Primus frontman Les Claypool recently opened up about his failed audition to join Metallica as Cliff Burton’s replacement. He revealed the specific joke he believes led to his rejection in an interview with The Guardian.
The bassist discussed the moment during his audition when he attempted to lighten the mood with what he thought was harmless humor.
“I didn’t know how popular they were,” Claypool said. “We played a song or two and I said, ‘Hey, you guys want to jam on some Isley Brothers?’ Nobody laughed.”
The audition took place as Metallica searched for a replacement following the tragic death of bassist Cliff Burton. However, Metallica’s James Hetfield later offered a different perspective on Claypool’s rejection in the documentary Behind the Music, stating simply: “He [Les Claypool] was too good.”
Claypool’s recent revelation focuses on his ill-timed joke. However, the story behind his Metallica audition runs much deeper than a single moment of misplaced humor.
Guitar World reported that the audition opportunity arose in 1986 following Cliff Burton’s death in a tour bus accident in September of that year. Claypool was invited to audition by his high school friend Kirk Hammett, who had sat in front of him in ninth grade algebra class. At the time, Claypool was working as a carpenter and wasn’t deeply immersed in the metal scene, making him an unlikely candidate for the thrash metal giants.
The cultural and stylistic mismatch between Claypool and Metallica was immediately apparent. Louder Sound noted that Claypool’s eccentric appearance featured a blonde mohawk, baggy skater pants, and mismatched shoes. This look clashed dramatically with Metallica’s long-haired, tight-pants image. This visual disconnect led James Hetfield to view Claypool as a “freak” or “thug,” though the band remained polite during the audition process, with Lars Ulrich being particularly courteous.
In more recent interviews, Claypool has actively debunked the romanticized version of his rejection story. He dismisses Hetfield’s later claim on VH1’s “Behind The Music” that he was “too good” or “too talented” as untrue revisionist history. Instead, Claypool maintains that he simply didn’t fit the band’s aesthetic and musical direction. This realization proved fortuitous for both parties.
The relationship between Claypool and Metallica didn’t end with that 1986 audition. Louder Sound revealed that Metallica passed on Claypool again after Jason Newsted’s departure in 2001, ultimately choosing Robert Trujillo as a better stylistic match. Claypool has consistently viewed both rejections as blessings that allowed him to pursue his unique artistic vision with Primus. This band would go on to define alternative rock’s quirkier side throughout the 1990s and beyond.
