New Primus drummer John Hoffman recently shared an amusing story about his signature look and an unexpected encounter with fans. He revealed the incident in a post on Instagram.
The drummer explained how his recognizable “hat and sunglasses” persona led to an awkward situation during the band’s recent tour.
“Funny story. People have sort of come to know my ‘hat and sunglasses’ persona. Almost all of my pictures and videos, I’m rocking the same look,” Hoffman said.
The incident occurred during the second-to-last show of Primus’s Onward and Upward Tour at Channel 24 in Sacramento. Hoffman needed to walk past a long line of approximately 1,000 waiting fans to reach the tour bus.
“Not that I don’t enjoy talking to the fans…I truly do…but in my mind, it seemed like I would be overwhelmed by excited concertgoers if I just casually strolled past. So, I asked for someone to escort me and I walk past the very long line with my escort towards the bus,” he continued. “I get about 1/3 of the way and I realize nobody gives two craps about me, like, at all. Hardly anyone even looked at me, and the ones that did were probably just looking like ‘who the heck is this friggin’ guy?!’ Not what I expected.”
The realization of what had happened came as a surprise to the drummer.
“At that moment I went to adjust my sunglasses and realized they were not on my face. I then went to adjust my hat and realized it was not on my head,” Hoffman explained. “I was walking by, just me and my ugly mug fully exposed for the whole world to see, and nobody knew who I was without my ‘hat and sunglasses’ get up. Literally nobody. It’s funny that my face is my ‘disguise’ lol.”
This humorous incident highlights the unique dynamic between Hoffman and Primus fans during what has been a significant tour for the band’s evolution with their new drummer.
Blabbermouth reported that the Onward & Upward tour started July 5, 2025, in Paso Robles, California. The tour includes 24 cities across the U.S. The extensive tour visits iconic venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles before concluding with a two-night stand in Sacramento.
Live for Live Music noted that the tour features rotating support from bold and idiosyncratic artists Ty Segall and MonoNeon. This adds an extra layer of variety and excitement to the shows. This diverse lineup reflects Primus’s commitment to showcasing experimental and unconventional musical acts.
Hoffman’s addition to Primus has ushered in a fresh energy for the band. Consequence revealed that the band’s mastermind Les Claypool has praised Hoffman as “a fiery, cheerful, octopus-like drummer from Shreveport, Louisiana” who has breathed life and experimentation into Primus’s classic sound during live performances.
The new drummer’s influence extends beyond just his playing style. He sometimes prompts the band to revisit rarely performed material at his request. This demonstrates his deep knowledge of Primus’s extensive catalog and his collaborative approach to the band’s live performances.
