Primus has announced their Summer 2025 “Onwards & Upwards” US tour, introducing new drummer John Hoffman as an official member of the band. The tour will begin July 5th in Paso Robles, California, and end with a two-night stop in Sacramento on August 7th and 8th.
John Hoffman joins the group following an open audition process known as the “Interstellar Drum Derby,” where he was selected from over 6,100 applicants. A five-day audition and a series of live jams on the West Coast led to his selection. He made his official debut with Primus during the band’s performance at Tool’s destination festival in the Dominican Republic in February, sharing drum duties with Danny Carey.
Primus frontman Les Claypool issued a statement praising Hoffman’s energy and contributions to the group. “Hitting the road this summer with Hoffer at the helm,” Claypool said. “This fiery, cheerful, octopus-like drummer from Shreveport, Louisiana has breathed a very potent breath of freshness into this band we all call PRIMUS.”
Claypool also confirmed that the upcoming shows will include deep cuts, some of which have not been played in years, at the request of Hoffman. “Come see why this amazing fellow was able to rise above over 6100 applicants to win the Interstellar Drum Derby and become the latest, and possibly the greatest, drummer to sit on the PRIMUS drum throne,” Claypool added.
Support on the “Onwards & Upwards” tour will rotate between Ty Segall and MonoNeon. Stops include major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and New York City. The tour will also feature a performance at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.
A Live Nation ticket pre-sale begins Thursday, March 27th at 10 a.m. local time using the code “FUNKY.” General public ticket sales will follow on Friday, March 28th at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster.
Before the summer tour, Hoffman will join Primus on the “Sessanta V2.0” spring tour alongside A Perfect Circle and Puscifer.
John Hoffman’s arrival marks a significant change in the band’s lineup, and his influence on the setlist and performance direction is already being felt. His upcoming run with Primus is expected to showcase both his technical skill and chemistry with longtime members Claypool and Larry “Ler” LaLonde.