Claypool worked as a carpenter for several years after graduating from high school.

Les Claypool later recalled that Hammett had given him a copy of Metallica's 1984 album Ride the Lightning, which he enjoyed, but overall "wasn't a big metal guy" and did not realize how popular Metallica had become until he arrived at the audition.

Metallica frontman James Hetfield said that Les Claypool was not offered the job because "he was too good" and "should do his own thing".

Les Claypool replaced them with guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Tim Alexander.

Les Claypool is considered to be the leader of the band, as well as the driving force behind its blending of funk with other genres.

Les Claypool frequently utilizes the slap-bass technique, prominent in funk music, and is the only member of Primus who comes from a funk background.

Les Claypool is credited with bass, drums and vocals on several tracks as well as guitar.

In 2016 Les tried to reunite the group, but ended up releasing an album with The Claypool Lennon Delirium.

In May 2000, Claypool formed Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, an experimental rock group.

Les Claypool was asked to put together a band for the Mountain Aire Festival in Angels Camp, California.

Les Claypool has called the Frog Brigade his "mid-life crisis band".

The Frog Brigade is noted for Les Claypool's being accepted into the jam band scene.

Les Claypool performed with the Rat Brigade when opening for Ratdog once in 2000 and again in 2007.

Les Claypool guested on the Ratdog sets in 2000,2006 and 2009.

In 2002, Les Claypool released a studio album of the Frog Brigade, Purple Onion.

Les Claypool opened on every show during the 2004 tour as a solo act, and sometimes with members of C2B3.

Les Claypool produced and performed on Gabby La La's first album, Be Careful What You Wish For.

Gabby La La is the first artist Les Claypool has signed to his label since Charlie Hunter in 1993.

On May 30,2006, Claypool released a solo album, Of Whales and Woe, with guest appearances by Skerik, Mike Dillon and Gabby La La.

Besides touring in the summer of 2007 nationally with the Fancy Band, Les Claypool performed that October with a version of the band, dubbed the Fancy Trio.

For many years Les Claypool has done a New Year's Eve show at The Fillmore in San Francisco.

Les Claypool contributes previously unreleased material and plays the role of "The Preacher".

Les Claypool composed several songs for the Wii game Mushroom Men, released in December 2008.

On December 31,2008, Les Claypool rang in the New Year with his annual New Year's Eve show.

Les Claypool was a judge for the 7th annual Independent Music Awards.

In 2009, Les Claypool toured with Matisyahu, performing as a 'double-feature' set, as well as appearing together on stage.

On March 28,2010, Les Claypool performed a rendition of Rush's "The Spirit of Radio" for their induction into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame.

From May 2010 to July 2013, Les Claypool toured extensively with Primus, alongside Larry LaLonde, and the return of former Primus drummer, Jay Lane.

In 2016, Les Claypool formed a group with Sean Lennon of The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, Paulo Baldi of Cake, and Joao Nogueira of Stone Giant.

Les Claypool met Sean in 2015 when he was on tour with Primus, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, and Dinosaur Jr.

Les Claypool stayed in touch with Sean and the group released their first album The Monolith Of Phobos in 2016.

Les Claypool was a special guest star in a Space Ghost Coast to Coast episode with the most celebrities on Cartoon Network in 1996.

Les Claypool gave his first interview about the book on May 11,2006.

Also in 2006, Les Claypool write and directed the mockumentary film Electric Apricot: Quest For Festeroo.

Les Claypool said that the band would possibly perform a few select shows, but a tour never transpired as the film's star Adam Gates worked for Pixar, which made touring difficult.

In 2007, Les Claypool created Les Claypool Cellars, a wine-making project that turned into a boutique business.

Les Claypool is well known for his distinctive bass-playing, which aside from being quite dominant in the majority of his music includes the use of several unusual techniques, such as Flamenco-style strumming, tapping, slapping and guitar-like chording.

Les Claypool has made prominent use of a Kahler "bass tremolo" vibrato system, as well as effects such as fuzz boxes and envelope filters.

For most of his career, Claypool has played four-stringed basses, but has experimented with extended-range basses, most notably six-stringed models, as heard on songs like "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver", which features Claypool tapping the main melody on a fretless six-string bass.

Les Claypool has cited Larry Graham, Chris Squire, Tony Levin, Roger Waters, Geddy Lee, Paul McCartney, Geezer Butler, Bootsy Collins, Stanley Clarke, John Paul Jones, and the Residents as his musical influences.

Les Claypool has been noted for his eccentric personality, surreal sense of humor, and cannabis use.