Danny Carey Guests With Umphrey’s McGee & Primus At Tool’s Controversial Event In Dominican Republic

Umphrey’s McGee’s aptly named Cruising Altitude 2025 Tour saw the band follow their concert Saturday in Milwaukee with an appearance Sunday at Tool’s inaugural destination event in the Dominican Republic. UM’s Tool Live In The Sand set featured drummer Danny Carey of the host band sitting-in on a cover of King Crimson's “Red.”

Carey also sat-in with fellow Tool Live In The Sand performers Primus who took the stage for the first time with newly named drummer John Hoffman. Carey was onstage for the bulk of Primus’ set, varying at times with and without Hoffman.

A longtime collaborator who has performed with Primus often over the years, Carey was expected to appear with the band at Tool Live In The Sand following the recent departure of longtime drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander. Carey was the lone drummer onstage with bassist Les Claypool and guitarist Larry “Ler” LaLonde at the start of Primus’ set at the festival.

That configuration began the performance with “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers,” “Too Many Puppies” and “American Life.” Hoffman, who was chosen to replace Alexander after an extensive search and auditioning process, then emerged to provide a two-drum attack on “Here Come the Bastards” and “Harold of the Rocks.”

The newest member of Primus was given sole possession of the drums for takes on “Groundhog’s Day,” “Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Spread” and “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver.” Carey came back for a double-drum “My Name Is Mud” set-closer.

Watch videos of Carey joining Umphrey’s McGee and Primus below:

Tool’s two sets at the destination event drew in-person and online criticism from purported attendees who traveled to the Dominican Republic expecting to see “2 unique” sets played by the host band. Tool played a 10-song set on Friday, following a similar structure to recent Fear Inoculum Tour setlists. Controversy stirred when Saturday’s nine-song Tool setlist repeated four songs from the first night, with both featuring a sequence of “Rosetta Stoned,” “Pneuma” and “Jambi,” as well as “Fear Inoculum.”

Tool Live In The Sand also presented performances by Mastodon (their first after co-founding guitarist Brent Hinds' departure), Eagles of Death Metal, Coheed and Cambria, King’s X, Fishbone, Wheel, CKY and Moon Walker. Longtime Tool collaborators Alex Grey and Allyson Grey provided visuals.