"PRIMUS IS NOT JUST TED CLAYPOOL," says Larry Lalonde.
The Primus guitarist sits in the lobby of their recording studio. The band is between sessions. Beside him with arms crossed stands Tim Alexander, the drummer of the group.
"Tim and I actually have a huge influence on the song-writing process," Lalonde continues. "We practically write everything. Let me lay it on the line for you.
"First, Ted brings in a riff. That is, if Tim and I haven't brought in our own riffs first. Which we do. Quite often in fact. And we tell Ted to just deal with them. That's just the way we are.
"So Ted brings in a riff, and we jam it out. Unless he's already come up with the guitar and drum parts himself - he plays all instruments. So do we, actually. We just.. don't want to. Then we decide what works and what doesn't. Usually they're pretty good riffs. If they're his own riffs, I mean. And not one of Tim's or my own. Which are also good.
"Then Tim and I add our parts. I mean we shape and craft the song. Ted's sensitive so we sometimes play along with his parts to make him happy. But we can be pretty radical. There were a couple times when Ted just didn't get it. A couple of times during the 'Pork Soda' sessions he said - and I quote - 'what the hell was that?'"
"He's self-taught you know," Alexander says.
"Yeah," Lalonde says. "He'd be a lot better if he had taken lessons."
At this point, Claypool enters the room.
"Oh there you guys are," Claypol says. "What are you doing in the dark with the blinds drawn?"
"Uh.. nothing. Why, do you need us to play some stuff?"
"Nah, I finished the new album already. By the way, I listened to those tapes you guys made."
"Oh yeah??" Larry's voice cracks. He coughs. "I mean uh.. what'd you think? Or something."
"It's like, y'know," Claypool says, and leaves.
"The lyrics and vocals? No, Ted writes those himself. Since Tim and I hog up the music portion of the writing, we let Ted get his kicks with vocals and lyrics. Of course we're both free to tell Ted, "hey, nice job," or, "keep up the good work" if we want to. He's made it perfectly clear we're able to do that - and that's what keeps us in the band, that freedom of expression."
"And contractual obligation - " Alexander starts to say.
" - He doesn't want to hear about that."
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