Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool (born September 29, 1963) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, composer, author and actor best known as the bassist and lead vocalist of the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends, and slapping.
Claypool has also self-produced and engineered his solo releases from his own studio, "Rancho Relaxo". 2006 saw the release of a full-length feature film Electric Apricot written and directed by Claypool as well as a debut novel South of the Pumphouse.
Biography
Early years
Claypool was born September 29, 1963 in Richmond, California, but was raised in El Sobrante, California in a working-class family with a history of working as auto mechanics. He remarked: "I could've been a guitar player, but back then everybody wanted to be a guitar player, because everybody wanted to be Eddie Van Halen. I knew that if I got a bass, I could at least get a gig." Claypool therefore decided to become a bass player, taking it up at the age of fourteen. His early education included Collins Elementary School and De Anza High School, where he was a personal friend of Kirk Hammett of Metallica.
Of Whales And Woe is the solo debut album by Les Claypool, the bassist/vocalist of Primus. The album was released on the May 30, 2006. The album features Skerik (saxophonist of the Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade), Mike Dillon (percussionist, also of the Frog Brigade), and Gabby La La (multi-instrumentalist). "Back off Turkey" also features Les' children, Cage and Lena. The track "Iowan Gal" is a love song for his wife, Chaney Claypool.
Background
Of Whales and Woe marks the first album release under the name Les Claypool. Though previous "solo" efforts were issued under a variety of monikers, these new recordings are the most self-contained to date. On most of the tracks Claypool provides drums and guitar as well as his usual bass and vocals while band members add instrumental variety (Skerik - sax, Mike Dillon - marimba and percussion, Gabby La La - sitar). The CD includes an assortment of musical styles and also includes Les' theme for Seth Green's hit animated show Robot Chicken that airs on Adult Swim.
Podcasts:
Les Claypool
ALBUMS
- Of Fungi and Foe released: 2009
- Fancy released: 2007
- Of Whales and Woe released: 2006
Fancy
Released 2007- Up on the Roof (Austin, TX)
- Of Whales and Woe (Austin, TX)
- Rumble of the Diesel (Cleveland, OH)
- Long in the Tooth (Cleveland, OH)
- Vernon the Company Man (New York, NY)
- Holy Mackeral (Austin, Tx)
- Phantom Patriot (Austin, TX)
- Cosmic Highway (New York, NY)
- Filipino Ray (Boston, MA)
- The Big Eyeball in the Sky (Cleveland, OH)
- D’s Diner (Cleveland, OH)
- One Better (Austin, TX)
- Running the Gauntlet (Cleveland, OH)
- American Life (Cleveland, OH)
- Iowan Gal (Cleveland, OH)
- Lust Stings (Cleveland, OH)
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Lust Stings
by: Les ClaypoolIt's been so long
Since we've talked about things
Should'a took time to reconnoiter
Lust stings
Nobody likes me
Everybody hates me
I'm gonna eat me some worms
I'm gonna eat me some worms
I got the herpes on my pecker
Sometimes it itches and burns
I'm gonna eat me some worms
It's been so long
Since we've really talked about things
S'cuse me while I reconnoiter
Lust stings