One of my favorite things from a Primus interview is the guy asking them "how would you describe the primus sound?" and Ler responding with "it's les' fault"
What impresses me most about Les, is that he's doing all of this live, while singing, hopping, strutting and spinning all over the stage. Most people have to practice his bass lines in their basement and are lucky if they sound half decent. Imagine playing the same while doing all of the above for 90 minutes straight in bad lighting in front of a huge audience. He has amazing talent.
You need good song writing of course, but very often it's the drummer that truly makes or breaks the band. Think of Led Zeppelin, Tool, early Black Sabbath, early Mars Volta. Soundgarden. Even the Jimi Hendrix Experience wouldn't be the same with out Mitchell. Green Day without Tré Cool, Dave Matthews without Carter Beauford. Primus without Herb or Brain would really really suck.
I really like the format of the video, i dont think you've ever done smth like this on youtube, where you focus on every minor detail. Nice video bro, you the best
When I first heard "My Name Is Mud" I went and bought the album Pork Soda and listened to it with my jaw hanging open. I told a friend of mine that he had to listen to Primus, describing the production as, "inside-out". I see Les Claypool in a category with Frank Zappa, unconstrained and free to express and create following his own muse, and finding success through authenticity, rather than manufacture. Both Primus and The Mothers of Invention were at the right place at the right time, because at both of those moments record labels were looking to promote a style they didn't fully understand but knew was popular, not realising what they'd signed. MTV famously buried Primus's extraordinary music video for "Hello, Mr. Krinkle" which finally found its audience online.
Zappa was the first artist that didn't rely on a record label. Frank created his own label, selling his records mailorder and hipper record shops. He released 88 records in his short time on earth.
@@Reverend_BurrEyce He did eventually, but their first albums were on Verve, which had gone out to sign San Francisco bands to get in on the musical trend, not realising that The Mothers weren't a Frisco band, and that they weren't much like Jefferson Airplane. 😆 Frank Zappa said they were signed by mistake. I used to work at Tower Records and I noticed that while all other artists would have waves of popularity, Zappa sold consistantly.
I'll still never forget the video you made years ago where you played the "Is It Luck" bassline with perfect clarity, Charles! You're just as much a beast as Les is, just in a different way!
@@risoledoce you might wanna check out flagman as well. bit harder, but similar approach in terms of weirdness. also a trio and bassist sings and slaps a lot 😅
Their "Pork Soda" Album is really strange but genius. It was my first ever Primus CD I bought and as a metalhead I really had to force myself to listen to it.
I love Primus because it shows two things Victor Wooten points out about music : (1) No one dances to the key but to rythm, (2) context is more important than harmony. Since Les' voice is adapted to the dissonant sounds of his bass and Lalonde's guitar game, everything matches perfectly.
Les is a friggin' musical genius & I don't even play bass. He cleverly injects humor into his music & lyrics like nobody else. His beats are infectious as a mofo too.
I would love to hear you break down some Tool basslines. Preferably something not as well known like maybe 10,000 days pt. 2? Starting around the 4:30 mark there are some really interesting and amazing riffs.
ua-cam.com/video/FPcpWrWfup0/v-deo.htmlsi=XtvUIfanjZuGyraw this dude has several videos looking at Justin's bass lines Not sure if Charles likes tool, never hear him talk about their music or play any of it
Hearing Primus in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 as a child was integral in defining my music taste growing up (plus all the THPS soundtracks, Guitar Hero and Rock Band)
Les was the hero of my youth. was listening to him and flea basslines a lot. usually giving up when trying to play along ❤ sadly they dont show up in europe anymore for years now 🥲
One perk of living in the Bay Area, I get to see Les live a lot. Saw him do a small Thanksgiving show, and seeing him at the new years show this year (in addition to last year). Always a fun time
Been a fan of Les Claypool and all his bands for years still to this day I can not get Tommy the cat down even enough to fake the bass line. Thanks for this video I don’t think there is a bass line you can’t play lol you’re awesome and keep the videos coming!!
What I love about Primus is that as goofy as they are they also just straight up rock hard as hell. It's super technical and weird but you can also mosh to it.
He has a song that he plays with one of his other bands, the flying frog brigade, called whamola, named after the instrument he uses to play the song, which I think he uses as the template for that variation of the south park theme song. A whamola is a single string upright bass played using a drum stick to his the string and a lever at the top to pull up and down which changes the note Note, the original version of the south park theme song is done on a normal (I think acoustic) bass. There is a televised version of the whamola south park theme too, that's why play it at the concert/extravaganza (they actually play both versions)
Primus came to fame in the 90s, the decade of Alternative Rock, What's more alternative than Primus? Was wondering if you might check out Hatebreed? The bassist has one of the best tones ever, Chris Beattie. Good song for bass sound by him is "Now is the Time"
I got to see Primus open for Rush in 1994. They opened with My Name is Mud. That was awesome. He's done a lot of tours covering albums like Pink Floyd's Animals, and Rush's A Farewell to Kings.
I saw them with System of a Down, Slipknot, Slayer, Rob Zombie, Black Sabbath, and a bunch of other bands. Pantera's outro to "Goddamn Electric" was recorded by Kerry King at the concert that day in a bathroom backstage. Lol
Les has such a distinctive sound and he knows how to ROCK! So funky and fun. I'd love to see a break down of one of Chris Squire's classic bass lines. He was the first bass player I really noticed
4:55 It's actually a little tweak to the main pattern of Slap, Tap, Pop, Tap (Tap being the left-hand slap) Except in the solo, it's Slap, Slap, Tap, Slap, Pop, Tap When I was learning it, this pattern was like the Rosetta Stone to it. It just CLICKS when you get it down. A pattern very similar to this is also used in the Tommy The Cat solo
There's not many bassists that you can identify after they've only played a couple of notes. Les is a genius. Bassline breakdown suggestion: Bonin in the Boneyard off Truth and Soul by Fishbone.
I would love to see a video like this of Sean Malone, former bassist of Cynic, Gordian Knot, Aghora, etc. He brought jazz sensitivities into the sound of extreme metal and pretty much made it a thing, and has influenced countless bassists since then. There aren't many bassists out there that you can just listen to a couple of notes and immediately know it's them playing, Sean Malone is one of the few, with his eerie fret less bass lines. I hope you get to review his stuff one day, he's sorely missed since he passed away in 2020.
As a long time Primus fan, who are my major inspiration to grab a bass and study music, I really appreciate your words in the ending. Les is one of a kind like Jaco and the other major bass players. He is so out of the box that you can make very little use of his style, but man his b(ad)ass lines are so exciting and fun to listen!
Well, well, Mr Playcool... A dramatically little known band from Seattle is Sad Happy with just dr, bs and sax. The sax player, Skerik, became somewhat famous later. Try to find Accidental Family from the Live Before We Were Dead album. It'll blow your mind if you're a bass player. Wouldn't mind Charles dissecting that on the channel 😁.
Chills. Had a bad day today and I needed me some Charles just schooling us. Every time you play somebody else’s music, I always wonder what they think of your analysis and interpretation.
For me I learned of primus my 8th grade year after seeing My Name is Mud on headbangers ball and I requested it when my grandfather asked what I wanted for a reward for finishing middle school. I listened to that cd so much ended up buying my first bass in 94. Saw them live on punch bowl tour and then again for brown album. Such an awesome band and bass player hope I can make it to next tour when it hits my area.
FINALLY an episode with Les Claypool !!!! I was doing gym with Porc Soda in my headphones back in the days (90s). I still love that guy. So different and fully "assumed".
@@CharlesBerthoud Thanks for replying my message! By the way, my favourite song of his is called “Jackie Chan”. It’s a duet with a ferocious drummer, absolute bonkers.
The first time I ever heard Primus was when I played “Jerry Was A Race Car Driver” on Rock Band 3 when I was growing up and I was immediately blown away by that insane bass riff (which was definitely a major “What is THAT?!?!” moment for me since I had never heard anything like that before), but since learning to play bass in high school and playing it in my high school band Les has definitely become one of my favourite bassists. His playing is just absolute insanity and his incredibly unconventional style is one of the reasons why he’s still considered one of the greatest bassists of all time
Had the pleasure of seeing them at Wembley Arena supporting Rush's "Roll the Bones" tour, promoting "Sailing the Seas of Cheese" they were frigging AWESOME...Kashmir on a bowed upright bass.
There is this band here in Florida I've seen live a few times. They are like Primus meets Dillinger Escape Plan. They are called Flagman. They are incredible. Awesome bass lines.
I though you'll mention in the intro that Primus made the South Park intro :) at least you mentioned it later. Also, there was a concert for South Park's 25 anniversary, where Matt&Trey played with Primus + other guests (not spoiling anything....), and Tommy The Cat sung by Matt Stone as Butters The Cat is one of the craziest and best crossovers i have ever heard :D
I got so much into Primus and Les after I learned about them. It's just something I can't even explain. They sound like no one else and no one ever will. And I really appreciate his mastery over his instrument, so he can do pretty much whatever with it.
"Veil of Maya" by Cynic's Sean Malone is a MUST HEAR. He was a fellow Jaco fan who even had at least 1 officially published book of Jaco bass solos(published by Hal Leonard). Absolutely fantastic bassist!
I have always liked Primus because they just seem like they are having fun and that's the whole point. If your not having fun what the hell are you doing?
I know it’s strange but i am nearly 65 years old and in the last couple of years I’ve been listening to Primus and really enjoying their bizarre music! I agree it’s really about their originality!
Les is one of my favourite bassists ever (even though I get why people think Primus might be weird). My Name Is Mud has probably one of the heaviest and grooviest basslines I’ve ever heard and it’s so simple. As someone else mentioned, it’s their percussion that made me a fan of the band (how tight the bass and drums lock in with each other) and I’m a guitarist!
Kinda reminds me of Frank Zappa and the "Mothers". Just going nuts with everything and making it sound great! Bela Fleck and the "Flecktones" also comes to mind. Like Brubeck with "Take Five" with a 4/4 and 5/4 combination.
I spent all of high school and college listening to primus. I dont too much any more. But that's because once you have listened to something enough, it's almost just a part of you. Same thing happened with Parliament.
I like the idea of being your own unique self, and what a fantastic job you did emulating Les. Personally, I'm a fan of listening to what my ears find pleasing. That would be you, and not the talented Les. You are an impossbly fantastic musician, and a pretty spectacular teacher.
People like Primus because it isn't overproduced, formulaic garbage. It's real, authentic, and doesn't cater to the demands of throwaway pop charts unlike so much of today's music.
Charles, I'm reasonably sure that there isn't a bass line, performed by any other human that you can't play ! I literally have not seen but maybe two other musicians that are even close to your level of technical skill on the bass. Whether you realize it or not, your a monster on bass !
If you want to hear Les playing a bit less atonally (and a bit heavier), check out the album The Sane Asylum by Blind Illusion. They were a thrash band that he was in before and during the early days of Primus. The album also features Primus guitarist Larry Lalonde.
I think in one of the liner notes of one of their albums the guitarist described his sound as a bunch of chickens running around and I always thought it was hilariously accurate.
?? En los 90 nunca se vio un bajista tan innovador y influyente, nadie tocaba como el. Yo soy de un pueblo a una hora de Barcelona (spain)., salieron muchos grupos con bajistas que imitaban a lees claypool, fue una influencia mundial en la manera de hacer música metal con un bajista que pudiera tocar de muchas otras formas que las tradicionales. En cuanto a los rifs que ha creado este monstruo que es claypool, nunca podrás soñar con tocar algo mejor. Perdona, pero acabas de dejar como un bajista del montón, a un digno sucesor de pastorius. 👍🏻👍🏻
I honestly love Les Claypool and Primus. Les is actually the one who inspired me to start playing bass. I can barely play slap, but other than that I feel I’m decent.
I'll never forget the first time I heard Primus. A college radio station was playing "To Defy...", and I was like, "What in the _hell_ is this? Is that a BASS?!" Ran out and bought Frizzle Fry. Spent countless hours copying everything I could. I was pretty new to bass, and that album absolutely leveled up my playing. You're right: the word "genius" is too readily used, but Les pushed bass playing in a similar way to Jaco. He did things that you just didn't hear other bassists doing mainly because it was too difficult. I don't love Primus' music, but I nonetheless have 3 albums because Les' bass wizardry just can't be denied.
Check out the Desaturated Seven, it's basically a concept album based on a children's book and it's the closest to prog they've ever come, it's in my top three favorites
If you want to play some fusion jazz, you should check out the baselines of Alain Caron, especially his songs D Code or Slam The Clown. As a bonus it's going to give you an occasion to dust-off that 6 string.
As a musician, I’ve always found it like oh there’s some noisy guitar in there. The guitar just does what it wants and drums and bass are like oh ya get some lol
Get half off Mastering The Masters before Dec 25: bassmasters.co
Here in the states we would pronounce his name Less not Lez😊
You song slapocalypse gave me a new love for base guitar.
I had no idea Les Claypool was polarising. I thought he was pretty universally beloved amongst musicians at least.
He's popular among music fans, especially bass players, but as far as the average person, yeah you either like Primus or you don't.
As a bassist, I've never been a fan of Primus.
And he doesn’t “usually play a six string fretless”.
Same tbh haha
I think you misspelled "crackheads"
One of my favorite things from a Primus interview is the guy asking them "how would you describe the primus sound?" and Ler responding with "it's les' fault"
Like "Angry chickens, or a space robot." - Ler
What impresses me most about Les, is that he's doing all of this live, while singing, hopping, strutting and spinning all over the stage. Most people have to practice his bass lines in their basement and are lucky if they sound half decent. Imagine playing the same while doing all of the above for 90 minutes straight in bad lighting in front of a huge audience. He has amazing talent.
Lol, I love the one legged hop he does. Like from the 94 woodstock
Tommy the Cat & Jerry Was a Race Car Driver are insanely fun bass-lines.
And John the fisherman
Long time Primus fan here. For me it's the percussive style. I'm drawn to the rhythm of songs, and Primus has rhythm in spades.
You need good song writing of course, but very often it's the drummer that truly makes or breaks the band. Think of Led Zeppelin, Tool, early Black Sabbath, early Mars Volta. Soundgarden. Even the Jimi Hendrix Experience wouldn't be the same with out Mitchell. Green Day without Tré Cool, Dave Matthews without Carter Beauford. Primus without Herb or Brain would really really suck.
It’s the rhythm section for me, too. Did someone mention Danny Carey?
I really like the format of the video, i dont think you've ever done smth like this on youtube, where you focus on every minor detail. Nice video bro, you the best
go to his other channel basscamp, he did a flea one
When I first heard "My Name Is Mud" I went and bought the album Pork Soda and listened to it with my jaw hanging open. I told a friend of mine that he had to listen to Primus, describing the production as, "inside-out". I see Les Claypool in a category with Frank Zappa, unconstrained and free to express and create following his own muse, and finding success through authenticity, rather than manufacture. Both Primus and The Mothers of Invention were at the right place at the right time, because at both of those moments record labels were looking to promote a style they didn't fully understand but knew was popular, not realising what they'd signed. MTV famously buried Primus's extraordinary music video for "Hello, Mr. Krinkle" which finally found its audience online.
I bet you guys can pat your head and rub your stomach at the time
Zappa was the first artist that didn't rely on a record label. Frank created his own label, selling his records mailorder and hipper record shops. He released 88 records in his short time on earth.
@@Reverend_BurrEyce He did eventually, but their first albums were on Verve, which had gone out to sign San Francisco bands to get in on the musical trend, not realising that The Mothers weren't a Frisco band, and that they weren't much like Jefferson Airplane. 😆 Frank Zappa said they were signed by mistake. I used to work at Tower Records and I noticed that while all other artists would have waves of popularity, Zappa sold consistantly.
The Zappa comparison is spot on!
It's the leg stomping that gets people riled up...
Primus sucks!!!
I do that sometimes because of him, and I can also confirm it’s fun as hell to do
I'll still never forget the video you made years ago where you played the "Is It Luck" bassline with perfect clarity, Charles! You're just as much a beast as Les is, just in a different way!
Les Claypool's unique and has his own style. There aren't any bands that sound very close to Primus. When you hear him, you know it's Les.
I’ve got his Pink Floyd Animals cover album. I don’t think I would know it was Les if I only knew Primus.
Check out nuclear rabbit, they come pretty close
@@risoledoce you might wanna check out flagman as well. bit harder, but similar approach in terms of weirdness. also a trio and bassist sings and slaps a lot 😅
It's not just Les, the rest of the band is very unique and talented too, nobody sounds like Primus though
@@EdwardDore-g8h I do agree with this statement. All three guys usually on another level
If Geddy Lee loves Les Claypool, that's good enough for me.
And Claypool loves Geddy. I saw Primus play the whole A farewell to Kings album live plus their own set.
Their "Pork Soda" Album is really strange but genius. It was my first ever Primus CD I bought and as a metalhead I really had to force myself to listen to it.
Saw Primus open for Rush in the 90's . One of the best shows I ever seen.
That's my time travel concert. I didn't get the chance due to just barely not having been born.
Damn that sounds fkin lit
I love Primus because it shows two things Victor Wooten points out about music : (1) No one dances to the key but to rythm, (2) context is more important than harmony. Since Les' voice is adapted to the dissonant sounds of his bass and Lalonde's guitar game, everything matches perfectly.
@@discobunny4eva759I think he’s sung! Most of my drummer friends have immense regard for Herb
Les Claypool keeps the spirit of musicians like the great Frank Zappa alive through their musicianship. Love the diversity.
I always think of Zappa when I see their stuff. I had the privilege of seeing Zappa in London in 1987 or '88. That was an experience and a half!
Les is a friggin' musical genius & I don't even play bass. He cleverly injects humor into his music & lyrics like nobody else. His beats are infectious as a mofo too.
Les is so much fun
Never seen such a combination of incredible bass skills with hilarious stage presence, and probably never will again 😅
@ I got to see them last summer and it is the best band I’ve ever watched out of probably close to 1,000. (I’m old 😆) they’re SO tight
I would love to hear you break down some Tool basslines. Preferably something not as well known like maybe 10,000 days pt. 2? Starting around the 4:30 mark there are some really interesting and amazing riffs.
ua-cam.com/video/FPcpWrWfup0/v-deo.htmlsi=XtvUIfanjZuGyraw
this dude has several videos looking at Justin's bass lines
Not sure if Charles likes tool, never hear him talk about their music or play any of it
Hearing Primus in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 as a child was integral in defining my music taste growing up (plus all the THPS soundtracks, Guitar Hero and Rock Band)
Les was the hero of my youth. was listening to him and flea basslines a lot. usually giving up when trying to play along ❤ sadly they dont show up in europe anymore for years now 🥲
One perk of living in the Bay Area, I get to see Les live a lot. Saw him do a small Thanksgiving show, and seeing him at the new years show this year (in addition to last year). Always a fun time
I managed to open for Gabby lala once, I live in the north bay. Was awesome.
Been a fan of Les Claypool and all his bands for years still to this day I can not get Tommy the cat down even enough to fake the bass line. Thanks for this video I don’t think there is a bass line you can’t play lol you’re awesome and keep the videos coming!!
I'm surprised with a title like those we didn't end up talking about Mono Neon and showing his microtonal stuff.
Might have to do just that 🔥
I would love to see a Mono Neon breakdown!
@@CharlesBerthoud if you do MonoNeon dont forget the cool stuff he does with Knower! 'Nightmare' for example. :)
What I love about Primus is that as goofy as they are they also just straight up rock hard as hell. It's super technical and weird but you can also mosh to it.
I quite liked the DMV bassline. It tickled my brain in a good way :D
1:38 the stank face intuition kicks in
Les played a single string upright bass for the South Park musical extravaganza they did a couple years ago.
A whamola
He has a song that he plays with one of his other bands, the flying frog brigade, called whamola, named after the instrument he uses to play the song, which I think he uses as the template for that variation of the south park theme song. A whamola is a single string upright bass played using a drum stick to his the string and a lever at the top to pull up and down which changes the note
Note, the original version of the south park theme song is done on a normal (I think acoustic) bass. There is a televised version of the whamola south park theme too, that's why play it at the concert/extravaganza (they actually play both versions)
I didn't even know that my ears could hear Bass that fast-starting at around 7:18. Way to go, Charles.
You transformed master of puppets into doom theme 😂
Pretty sure one of the level themes is a very obvious rip off of MoP. There's also Slayer on at least one level.
Primus came to fame in the 90s, the decade of Alternative Rock, What's more alternative than Primus? Was wondering if you might check out Hatebreed? The bassist has one of the best tones ever, Chris Beattie. Good song for bass sound by him is "Now is the Time"
Presentation!!!!!
Stage presence is a must.
And they have it.
I got to see Primus open for Rush in 1994. They opened with My Name is Mud. That was awesome.
He's done a lot of tours covering albums like Pink Floyd's Animals, and Rush's A Farewell to Kings.
Les claypools fearless flying frog brigade do pink Floyd's animals in full. They're amazing! Sean Lennon plays with them as well. Incredible band.
I saw them with System of a Down, Slipknot, Slayer, Rob Zombie, Black Sabbath, and a bunch of other bands. Pantera's outro to "Goddamn Electric" was recorded by Kerry King at the concert that day in a bathroom backstage. Lol
i FLIPPING LOVE Primus
Les has such a distinctive sound and he knows how to ROCK! So funky and fun. I'd love to see a break down of one of Chris Squire's classic bass lines. He was the first bass player I really noticed
4:55
It's actually a little tweak to the main pattern of Slap, Tap, Pop, Tap (Tap being the left-hand slap)
Except in the solo, it's Slap, Slap, Tap, Slap, Pop, Tap
When I was learning it, this pattern was like the Rosetta Stone to it. It just CLICKS when you get it down.
A pattern very similar to this is also used in the Tommy The Cat solo
There's not many bassists that you can identify after they've only played a couple of notes. Les is a genius. Bassline breakdown suggestion: Bonin in the Boneyard off Truth and Soul by Fishbone.
I would love to see a video like this of Sean Malone, former bassist of Cynic, Gordian Knot, Aghora, etc. He brought jazz sensitivities into the sound of extreme metal and pretty much made it a thing, and has influenced countless bassists since then. There aren't many bassists out there that you can just listen to a couple of notes and immediately know it's them playing, Sean Malone is one of the few, with his eerie fret less bass lines. I hope you get to review his stuff one day, he's sorely missed since he passed away in 2020.
As a long time Primus fan, who are my major inspiration to grab a bass and study music, I really appreciate your words in the ending.
Les is one of a kind like Jaco and the other major bass players. He is so out of the box that you can make very little use of his style, but man his b(ad)ass lines are so exciting and fun to listen!
His percussive style and dissonant notes create a truly distinctive sound!
Thank you very much for your analysis, Charles, and Happy Holidays!
Well, well, Mr Playcool...
A dramatically little known band from Seattle is Sad Happy with just dr, bs and sax. The sax player, Skerik, became somewhat famous later.
Try to find Accidental Family from the Live Before We Were Dead album. It'll blow your mind if you're a bass player. Wouldn't mind Charles dissecting that on the channel 😁.
Chills. Had a bad day today and I needed me some Charles just schooling us. Every time you play somebody else’s music, I always wonder what they think of your analysis and interpretation.
Looks like we are now looking at deferent bassist, like the old days (and from the old days)
Nature Boy from Primus has always been my favorite Les Bass Line
For me I learned of primus my 8th grade year after seeing My Name is Mud on headbangers ball and I requested it when my grandfather asked what I wanted for a reward for finishing middle school. I listened to that cd so much ended up buying my first bass in 94. Saw them live on punch bowl tour and then again for brown album. Such an awesome band and bass player hope I can make it to next tour when it hits my area.
FINALLY an episode with Les Claypool !!!! I was doing gym with Porc Soda in my headphones back in the days (90s). I still love that guy. So different and fully "assumed".
I wish that you can check out some of John Ferrara's songs. He’s an amazing bass player who does lots of polyrhythmic tapping things, it’s incredible.
I'll take a look!
@@CharlesBerthoud Thanks for replying my message! By the way, my favourite song of his is called “Jackie Chan”. It’s a duet with a ferocious drummer, absolute bonkers.
The band he’s in called Consider the Source is amazing. Seen them live a few times
John Farrar, similar name different guy, wrote You are the one that i want. Classic killer baseline too :P
@@lt_johnmcclane That guitarist with double-neck fretless guitar is an absolute freak show.
I'd love to see you dig in to Rutger Gunnarsson of ABBA. That stuff is awesome.
The first time I ever heard Primus was when I played “Jerry Was A Race Car Driver” on Rock Band 3 when I was growing up and I was immediately blown away by that insane bass riff (which was definitely a major “What is THAT?!?!” moment for me since I had never heard anything like that before), but since learning to play bass in high school and playing it in my high school band Les has definitely become one of my favourite bassists. His playing is just absolute insanity and his incredibly unconventional style is one of the reasons why he’s still considered one of the greatest bassists of all time
Had the pleasure of seeing them at Wembley Arena supporting Rush's "Roll the Bones" tour, promoting "Sailing the Seas of Cheese" they were frigging AWESOME...Kashmir on a bowed upright bass.
There is this band here in Florida I've seen live a few times. They are like Primus meets Dillinger Escape Plan. They are called Flagman. They are incredible. Awesome bass lines.
I’ve seen Primus about ten times. Claypool’s skill is jaw dropping. Especially when he’s sometimes playing two baselines *AND* singing.
Primus headlined the first concert I went to on my own; I was 16 in 1990. So much fun.
I though you'll mention in the intro that Primus made the South Park intro :) at least you mentioned it later.
Also, there was a concert for South Park's 25 anniversary, where Matt&Trey played with Primus + other guests (not spoiling anything....), and Tommy The Cat sung by Matt Stone as Butters The Cat is one of the craziest and best crossovers i have ever heard :D
I got so much into Primus and Les after I learned about them. It's just something I can't even explain. They sound like no one else and no one ever will. And I really appreciate his mastery over his instrument, so he can do pretty much whatever with it.
"Veil of Maya" by Cynic's Sean Malone is a MUST HEAR. He was a fellow Jaco fan who even had at least 1 officially published book of Jaco bass solos(published by Hal Leonard). Absolutely fantastic bassist!
That's nothing to figure out.
It JUST SLAPPPPPPS!!!!
🤘🐵🤘
I have always liked Primus because they just seem like they are having fun and that's the whole point. If your not having fun what the hell are you doing?
Primus and Frog Brigade are the best Claypool projects imo, but they're all pretty awesome! Id love to hear your take of Southbound Pachyderm!
if you're alive and you love bass, you have to love Les! his unique and quirky style is the appeal.
I know it’s strange but i am nearly 65 years old and in the last couple of years I’ve been listening to Primus and really enjoying their bizarre music! I agree it’s really about their originality!
You should react to Morphine. The singer Mark Sandman plays a two-string slide bass. Les Claypool is also a big fan of his.
Band is called Morphine 😘
Les is one of my favourite bassists ever (even though I get why people think Primus might be weird). My Name Is Mud has probably one of the heaviest and grooviest basslines I’ve ever heard and it’s so simple. As someone else mentioned, it’s their percussion that made me a fan of the band (how tight the bass and drums lock in with each other) and I’m a guitarist!
Kinda reminds me of Frank Zappa and the "Mothers". Just going nuts with everything and making it sound great! Bela Fleck and the "Flecktones" also comes to mind. Like Brubeck with "Take Five" with a 4/4 and 5/4 combination.
Les is awesome!
Need to listen more to Primus again! Got such groove in their music 😊
Back in the day I got to see them with Living Color... one of the best nights of music I've ever had the chance to enjoy 11/10
I spent all of high school and college listening to primus.
I dont too much any more. But that's because once you have listened to something enough, it's almost just a part of you.
Same thing happened with Parliament.
I like the idea of being your own unique self, and what a fantastic job you did emulating Les. Personally, I'm a fan of listening to what my ears find pleasing. That would be you, and not the talented Les. You are an impossbly fantastic musician, and a pretty spectacular teacher.
People like Primus because it isn't overproduced, formulaic garbage. It's real, authentic, and doesn't cater to the demands of throwaway pop charts unlike so much of today's music.
you don't speak for anyone but yourself on anything
it's also virtuosic music right up there on the stage
Well that is all true they are also just really unique
@@slowery43He is speaking for many others, whether you like it or not.
Love his playing, he's no doubt my favorite bass player. Awesome video!
What a great video!
Since i was a kid i have loved those basslines and goofy songs. Some of their music is so damn heavy!
One of my favourite Primus basslines that no one ever talks about is Natural Joe, it's an absolute monster tone too.
@WHat's amazing about Les, is his ability to sing/talk, WHILE PLAYING THOSE BASS LINES.
If you play all the wrong notes it is because you know all the good ones! Kind of like getting 0% on a multiple choice test lol
Holy smokes... you are the Master!!! Les Claypool is one of my faves on bass.
oke choice of songs is commendable. Is it luck might be one of my favorits because of its absolute strangeness
Charles, I'm reasonably sure that there isn't a bass line, performed by any other human that you can't play !
I literally have not seen but maybe two other musicians that are even close to your level of technical skill on the bass.
Whether you realize it or not, your a monster on bass !
The mental thing about Les is that he sings as well as playing these mental bass lines!
I'd love to see you do a dive into John Entwistle's bass lines. The Who is a bit older than most of the stuff you cover, but he was still amazing.
If you want to hear Les playing a bit less atonally (and a bit heavier), check out the album The Sane Asylum by Blind Illusion. They were a thrash band that he was in before and during the early days of Primus. The album also features Primus guitarist Larry Lalonde.
I love their Cygnus x-1 cover
I've heard some great covers on the flying frog Brigade 1 & 2, but I haven't heard that cover it sounds awesome
I think in one of the liner notes of one of their albums the guitarist described his sound as a bunch of chickens running around and I always thought it was hilariously accurate.
I'd love a breakdown of Ryan Martinie's basslines on "Severed", "Nothing to Gein", or really anything he did on Mudvayne's LD50 album.
?? En los 90 nunca se vio un bajista tan innovador y influyente, nadie tocaba como el.
Yo soy de un pueblo a una hora de Barcelona (spain)., salieron muchos grupos con bajistas que imitaban a lees claypool, fue una influencia mundial en la manera de hacer música metal con un bajista que pudiera tocar de muchas otras formas que las tradicionales.
En cuanto a los rifs que ha creado este monstruo que es claypool, nunca podrás soñar con tocar algo mejor. Perdona, pero acabas de dejar como un bajista del montón, a un digno sucesor de pastorius. 👍🏻👍🏻
I honestly love Les Claypool and Primus. Les is actually the one who inspired me to start playing bass. I can barely play slap, but other than that I feel I’m decent.
Peter Steele of Type O Negative
And Carnivore before that. One of the heaviest bands ever! Especially the Retaliation album.
I'll never forget the first time I heard Primus. A college radio station was playing "To Defy...", and I was like, "What in the _hell_ is this? Is that a BASS?!" Ran out and bought Frizzle Fry. Spent countless hours copying everything I could. I was pretty new to bass, and that album absolutely leveled up my playing.
You're right: the word "genius" is too readily used, but Les pushed bass playing in a similar way to Jaco. He did things that you just didn't hear other bassists doing mainly because it was too difficult. I don't love Primus' music, but I nonetheless have 3 albums because Les' bass wizardry just can't be denied.
Check out the Desaturated Seven, it's basically a concept album based on a children's book and it's the closest to prog they've ever come, it's in my top three favorites
@@EdwardDore-g8h Thx, I hadn't heard of that one. 😎
Would be cool to see you have a go at Meshuggah, specifically Dick Lövgren 👍
If you want to play some fusion jazz, you should check out the baselines of Alain Caron, especially his songs D Code or Slam The Clown. As a bonus it's going to give you an occasion to dust-off that 6 string.
спасибо за подробный разбор!! Приятно смотреть твоими глазами. Спасибо!
Thank you for upgrading the demo version to Pro! Enjoy your trip!
I would love to see you breakdown Pluck Interlude
That performance of Master of Puppets deserves a full cover. Damn that was good.
Nice job Charles, you should more videos like that! Great
There's no need for other bassists when you have Charles!
Primus is Hella great!!
🤘🔥🤘
Love Les
Charles
I have had the honour of shaking Norman Watt-Roy's hand....
Maybe look at his delicious bass lines?
As a musician, I’ve always found it like oh there’s some noisy guitar in there. The guitar just does what it wants and drums and bass are like oh ya get some lol
I've always said I love that Claypool plays like he does ... and equally, that there is only one of him.
You covered Flea, now Les Claypool... All that's missing is Ryan Martinie to complete heavy bass beast trinity