Primus’s new drummer John Hoffman recently shared his take on the greatest drummers of all time. He posted a revised list on Instagram.
Hoffman’s post humorously reimagined a classic ranking of drumming legends. The original list included John Bonham, Neil Peart, Keith Moon, Buddy Rich, and Ginger Baker in that order. However, Hoffman made a playful modification to spark conversation in the drumming community.
“There. Fixed it,” Hoffman wrote in his caption, placing Lars Ulrich at the top of the list and removing Ginger Baker from the fifth position. He added a disclaimer to clarify his intent: “It’s just a joke. I know Lars can spark quite a bit of controversy in the drumming community.”
Hoffman’s humorous take comes as he settles into his new role with one of rock’s most iconic bands. Modern Drummer Magazine reported that Hoffman was selected as Primus’s new drummer after an open audition that drew over 6,100 submissions. He replaced longtime drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander. The audition process was notably rigorous, featuring a multi-day “interstellar drum derby” in Los Angeles where finalists jammed with the band. Maynard James Keenan of Tool provided input during the process.
What distinguished Hoffman among thousands of applicants was his work ethic and experience. Revolver Magazine noted that Hoffman is a professional drummer from Shreveport, Louisiana, known as “the busiest drummer in Shreveport” for playing more than 250 gigs a year. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Hoffman had built a reputation as a dedicated working musician before his breakthrough audition. This helped him stand out among high-profile finalists.
Since joining Primus, Hoffman has already made his mark on the band’s touring schedule. The Pitch KC documented that Hoffman’s first appearance with Primus was at the Tool Live in the Sand festival in the Dominican Republic. He is scheduled to perform on the Sessanta V2.0 tour alongside A Perfect Circle and Puscifer. For Hoffman, this represents his first time as a drummer for a headlining national act, marking a significant milestone in his career.
The post reflects the ongoing debates within drumming circles about who deserves recognition among the instrument’s most influential players. It also showcases Hoffman’s personality and sense of humor as he begins this new chapter with Primus.
