{"id":2099065,"date":"2026-08-18T08:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T05:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2099065"},"modified":"2026-08-18T08:00:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T05:00:47","slug":"les-claypool-talks-new-primus-music-and-angine-de-poitrine-comparisons-there-is-a-new-life-in-this-band","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2099065","title":{"rendered":"Les Claypool talks new Primus music and Angine de Poitrine comparisons: \u201cThere is a new life in this band\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/les-claypool@2000&#215;1270.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Les Claypool talks new Primus music and Angine de Poitrine comparisons: \u201cThere is a new life in this band\u201d<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The prog icon also talks plans to make a stage play with Sean Ono Lennon, the first UK Primus shows in nearly a decade, advice for new artists, and why viral duo Angine de Poitrine feel like an antidote to the rise of AI music<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Liberty Dunworth<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-18T09:00:47+01:00\">18th August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/les-claypool@2000x1270-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Les Claypool of Primus, 2026\" title=\"les-claypool@2000x1270\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Les Claypool of Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Sergione Infuso\/Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Les Claypool has spoken to <em>NME<\/em> about his latest album with Sean Ono Lennon, how a \u201cnew energy\u201d that Primus haven\u2019t seen for \u201cmany years\u201d is inspiring new material, and comparisons to viral duo Angine de Poitrine.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The Great Parrot-Ox And The Golden Egg Of Empathy\u2019 with Lennon dropped in May and marked the third LP from the duo as part of The Claypool Lennon Delirium. Structured as a psychedelic-prog concept album, the record follows the narrative of an AI robot gradually turning humanity into paperclips, but also holds themes of empathy, mortality and free will at its core.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cShiner [Claypool\u2019s nickname for Ono Lennon] is like my brother now,\u201d Claypool told <em>NME<\/em> over Zoom, explaining that the record took three years to make and was potentially the most challenging project he has ever worked on.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3961051\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3961051\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3961051\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/claypool-lennon-delirium@2000x1270.jpg\" alt width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3961051\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Claypool Lennon Delirium. CREDIT: Jay Blakesburg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cComing into the third record, we really wanted to do something special. We set off to do some sort of narrative and came up with a few different notions, and eventually settled on this,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was the longest record we\u2019ve done and it was one of the most difficult records I\u2019ve ever made, because when you\u2019re working on a concept you have to stick within the parameters of that narrative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The album has sparked conversation over its references to the impact of artificial intelligence on manking \u2013 but the real message, Claypool told us, was not meant to be a discussion about AI, but rather about a general lack of compassion he and Lennon have observed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe funny thing is, the whole AI element of the storyline arose when we started this three years ago, and while the technology was on the horizon, it wasn\u2019t as prominent and in your face as it is now,\u201d the frontman explained. \u201cIt was just meant to be the conduit for the story, not the focus. The main point of the story is meant to be the loss of empathy that we\u2019re seeing in society.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>Check out the rest of our interview with Claypool below, where he also told us about why Primus are feeling \u201crejuvenated\u201d in time for their 2026 UK and European tour along with plans to drop a new record, hopes to make a stage play with Sean Ono Lennon, comparisons to Angine de Poitrine and more.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3963404\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3963404\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3963404\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/primus@2000x1270.jpg\" alt=\"Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3963404\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><em>NME<\/em>: Hi Les, let\u2019s look at the weird and wonderful concept behind the new Claypool Lennon Delirium album. Why has it always been important for you to tackle heavy themes with such a whimsical, lighthearted approach?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Les Claypool:<\/strong> \u201cIt\u2019s something that has been in my writing for years now, and I didn\u2019t even understand it myself at first. But as I\u2019ve become a seasoned fellow on this planet, I\u2019ve realised that it\u2019s [because] I grew up with a lot of alcoholism and drug abuse around me, and the way we always dealt with things in my family was with humour. That\u2019s the way I\u2019ve always dealt with heavy situations. Just look at the very first song I wrote for Primus, \u2018Too Many Puppies\u2019. That was anti-war \u2013 which is still very relevant \u2013 but under the guise of puppies as a metaphor for young men.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just always been easier for me to step into characters too because I was never comfortable with my voice. My dad still to this day says, \u2018You can\u2019t sing for shit, but you can sure play that bass\u2019, so I\u2019ve always had that element within me. It was easier for me to develop these characters and voice my perspectives through them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>There are still those who argue that artists should use their platform to speak out, or simply \u201cstick to the music\u201d. What\u2019s your stance with that?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the same shit, different day, because there\u2019s always something to get on your hind legs about. There\u2019s a lot of divide right now all around the planet, but it\u2019s especially noticeable here in the States. I have a lot of friends and relatives who think differently than me, and if we were to get into a room together and start voicing these perspectives as passionately as most of the country is doing right now, I wouldn\u2019t get along with a lot of my friends and relatives.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThings only work when we find ways to have our perspectives and voice our concerns without losing those relationships. Just because you have a different perspective than somebody, that doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re right and they\u2019re wrong, or they\u2019re a bad person and you\u2019re a good person.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have a friend that has always felt like if you don\u2019t agree with them, you\u2019re the enemy\u2026 I don\u2019t feel that way though, because if I did, I wouldn\u2019t be hanging out with my uncle or whatever! My uncle\u2019s a wonderful human being, but he just has a different perspective than me. Cross-pollinisation is the key to moving forward and all of us understanding each other and having empathy for each other. That\u2019s something we tackle on \u2018The Great Parrot-Ox\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Claypool Lennon Delirium - The Golden Egg of Empathy ft. WILLOW\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/o9wRaOCXgUs?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><strong>The nods to AI in the album now have a different meaning to what you originally intended due to the rapid developments in recent years. With AI-generated music becoming more and more prominent, do you think artists need to be worried?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs far as AI goes now, it\u2019s like anything else. It\u2019s here, we\u2019re going to have to deal with it, and you\u2019ve got to find a way to make it help the world as opposed to hinder it. Like it or not, it\u2019s not going away. It\u2019s part of our future, and everyone has to find their own way of dealing with it. No matter what I think, it\u2019s going to be there regardless, but it\u2019s like muzak in the elevator. It\u2019s just there.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSean and I have discussed [the implications on musicians], and we think that people are always going to want to see real artists. The thing that\u2019s going to suffer the most though, in terms of artists or musicians, are these jobs that original artists don\u2019t necessarily take. It\u2019ll be the gigs where you have to write music for a TV commercial, or you have to write music for a film, and that\u2019s because it\u2019s much cheaper just to plug [prompts] into an AI element and just spit it out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Speaking of the music landscape in 2026, are you still getting a new generation of fans discovering you and your music because of <em>South Park<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s odd, we just finished a big tour in the States, and it does seem like more younger people are at our shows now! But also there are a lot of things you can point to to explain that. There\u2019s a nostalgia element, because a lot of the \u201990s stuff is back and roaring again. Also, maybe it\u2019s just because we can go out there and waggle our fingers a little better than some others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s one thing you can say about Primus, Delirium, [Colonel Les Claypool\u2019s Fearless Flying] Frog Brigade or whatever, it\u2019s very human. There\u2019s a lot of improvisation at our shows, the sets change every night, and it\u2019s a real experience with real human beings. There are no click tracks, no pre-programmed anything, and even the visuals at these Primus shows are on the fly every night. We\u2019ve been working with an artist who I actually met through <em>South Park<\/em> to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3963400\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3963400\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3963400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/primus3@2000x1270.jpg\" alt=\"Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3963400\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Tell us more about the tour. It\u2019s your first time coming back to the UK in nearly a decade and your first time here with new drummer John Hoffman in the band. What can fans expect?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe interesting thing about ol\u2019 Hoffer is that he joined after the Drum Derby [audition process], and there was this cultish hysteria that was going on around him. A lot of people were rooting for that guy. He was the total underdog \u2013 he had to submit twice before we even gave him an audition, but he\u2019s been spectacular.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is now a new life and a new energy in this band that we haven\u2019t seen in many years, and it\u2019s infectious. I turn around on stage to look at him and he\u2019s just smiling away and having the time of his life, and that carries forth to us and then to the audience. If you see us on this tour, you\u2019ll see a rejuvenated Primus.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>That audition process got so much momentum and even had Billy Strings trying out to be in the line-up. What made you want to take that approach?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was an odd thing because we were all doing so well and getting along so well, and then all of a sudden our drummer [Tim \u201cHerb\u201d Alexander] just said, \u2018I\u2019m out of here. I\u2019m gone\u2019, and hasn\u2019t spoken to us. That\u2019s just life though, things change, people\u2019s perspectives change, and people\u2019s priorities change.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe just started looking online and, next thing you know, we decided to do a big cattle call and see who\u2019s out there. It felt like an opportunity, because this is the third time Herb has left, and the two times prior we always had somebody who could fit the bill that was ready to go. This time we didn\u2019t have anybody ready to go, so it was time to beat the bushes. We lucked out with Ol\u2019 Hoffer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>You recently dropped the new Primus EP \u2018A Handful Of Nuggs\u2019. Is there a full album on the way?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere will be. People always ask me what\u2019s coming next and the best way I can explain it is to say: \u2018Imagine there\u2019s this big stove, and there\u2019s a bunch of pots on the burners. Every now and again I\u2019ll pull a certain pot to the front, and that\u2019s the next thing coming\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere was a big bunch of pots for a while, and all of a sudden a lot of those dishes became ready to eat. This year, we\u2019ve released the Delirium record, a Frog Brigade live record. I\u2019ve got a Bastard Jazz thing coming. We\u2019ve got a \u2018Frizzle Fry\u2019 thing coming out this fall\u2026 and then we felt we needed to put some new Primus stuff out too, so we did the song \u2018The Ol\u2019 Grizz\u2019 as a taste of the next record. That is the first song off the upcoming album, and we\u2019re going to continue to work on it through this next year.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Primus - The Ol\u2019 Grizz (Official Video)\" width=\"696\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RE2oERgJkXg?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><strong>Maynard James Keenan told us earlier this year that he was tempted to bring the \u2018Sessanta\u2019 tour over to the UK and Europe, but would need new music from Primus, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer to justify it. With the three of you now working on new material, have there been any further talks?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe did talk about it, but the promoters didn\u2019t chomp on it. I don\u2019t think they understand the notion of it. Plus, it\u2019s been a long time since Primus has been to Europe, so I think there was an underestimation of the value. Now we\u2019re coming over and all these shows are selling out like crazy, so people are starting to go \u2018Wait a minute. These guys actually have some relevance to them.\u2019 So I think that was a big part of it. But who knows? I\u2019ve already told Maynard I\u2019m in for \u2018Ochenta\u2019 [a tour celebrating his 80th birthday] when he does it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Keenan mentioned that the financial aspect was making it more difficult, which makes you think about how tough it must be for new artists trying to get on the road. Do you think if a band like Primus were starting out in 2026 you could hit the same heights?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really don\u2019t know. It\u2019s funny, when Angine de Poitrine popped up, all of a sudden everybody was sending me all their videos saying \u2018Look at this, oh my God, this reminds me of Primus\u2019\u2026 so those guys are doing it and it seems like they\u2019re taking over the world. That\u2019s a wonderful thing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAgain, I think people just want to see real musicians play live. They want to see artistic guys and gals who can waggle their fingers and can do these incredible things with instruments. Maybe it\u2019s a response to the AI? I don\u2019t know, but it seems to have come around again. Look at Rush going back out on the road, or my buddy Billy Strings. A handful of years ago, he was playing little tiny places, and now he\u2019s massive. Why is that? Because he can fucking play.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs for how well would Primus do? I don\u2019t know and I don\u2019t think it matters. All the time kids ask me \u2018What do I do? How do I become successful?\u2019 and I always say, \u2018First of all, you\u2019ve got to quit thinking like that\u2019. You should play music because you\u2019re compelled to play music. If you can make $5 at it, that\u2019s icing on the cupcake. If you can make $500,000 on it, then \u2018woo-hoo\u2019 \u2013 good for you. But ultimately you should play music because you\u2019re compelled to do so, or because it\u2019s what makes you feel good, or it\u2019s what gives you a sense of identity. That\u2019s always the place where Primus would come from.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3945510\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3945510\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3945510\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/NMEAR_NME-THE-GREAT-ESCAPE-2026-ADP-LIVE-CHLOE-HASHEMI-5@2000x1270.jpg\" alt=\"Angine de Poitrine live at the NME Beach stage at The Great Escape 2026. Credit: Chloe Hashemi for NME\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3945510\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Angine de Poitrine live at the NME Beach stage at The Great Escape 2026. Credit: Chloe Hashemi for NME<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Do you see that common ground between Primus and Angine de Poitrine as well?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI see a common ground in the sense that they\u2019re they\u2019re not paying attention to the mainstream and just doing what gives them a chuckle. I\u2019ve always said that one of my main goals in anything I write is just to make [Primus guitarist] Larry LaLonde laugh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe is one of the most wonderful, giving, witty people I\u2019ve ever met in my life, and when we get in a room together, if I can write a lyric that makes him chuckle, I know I\u2019m onto something. That has always been that in the back of my mind, and I think that\u2019s what those guys are doing too. They\u2019re just playing shit that turns themselves on, and people caught onto it. I don\u2019t know them personally, but it looks like they\u2019re having a damn good time doing what they\u2019re doing and they\u2019re taking the piss. Aesthetically, it\u2019s very original, very odd, and very cool looking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are those your words of wisdom to emerging artists, just enjoy the process, try to find something original, and don\u2019t be too focused on the success?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, just shoot from the hip and be yourself. Why did people want John Hoffer to win that gig so much? Because he was so genuine. He was nervous as hell, and you could tell he was nervous as hell! He\u2019d been working at his skill for a long time and he\u2019s just a genuine dude, and people could relate to that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s always going to be an audience for the next thing, and if you have your thing and it\u2019s a little niche, then have faith that it will gradually catch on. With Primus, we were amazed that we got on the radio, let alone MTV. Ultimately, you never know what\u2019s going to happen, but I do think with any artist \u2013 whether you\u2019re creating shoes or drawing with crayons \u2013 the more honest you can be and the more you just let things flow, the more appealing it is to people.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3963401\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3963401\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3963401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/primus1@2000x1270.jpg\" alt=\"Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3963401\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>What other pots do you have on the stove at the minute?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are always so many things cooking. I started working on this record with Billy Strings three years ago but we never finished it, so that\u2019s got to get done at some point. Sean and I are also talking about putting together a stage play for this Delirium record. There\u2019s talk of doing a fully animated piece, but that\u2019s going to take some time and a lot of money, but we were literally on the phone recently trying to figure out how we can do a theatrical piece for this. We\u2019re wanting to set up some residencies here and there and do some stuff. That\u2019s probably coming up on the horizon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Primus\u2019 European tour dates continues with stops in Glasgow, London and ArcTanGent. Visit here for tickets and more information.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Alternative<\/li>\n<li>Angine de Poitrine<\/li>\n<li>Les Claypool<\/li>\n<li>Maynard James Keenan<\/li>\n<li>Primus<\/li>\n<li>Prog<\/li>\n<li>Psychedelia<\/li>\n<li>Rock<\/li>\n<li>Sean Ono Lennon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\"><span 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td-module-title\">Ozzfest officially confirms venue for 2027 return<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Watch Deftones play \u2018Risk\u2019 for the first time since 2011 as they kick off summer 2026 European tour<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Les Claypool has spoken to <em>NME<\/em> about his latest album with Sean Ono Lennon, how a \u201cnew energy\u201d that Primus haven\u2019t seen for \u201cmany years\u201d is inspiring new material, and comparisons to viral duo Angine de Poitrine.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The Great Parrot-Ox And The Golden Egg Of Empathy\u2019 with Lennon dropped in May and marked the third LP from the duo as part of The Claypool Lennon Delirium. Structured as a psychedelic-prog concept album, the record follows the narrative of an AI robot gradually turning humanity into paperclips, but also holds themes of empathy, mortality and free will at its core.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cShiner [Claypool\u2019s nickname for Ono Lennon] is like my brother now,\u201d Claypool told <em>NME<\/em> over Zoom, explaining that the record took three years to make and was potentially the most challenging project he has ever worked on.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3961051\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3961051\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3961051\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/claypool-lennon-delirium@2000x1270.jpg\" alt width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3961051\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Claypool Lennon Delirium. CREDIT: Jay Blakesburg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cComing into the third record, we really wanted to do something special. We set off to do some sort of narrative and came up with a few different notions, and eventually settled on this,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was the longest record we\u2019ve done and it was one of the most difficult records I\u2019ve ever made, because when you\u2019re working on a concept you have to stick within the parameters of that narrative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The album has sparked conversation over its references to the impact of artificial intelligence on manking \u2013 but the real message, Claypool told us, was not meant to be a discussion about AI, but rather about a general lack of compassion he and Lennon have observed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe funny thing is, the whole AI element of the storyline arose when we started this three years ago, and while the technology was on the horizon, it wasn\u2019t as prominent and in your face as it is now,\u201d the frontman explained. \u201cIt was just meant to be the conduit for the story, not the focus. The main point of the story is meant to be the loss of empathy that we\u2019re seeing in society.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>Check out the rest of our interview with Claypool below, where he also told us about why Primus are feeling \u201crejuvenated\u201d in time for their 2026 UK and European tour along with plans to drop a new record, hopes to make a stage play with Sean Ono Lennon, comparisons to Angine de Poitrine and more.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3963404\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3963404\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3963404\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/primus@2000x1270.jpg\" alt=\"Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3963404\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><em>NME<\/em>: Hi Les, let\u2019s look at the weird and wonderful concept behind the new Claypool Lennon Delirium album. Why has it always been important for you to tackle heavy themes with such a whimsical, lighthearted approach?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Les Claypool:<\/strong> \u201cIt\u2019s something that has been in my writing for years now, and I didn\u2019t even understand it myself at first. But as I\u2019ve become a seasoned fellow on this planet, I\u2019ve realised that it\u2019s [because] I grew up with a lot of alcoholism and drug abuse around me, and the way we always dealt with things in my family was with humour. That\u2019s the way I\u2019ve always dealt with heavy situations. Just look at the very first song I wrote for Primus, \u2018Too Many Puppies\u2019. That was anti-war \u2013 which is still very relevant \u2013 but under the guise of puppies as a metaphor for young men.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just always been easier for me to step into characters too because I was never comfortable with my voice. My dad still to this day says, \u2018You can\u2019t sing for shit, but you can sure play that bass\u2019, so I\u2019ve always had that element within me. It was easier for me to develop these characters and voice my perspectives through them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>There are still those who argue that artists should use their platform to speak out, or simply \u201cstick to the music\u201d. What\u2019s your stance with that?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the same shit, different day, because there\u2019s always something to get on your hind legs about. There\u2019s a lot of divide right now all around the planet, but it\u2019s especially noticeable here in the States. I have a lot of friends and relatives who think differently than me, and if we were to get into a room together and start voicing these perspectives as passionately as most of the country is doing right now, I wouldn\u2019t get along with a lot of my friends and relatives.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThings only work when we find ways to have our perspectives and voice our concerns without losing those relationships. Just because you have a different perspective than somebody, that doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re right and they\u2019re wrong, or they\u2019re a bad person and you\u2019re a good person.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have a friend that has always felt like if you don\u2019t agree with them, you\u2019re the enemy\u2026 I don\u2019t feel that way though, because if I did, I wouldn\u2019t be hanging out with my uncle or whatever! My uncle\u2019s a wonderful human being, but he just has a different perspective than me. Cross-pollinisation is the key to moving forward and all of us understanding each other and having empathy for each other. That\u2019s something we tackle on \u2018The Great Parrot-Ox\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Claypool Lennon Delirium - The Golden Egg of Empathy ft. WILLOW\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/o9wRaOCXgUs?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><strong>The nods to AI in the album now have a different meaning to what you originally intended due to the rapid developments in recent years. With AI-generated music becoming more and more prominent, do you think artists need to be worried?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs far as AI goes now, it\u2019s like anything else. It\u2019s here, we\u2019re going to have to deal with it, and you\u2019ve got to find a way to make it help the world as opposed to hinder it. Like it or not, it\u2019s not going away. It\u2019s part of our future, and everyone has to find their own way of dealing with it. No matter what I think, it\u2019s going to be there regardless, but it\u2019s like muzak in the elevator. It\u2019s just there.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSean and I have discussed [the implications on musicians], and we think that people are always going to want to see real artists. The thing that\u2019s going to suffer the most though, in terms of artists or musicians, are these jobs that original artists don\u2019t necessarily take. It\u2019ll be the gigs where you have to write music for a TV commercial, or you have to write music for a film, and that\u2019s because it\u2019s much cheaper just to plug [prompts] into an AI element and just spit it out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Speaking of the music landscape in 2026, are you still getting a new generation of fans discovering you and your music because of <em>South Park<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s odd, we just finished a big tour in the States, and it does seem like more younger people are at our shows now! But also there are a lot of things you can point to to explain that. There\u2019s a nostalgia element, because a lot of the \u201990s stuff is back and roaring again. Also, maybe it\u2019s just because we can go out there and waggle our fingers a little better than some others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s one thing you can say about Primus, Delirium, [Colonel Les Claypool\u2019s Fearless Flying] Frog Brigade or whatever, it\u2019s very human. There\u2019s a lot of improvisation at our shows, the sets change every night, and it\u2019s a real experience with real human beings. There are no click tracks, no pre-programmed anything, and even the visuals at these Primus shows are on the fly every night. We\u2019ve been working with an artist who I actually met through <em>South Park<\/em> to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3963400\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3963400\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3963400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/primus3@2000x1270.jpg\" alt=\"Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3963400\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Tell us more about the tour. It\u2019s your first time coming back to the UK in nearly a decade and your first time here with new drummer John Hoffman in the band. What can fans expect?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe interesting thing about ol\u2019 Hoffer is that he joined after the Drum Derby [audition process], and there was this cultish hysteria that was going on around him. A lot of people were rooting for that guy. He was the total underdog \u2013 he had to submit twice before we even gave him an audition, but he\u2019s been spectacular.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is now a new life and a new energy in this band that we haven\u2019t seen in many years, and it\u2019s infectious. I turn around on stage to look at him and he\u2019s just smiling away and having the time of his life, and that carries forth to us and then to the audience. If you see us on this tour, you\u2019ll see a rejuvenated Primus.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>That audition process got so much momentum and even had Billy Strings trying out to be in the line-up. What made you want to take that approach?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was an odd thing because we were all doing so well and getting along so well, and then all of a sudden our drummer [Tim \u201cHerb\u201d Alexander] just said, \u2018I\u2019m out of here. I\u2019m gone\u2019, and hasn\u2019t spoken to us. That\u2019s just life though, things change, people\u2019s perspectives change, and people\u2019s priorities change.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe just started looking online and, next thing you know, we decided to do a big cattle call and see who\u2019s out there. It felt like an opportunity, because this is the third time Herb has left, and the two times prior we always had somebody who could fit the bill that was ready to go. This time we didn\u2019t have anybody ready to go, so it was time to beat the bushes. We lucked out with Ol\u2019 Hoffer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>You recently dropped the new Primus EP \u2018A Handful Of Nuggs\u2019. Is there a full album on the way?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere will be. People always ask me what\u2019s coming next and the best way I can explain it is to say: \u2018Imagine there\u2019s this big stove, and there\u2019s a bunch of pots on the burners. Every now and again I\u2019ll pull a certain pot to the front, and that\u2019s the next thing coming\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere was a big bunch of pots for a while, and all of a sudden a lot of those dishes became ready to eat. This year, we\u2019ve released the Delirium record, a Frog Brigade live record. I\u2019ve got a Bastard Jazz thing coming. We\u2019ve got a \u2018Frizzle Fry\u2019 thing coming out this fall\u2026 and then we felt we needed to put some new Primus stuff out too, so we did the song \u2018The Ol\u2019 Grizz\u2019 as a taste of the next record. That is the first song off the upcoming album, and we\u2019re going to continue to work on it through this next year.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Primus - The Ol\u2019 Grizz (Official Video)\" width=\"696\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RE2oERgJkXg?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><strong>Maynard James Keenan told us earlier this year that he was tempted to bring the \u2018Sessanta\u2019 tour over to the UK and Europe, but would need new music from Primus, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer to justify it. With the three of you now working on new material, have there been any further talks?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe did talk about it, but the promoters didn\u2019t chomp on it. I don\u2019t think they understand the notion of it. Plus, it\u2019s been a long time since Primus has been to Europe, so I think there was an underestimation of the value. Now we\u2019re coming over and all these shows are selling out like crazy, so people are starting to go \u2018Wait a minute. These guys actually have some relevance to them.\u2019 So I think that was a big part of it. But who knows? I\u2019ve already told Maynard I\u2019m in for \u2018Ochenta\u2019 [a tour celebrating his 80th birthday] when he does it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Keenan mentioned that the financial aspect was making it more difficult, which makes you think about how tough it must be for new artists trying to get on the road. Do you think if a band like Primus were starting out in 2026 you could hit the same heights?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really don\u2019t know. It\u2019s funny, when Angine de Poitrine popped up, all of a sudden everybody was sending me all their videos saying \u2018Look at this, oh my God, this reminds me of Primus\u2019\u2026 so those guys are doing it and it seems like they\u2019re taking over the world. That\u2019s a wonderful thing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAgain, I think people just want to see real musicians play live. They want to see artistic guys and gals who can waggle their fingers and can do these incredible things with instruments. Maybe it\u2019s a response to the AI? I don\u2019t know, but it seems to have come around again. Look at Rush going back out on the road, or my buddy Billy Strings. A handful of years ago, he was playing little tiny places, and now he\u2019s massive. Why is that? Because he can fucking play.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs for how well would Primus do? I don\u2019t know and I don\u2019t think it matters. All the time kids ask me \u2018What do I do? How do I become successful?\u2019 and I always say, \u2018First of all, you\u2019ve got to quit thinking like that\u2019. You should play music because you\u2019re compelled to play music. If you can make $5 at it, that\u2019s icing on the cupcake. If you can make $500,000 on it, then \u2018woo-hoo\u2019 \u2013 good for you. But ultimately you should play music because you\u2019re compelled to do so, or because it\u2019s what makes you feel good, or it\u2019s what gives you a sense of identity. That\u2019s always the place where Primus would come from.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3945510\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3945510\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3945510\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/NMEAR_NME-THE-GREAT-ESCAPE-2026-ADP-LIVE-CHLOE-HASHEMI-5@2000x1270.jpg\" alt=\"Angine de Poitrine live at the NME Beach stage at The Great Escape 2026. Credit: Chloe Hashemi for NME\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3945510\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Angine de Poitrine live at the NME Beach stage at The Great Escape 2026. Credit: Chloe Hashemi for NME<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Do you see that common ground between Primus and Angine de Poitrine as well?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI see a common ground in the sense that they\u2019re they\u2019re not paying attention to the mainstream and just doing what gives them a chuckle. I\u2019ve always said that one of my main goals in anything I write is just to make [Primus guitarist] Larry LaLonde laugh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe is one of the most wonderful, giving, witty people I\u2019ve ever met in my life, and when we get in a room together, if I can write a lyric that makes him chuckle, I know I\u2019m onto something. That has always been that in the back of my mind, and I think that\u2019s what those guys are doing too. They\u2019re just playing shit that turns themselves on, and people caught onto it. I don\u2019t know them personally, but it looks like they\u2019re having a damn good time doing what they\u2019re doing and they\u2019re taking the piss. Aesthetically, it\u2019s very original, very odd, and very cool looking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are those your words of wisdom to emerging artists, just enjoy the process, try to find something original, and don\u2019t be too focused on the success?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, just shoot from the hip and be yourself. Why did people want John Hoffer to win that gig so much? Because he was so genuine. He was nervous as hell, and you could tell he was nervous as hell! He\u2019d been working at his skill for a long time and he\u2019s just a genuine dude, and people could relate to that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s always going to be an audience for the next thing, and if you have your thing and it\u2019s a little niche, then have faith that it will gradually catch on. With Primus, we were amazed that we got on the radio, let alone MTV. Ultimately, you never know what\u2019s going to happen, but I do think with any artist \u2013 whether you\u2019re creating shoes or drawing with crayons \u2013 the more honest you can be and the more you just let things flow, the more appealing it is to people.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3963401\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3963401\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3963401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/primus1@2000x1270.jpg\" alt=\"Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3963401\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Primus, 2026. CREDIT: Jay Blakesberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>What other pots do you have on the stove at the minute?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are always so many things cooking. I started working on this record with Billy Strings three years ago but we never finished it, so that\u2019s got to get done at some point. Sean and I are also talking about putting together a stage play for this Delirium record. There\u2019s talk of doing a fully animated piece, but that\u2019s going to take some time and a lot of money, but we were literally on the phone recently trying to figure out how we can do a theatrical piece for this. We\u2019re wanting to set up some residencies here and there and do some stuff. That\u2019s probably coming up on the horizon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Primus\u2019 European tour dates continues with stops in Glasgow, London and ArcTanGent. Visit here for tickets and more information.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/les-claypool-interview-new-primus-sean-ono-lennon-ai-3961041&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/les-claypool@2000&#215;1270.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News Les Claypool talks new Primus music and Angine de Poitrine comparisons: \u201cThere is a new life in this band\u201d The prog icon also talks plans to make a stage play with Sean Ono Lennon, the first UK Primus shows in nearly a decade, advice for new artists, and why viral [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2099065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2099065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2099065"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2099065\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2099065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2099065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2099065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}