Primus frontman Les Claypool has opened up about the surprising departure of longtime drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander and the monumental audition process that followed – one that saw over 6,000 drummers throw their hats in the ring for a spot in the iconic experimental rock and funk-metal band.
The news of Alexander's exit, which came in October 2023, sent shockwaves through the Primus fanbase, not only because of his crucial role in the band's legacy but due to the abrupt and cryptic nature of his departure. A statement shared at the time revealed that Claypool and guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde were just as stunned: "his only response was another email stating that he has 'lost his passion for playing.'"
This marked the third time Alexander had left Primus, but unlike previous exits, the band didn’t have a backup plan. As Claypool told Consequence, this forced the band to open things up in a way they never had before: "It's interesting. Well, I mean, Primus is a pretty acquired taste, as are the musicians who play in the band.
"You know, this is the third time that Tim Alexander left the band over the years, and we've always had somebody in the wings. We were always like, 'Oh, well, we're going to get this guy then. Nope, we're going to get that guy,' whereas this time we just didn't have that. So, we just opened the floodgates. And it was amazing."
The result was one of the most exhaustive audition processes in modern rock history, involving more than 6,100 applicants from around the world. The band leaned heavily on their inner circle to comb through the deluge of video submissions.
"It [lasted] a few months, but there were over 6,100 applicants, and Larry LaLonde watched most of them. Tim Soya [drummer & personal assistant of Primus] watched all of them, and I watched the ones that those guys filtered through. But it was pretty amazing."
For Claypool — now well into his fourth decade as a cornerstone of avant-garde rock — it was a rare chance to shake up his creative process and invite something new into the fold.
"It's interesting to see what's out there, especially when you get to be an old codger like me. You know, I'm caught up in my ways, and I have my circle of friends that I've been playing with forever… So, it was an interesting and refreshing new thing for us as well."
That "refreshing" feeling now takes the form of John Hoffman, the newly chosen drummer for Primus, who has already begun turning heads with his energy and musical chemistry.
"He's amazing. It's really been a breath of fresh air. It's been… whatever metaphor you want to use. It's really blown some life into this old barnacle-ridden ship. So, yeah, he's great. He's really, really fun to play with. He's got an amazing feel, very tasteful, super nice guy. It's exciting."
