Drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander has departed from the band PRIMUS. Primus stated that the decision came to the rest of its members as a “complete shock”. The news of his departure was also shared by his bandmates, who claim that they received an e-mail from him nearly two weeks ago saying he had “lost his passion for playing.”
Alexander joined PRIMUS in 1989 and left in 1996, then rejoined when they reformed in 2003. He exited the group again in 2010 but returned in 2013.
PRIMUS isn’t planning to cancel any upcoming shows; their New Year’s gig will feature an “augmented version of PRIMUS featuring members of HOLY MACKEREL and FROG BRIGADE,” and for TOOL’s “Live In The Sand” destination festival, they will be joined by the latter band’s Danny Carey. As for their 2025 “Sessanta” dates, they’re planning on “searching for the ‘greatest drummer on earth’.”
PRIMUS’s statement reads as follows:
“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. After several attempts to communicate with Herb, his only response was another email stating that he had ‘lost his passion for playing’. As disappointing as that is, we respect his choice and it’s forced us to make some tough decisions.”
In July 2016, Alexander revealed that he suffered a second heart attack after he previously endured a similar health scare in 2014.
A decade ago, Les Claypool’s plan to reform the “classic” PRIMUS lineup — with Alexander and guitarist Larry Lalonde — was put on hold when Alexander suffered his first heart attack, a “minor” attack that resulted in the drummer requiring triple bypass surgery. To fulfil its touring obligations, PRIMUS recruited Carey to fill in for a few dates. Three months after open-heart surgery, Alexander rejoined PRIMUS on the road.
Alexander has played in several projects with Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan including the bands Puscifer and A Perfect Circle. He earned the nickname “Herb” from his Primus bandmates after carrying a fanny pack full of herbs like ginseng that he would distribute.