Primus is an American rock band formed in 1984, currently composed of guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde, vocalist and bassist Les Claypool, and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed with Claypool, Todd Huth and Lane, with the latter two departing the band before Primus's debut release Suck on This, being replaced by drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander and Larry LaLonde. During this lineup, the band released four studio albums: Frizzle Fry, featuring "John the Fisherman", Sailing the Seas of Cheese, featuring "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" and "Tommy the Cat", Pork Soda featuring "My Name Is Mud" and Tales from the Punchbowl, featuring their most commercially successful single, "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver". In 1996, Alexander left Primus and was replaced by Bryan "Brain" Mantia, with whom they would later release Brown Album and Antipop before placing Primus on hiatus in 2000. They were also known for creating the original theme for "South Park" in 1997.
In 2003, Claypool and LaLonde reunited with Tim Alexander and released a DVD/EP, Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People, before touring from 2003 through 2004. In 2010, it was announced that one of the band's earliest drummers Jay Lane had rejoined the band for a cross-country tour, and they later digitally released the free June 2010 Rehearsal EP. An eighth album, titled Green Naugahyde, is due for release on on September 12, 2011 in Europe,[1] and September 13 in the United States.[2]
Primus are characterized by their irreverent and often non-serious approach to music. They have released some of their records on Claypool's Prawn Song Records label, the title of which is a parody of Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label.