Primus announced Tuesday that the funk metal band’s longtime drummer, Tim “Herb” Alexander, has abruptly left the group, saying he “lost his passion for playing.”
Founding members Les Claypool and guitarist Larry LaLonde revealed on social media that — ahead of upcoming concerts — they received an email from Alexander “expressing that effective immediately he would no longer be involved with Primus,” the pair wrote in a statement. “It came as a complete shock to all of us here in the Primus camp.”
Primus continued, “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 has ‘lost his passion for playing.’ As disappointing as that is, we respect his choice and it’s forced us to make some tough decisions.”
Though not the band’s founding drummer, Alexander was considered part of Primus’ “classic” lineup, having joined the group in 1989, appearing on their 1990 debut album Frizzle Fry and their breakout LPs like Sailing the Seas of Cheese and Pork Soda.
Alexander has stepped away from the band on numerous occasions, first in 1996, but rejoined the band for their 2003 reunion before leaving again in 2010. Another reunion with Alexander occurred in 2013, but the drummer soon after suffered a heart attack, the first of two he experienced over a three-year span. Since then, however, Alexander remained a member of Primus, until Tuesday’s announcement.
Despite Alexander’s sudden exit, Primus told fans that their upcoming shows will continue as planned, with some special guests: Tool’s Danny Carey, who filled in for Alexander in Primus when the drummer suffered his first heart attack, will briefly rejoin the band when Tool and Primus play a show together in the Dominican Republic. Primus’ New Year’s shows will also see members of Claypool’s other projects — Holy Mackerel and Frog Brigade — filling in to create “an exciting special, one-time event.”
“As far as future Primus,” the band added, “Primus plans on searching for the ‘greatest drummer on earth,’” hopefully in time for their Sessanta shows with Puscifier and A Perfect Circle beginning in April 2025.
