Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde of Primus have announced the abrupt departure of the band's former drummer, Tim “Herb” Alexander.
In a statement released on Tuesday, October 29, Claypool and LaLonde explained that Alexander resigned “effective immediately” from the band via an email sent on Thursday, October 17. “It was a complete shock to all of us here at the Primus camp,” the statement explained.
“After a wonderful spring and summer of touring and some fabulous plans ahead, it has been a little disconcerting to us that Herb decided so abruptly to opt out,” Claypool and LaLonde continue. “After several attempts to contact Herb, his only response was another email stating that 'he has lost his passion for playing.' As disappointing as it is, we respect his choice.”
The statement then goes on to explain how Claypool and LaLonde will handle the upcoming Primus bookings. For their annual New Year's Eve shows in Oakland, California, the band will “step into an augmented version of Primus with members of Holy Mackerel and the Frog Brigade,” which “will be an exciting, special, one-off event.” For their next festival date with Tool in the Dominican Republic, their former touring drummer, Danny Carey, will once again take the drum throne.
Looking ahead to 2025, Primus is still booked to embark on the second leg of Maynard James Keenan's “Sessanta” tour. For those dates, the band plans to “search for the 'Best Drummer in the World,'” promising that details will come soon. Get tickets to upcoming Primus shows here.
Read Claypool and LaLonde's full statement below.
For more information, revisit Claypool and Keenan's recent conversation with Kyle Meredith about the “Sessanta V2.0 Tour.”
— Les, Ler and Tim (@primus) October 29, 2024
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