Happy Birthday Les Claypool: Performing Live With 5 Non-Primus Projects

Eclectic only begins to describe the beloved bassist Les Claypool who today celebrates his 53rd birthday. Though best-known as a founding member of Primus, Claypool has been involved in an ever-growing number of other musical projects throughout his lengthy career. In celebration of Les’ birthday today, here’s a look at five live performances of Claypool performing with his non-Primus groups.

Earlier this year Claypool debuted a new band with Sean Ono Lennon called The Claypool Lennon Delirium. The prog rock outfit released their first album Monolith Of Phobos and has been touring in support of the LP. They recently held a show at The Fillmore Philadelphia in which they were joined by Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo on guitar for a cover of Ween’s “The Mollusk,” watch it here:

In an interview Claypool revealed The Claypool Lennon Delirium came about after a failed attempt to reunite with Trey Anastasio and Stewart Copeland as Oysterhead. The supergroup formed in 2000 and the following year released their lone LP The Grand Pecking Order and toured in support of the 13-song debut. They reunited in 2006 for a performance at Bonnaroo but have remained dormant ever since. Here’s video of their original “Little Faces” from the tour in 2001:

Claypool appeared with two non-Primus acts at the first installment of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in 2002. His Colonel Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade featuring saxophonist Skerik, vibraphonist Mike Dillon, drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander and guitarist Eenor played the first day of the fest. Here they are in action playing King Crimson’s “Thela Hun Ginjeet”:

The next day Les jammed with what was dubbed the Colonel Claypool’s Bucket Of Bernie Brains ensemble featuring late keyboardist Bernie Worrell, guitarist Buckethead and drummer Bryan “Brain” Mantia. The fairly unplanned performance resulted in an album and full tour in 2004. Watch a substantial portion of improvisation from Bonnaroo 2002:

One more Claypool collaboration to celebrate is his pairing with longtime friend and guitarist Bryan Kehoe in the group Duo de Twang. Formed for an appearance in San Francisco at the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in Golden Gate Park. The country music project resulted in the 2014 album Four Foot Shack and several other appearances and tours. Here’s the duo playing the Primus favorite “Wynonna’s Big Brown Beaver” for WNYC: