Les Claypool Discusses Primus' Past and Possible Future

Some bands can pinpoint exactly when they shot to stardom. For many, like '90s alternative heroes Primus, it was much more gradual. "I have people that say to me, 'When Primus made it, what did you think?,'" frontman Les Claypool tells Spinner. "It didn't really happen like that, we were out there plunking along.'"

To Claypool, the appeal of Primus is the band's touring ethic and strong live shows. "It was all baby steps, building this foundation. Well, if you build a foundation like that it's very strong and fortunately a lot of those people are there for me still today, as are their kids or whoever they influenced," he says. "You don't convince somebody that this is worth a damn. You go out and play, people come, maybe a couple of people tell a couple of more people and you build this thing."

Primus experienced that base firsthand during the trio's 2008 tour, which included dates at the Rothbury Festival and Outside Lands. While Claypool is currently busy supporting his 'Of Fungi and Foe' collection, he offered hope Primus fans everywhere. "If something comes along later in the year for Primus we'll look at it," he says. "We got together last year, did a few shows, we had a good time."

The rest of the year with Primus might also hinge on what happens with his Oysterhead collaboration with Phish's Trey Anastasio and the Police's Stewart Copeland. "We've been talking about making another [Primus] record for a while," he says. "But we've been talking about making an Oysterhead record for a while too."

Not wanting to potentially disappoint fans down, Claypool does put a disclaimer on any possible future records. "I don't want to say we're gonna do it, then not do it. But at some point we're gonna do it, I think," he says laughing. "It's just not on the calendar." Yeah, it's vague, but at least he's honest.