Photo by Julia Rickert

Later this month Primus will make its way to Australia for a series of dates. Looking ahead to June, the band has now confirmed a number of performances in Europe, the group’s first visit to the continent since 1998. In the interim, the trio is completing its latest studio album. A missive from founder Les Claypool offers, “The Primus record is nearly done. For those of you that enjoyed the new song, “Last Salmon Man”, that we played New Year’s, you’ll love the record because every song basically sounds exactly the same as that one. In fact, we just kept recording the same song over and over and I would just change a few of the lyrics around. I hear that’s the way Pink Floyd used to do it and those guys are no slouches. (My manager got bent out of shape for me writing that last bit about the record and he wanted me to change it so, here is what I’m changing it to…) The Primus record is nearly done. Every song is pretty much a variation of “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult. Everyone should buy two copies.”

Claypool begins his letter on a more serious note, offering, “Hello there folks. First off I just want to say how fantastic it is seeing the support that has been put forth for my brother and his family. Little Matthew is plugging away and though he has got a long way to go, it appears he is a tough little fellow with a lot of heart. Keep your eyes peeled for a special show in his honor and for his benefit in the Santa Cruz area in the near future.”

Primus Europe Dates
June 18 Amsterdam, NL Paradiso
June 22 Paris, FR La Cigale
June 24 Vitoria, ES Azkena Rock Festival
June 26 Pavia, IT Castello Sforzesco
June 27 Rome, IT Pala Atlantico
June 29 Vienna, AT Arena
July 5 Berlin, DE Columbia Club
July 9 Kongsberg, NO Kongsberg Jazz Festival
July 10 Copenhagen, DK Vega
July 12 Manchester, UK Academy
July 13 London, UK Brixton O2 Academy