Watch lespecial Drummer Rory Dolan’s Primus Audition Experience

Primus began rolling out videos of their drum auditions, which they announced late last year following the departure of longtime drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander. While Josh Hoffman landed the job, Primus is sharing some of the notable auditions in the Interstellar Drum Derby series, with episode one featuring lespecial drummer Rory Dolan.

Primus opened up their drummer auditions in November 2024 through video submissions. After receiving 6,100, bassist Les Claypool and guitarist Larry “Ler” LaLonde narrowed down the field and invited those players for in-person auditions.

Following the announcement of Josh Hoffman as drummer earlier this month, the band is now sharing some of the honorable mention auditions beginning with lespecial’s Rory Dolan. Episode one of the Interstellar Drum Derby opens up with a humorous bit from drummer/comedian/actor Fred Armisen, who poses as an auditioning drummer but probably doesn’t get the part as he basically calls Claypool a diva.

Rory Dolan is then introduced and gives a bit of his background, including getting into Primus as a teenager. In 2021, lespecial offered a Primus livestream tribute concert, performing the band’s 1990 LP Frizzle Fry. As the audition begins, Les asks Rory if he’s nervous, to which he replies “no.”

“You should be fucking extremely nervous,” Claypool joked.

The music gets going with an open jam before the trio play Primus songs including “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers” and a cut off Frizzle Fry. Les and Ler also sit down to go over Rory’s audition.

Watch episode one of Primus’ Interstellar Drum Derby with Rory Dolan below: