Primus is on a serious hunt for the new drummer following the sudden departure of Tim “Herb” Alexander, and bluegrass whizkid Billy Strings has recorded an audition. Primus is taking open submissions for drummers, and on Friday Les Claypool leaked Billy’s audition tape.
“Okay here’s my audition to play for Primus,” Strings recounts as he sits down at the kit before wailing away with a tenacity that one commenter described as, “Simultaneously looks like he has been playing drums for years, and just picked up sticks for the first time.” After a frenetic series of rolls, snare slams, and cymbal crashes, Strings paradoxically counts off to end the video. In the caption, Claypool remarks, “We may have found our guy…”
Billy Strings playing with Primus isn’t too far-fetched (okay, maybe on drums it is). Earlier this year, Strings made a surprise appearance with Les, Larry “Ler” LaLonde, and Herb in Nashville on the Sessanta Tour with Puscifer and A Perfect Circle in celebration of Maynard James Keenan‘s 60th birthday. Strings joined Primus for “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver”, though his history with Claypool dates back well before that onstage encounter.
While Strings’ try-out for the position may have been in jest, Primus’ need for a new drummer is quite real. In October, longtime on-again-off-again drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander shocked fans and even his bandmates when he suddenly tendered his resignation via email. According to a statement from Primus, “On Thursday, October 17th, we received an email from Tim ‘Herb’ Alexander expressing that effective immediately he would no longer be involved with Primus. It came as a complete shock to all of us here in the Primus camp.”
“On the heels of a wonderful Spring & Summer of touring and some fabulous plans ahead, it has been a bit bewildering for us that Herb would so abruptly opt out,” the band continued. “After several attempts to communicate with Herb, his only response was another email stating that he has ‘lost his passion for playing.’”
Herb’s sudden exodus has left Primus looking for ringers to fill in on several high-profile gigs. For the band’s two-night New Year’s Eve run in Oakland, CA billed as The NYE Fisherman’s Chronicles Costume Ball, Primus will call up support from Claypool’s Holy Mackerel and Fearless Flying Frog Brigade bandmates. As the note from the band explained, “this will be an exciting special, one-time event.” In March, Primus will head to the Dominican Republic for the inaugural Tool Live in the Sand destination event, where Tool’s own Danny Carey will fill in on drums, just as he did on a string of shows in 2014 after Herb suffered his first heart attack.