Les Claypool recently praised Primus’s new drummer John Hoffman following their first tour together. He shared his thoughts in an interview with Rick Beato.
The Primus frontman expressed enthusiasm about Hoffman’s performance and how the new addition has reinvigorated the band’s live shows.
“It’s our first tour with John Hoffman, our new drummer. It’s been spectacular,” Claypool said. “I mean, you can tell when somebody’s got a flare and somebody’s got their own style. And they know how to attack their instruments like anything else.”
Claypool explained the band’s approach to finding a replacement drummer. He emphasized their desire for versatility rather than imitation.
“We wanted to make sure we found somebody that wasn’t just going to come in and try and clone, you know, one particular drummer,” he continued. “We wanted we have we’ve had I mean, we’ve had nine different drummers, but three of them have recorded with us and people know their material. And um, obviously Tim Alexander is a huge part of that.”
The bassist noted how Hoffman’s enthusiasm as a fan has influenced their setlists and renewed their energy as a band.
“So, we wanted someone that would that would could do all of it. And uh we ended up with Hoffman and he’s been spectacular and it’s like every show he gets better and better and we weren’t even supposed to tour this summer,” Claypool said. “We were going to do New Year’s and then the Sessanta thing. But it’s kind of well it’s definitely reinvigorated us because we have this young guy who’s a huge fan. So he’s picking all these songs that we normally wouldn’t even think to play. We’re okay we’ll play that one. And it’s been it’s been really spectacular. So we’re stoked.”
Hoffman’s journey to joining Primus reflects both his deep musical roots and his long-standing connection to the band’s world.
Relix reported that Hoffman originally hails from Shreveport, Louisiana. He has been playing drums since he was just 2 years old. His musical foundation was built early, as he grew up in a musical family with a keyboardist father who took him on the road from a young age.
The drummer’s connection to Primus predates his official membership in the band. Loudwire noted that Hoffman previously played percussion for the band Dirtfoot, who had toured as Primus’ supporting act in 2011. This experience gave him firsthand exposure to the band’s live performances and fanbase. It made him familiar with their unique style and energy long before he auditioned for the position.
Hoffman’s preparation for joining Primus was thorough and methodical. Relix detailed how he deeply studied the band’s catalog, including albums like Brown Album and Antipop, to prepare for his role. His early inspiration came from seeing Stewart Copeland of The Police. This sparked his lifelong passion for drums and helped shape his approach to the instrument.
The drummer’s professional experience extends beyond his Primus connection. Modern Drummer revealed that Hoffman toured nationally for the first time at age 17. This demonstrated his commitment to live performance from an early age. This extensive touring background has prepared him well for the demands of performing with one of rock’s most technically challenging bands.
