Editing Primus (band) (section)

==Musical style and influences==
{{Listen|pos=right|filename=Primus Lee Van Cleef.ogg|title="Lee Van Cleef"}}
Primus emerged from a [[heavy metal music|metal]] background, with [[Les Claypool]] and [[Larry LaLonde]] previously having been part of the 1980s Californian [[thrash metal]] underground.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/585987/Primus-relishes-Saltair-as-fans-gobble-up-show.html?pg=all|title=Primus relishes Saltair as fans gobble up show|website=[[Deseret News]]|date=September 29, 1997|access-date=December 11, 2017|archive-date=July 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729050613/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/585987/Primus-relishes-Saltair-as-fans-gobble-up-show.html?pg=all|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.relix.com/articles/detail/primus-a-hallucino-genetic-evolution|title=Primus: A Hallucino-Genetic Evolution|date=September 15, 2010 |access-date=December 11, 2017}}</ref> [[Kirk Hammett]], guitarist of Bay Area band [[Metallica]], remarked in a 1991 interview that Primus are "unique, they're a square peg in a round hole".<ref>''[[Guitar Player]]'' (Sep 91)</ref> The music of Primus has been described as "thrash-[[funk]] meets [[Don Knotts]], Jr."<ref name="New Rage">{{cite web|title=New Rage: The Funky|work=Guitar Player via ram.org|first=Joe|last=Gore|date=August 1991|url=http://www.ram.org/music/primus/articles/funky.html|access-date=September 23, 2006|archive-date=November 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129171341/http://ram.org/music/primus/articles/funky.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and "''the [[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers|Freak Brothers]]'' set to music".<ref>{{cite web|title=High Fryers|work=Metal Forces No.&nbsp;54 via ram.org|url=http://www.ram.org/music/primus/articles/high_fryers.html|access-date=September 23, 2006|archive-date=December 30, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230161236/http://www.ram.org/music/primus/articles/high_fryers.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''Daily Freeman'' described the band's style as "a blend of [[funk metal]] and [[experimental rock]]".<ref name="df">{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20130602/mountain-jam-music-festival-kicks-off-thursday |title=Mountain Jam Music Festival kicks off Thursday |work=The Daily Freeman |date=June 2, 2013 |last=Mitchell |first=Paula Ann |access-date=August 17, 2015 |archive-date=July 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715191631/http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20130602/mountain-jam-music-festival-kicks-off-thursday |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' described the band's music as "[[absurdism|absurdist]] [[funk rock|funk-rock]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/primus-new-album-about-rainbow-goblins-is-somehow-its-1818817793 |title=Primus' new album about rainbow goblins is somehow its most digestible |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=September 28, 2017 |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=October 22, 2017 |archive-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023063928/https://www.avclub.com/primus-new-album-about-rainbow-goblins-is-somehow-its-1818817793 |url-status=live }}</ref> Primus have also been described as "[[Progressive rock|prog rock]]" or "[[Progressive metal|prog metal]]".<ref>{{cite web|first=Jerry|last=Ewing|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/primus-release-quirky-new-video-for-follow-the-fool|title=Primus release quirky new video for Follow The Fool|work=Louder Sound|date=August 6, 2022|access-date=July 24, 2023}}</ref> ''[[AllMusic]]'' places Primus within the first wave of [[alternative metal]] bands, saying that they fused heavy metal music with progressive rock.<ref name="alt metal">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=style|id=alternative-metal-ma0000012328|pure_url=yes}}|title=Alternative Metal|work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' classified the band's performance as "prog-rock self-indulgence".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1997/08/01/this-years-horde-lineup/|title=Young and the Listeless|first=Rob|last=Brunner|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=October 18, 2012|archive-date=December 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211010748/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,288930,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] suggests that Primus is "a [[post-punk]] [[Rush (band)|Rush]] spiked with the sensibility and humor of [[Frank Zappa]]".<ref name="Allmusic">{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5181|tab=biography|label=Primus Biography|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|access-date=November 27, 2009}} Appeared earlier in the book ''All Music Guide'' on [https://books.google.com/books?id=xR7MdpuSlAEC&pg=PT290 page 290] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110032418/https://books.google.com/books?id=xR7MdpuSlAEC&pg=PT290 |date=January 10, 2016 }} in 2001 and on [https://books.google.com/books?id=1-pH4i3jXvAC&pg=PA888 page 888] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528201529/https://books.google.com/books?id=1-pH4i3jXvAC&pg=PA888 |date=May 28, 2016 }} in 2002.</ref> ''Guitar Player'' said that Primus "plays [[rock music|rock]] the way [[Dr. Seuss]] intended. In their crazy backwards world, progressive metal beds down with [[Avant-funk|art-funk]], instrumental flash tangos cheek-to-cheek with self-mocking humor".<ref name="New Rage"/> ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' have labelled Primus as "pranksters" and, in 1995, as an "unlikely gold-selling [[white trash]] purveyor of hard-ass pinballing funk metal".<ref name="spin95">{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mPK6NgwlOaAC&pg=PA72 |page=72 |title=Primus: Tales from the Punchbowl |last=Gehr |first=Richard |journal=Spin |date=July 1995 |volume=11 |number=4 |issn=0886-3032 |quote=Primus, unlikely gold-selling white trash purveyor of bad-ass pinballing funk-metal ... |access-date=September 7, 2015 |archive-date=May 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529052245/https://books.google.com/books?id=mPK6NgwlOaAC&pg=PA72 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=O'Donnell |first=Kevin |url=https://www.spin.com/2011/08/exclusive-primus-return-first-new-song/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: Primus Return With First New Song &#124; SPIN &#124; SPIN Mix &#124; Songs |publisher=SPIN |date=August 17, 2011 |access-date=March 8, 2013 |archive-date=November 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124193851/http://www.spin.com/2011/08/exclusive-primus-return-first-new-song/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Regarding the band's genre, Claypool stated in 1991, "We've been lumped in with the funk metal thing just about everywhere. I guess people just have to categorize you".<ref>{{cite journal |title=Primus: Nice and Cheesy |journal=Hot Metal |last=Potter |first=Valerie |date=July 1991 |volume=29}}</ref> Claypool dislikes the term "thrash-funk", while admitting that "it's more accurate than calling us a funk band, since I'm the only one in the group with any sort of funk background".<ref>{{cite journal |title=New Rage: The Funky |last=Gore |first=Joe |journal=Guitar Player |date=August 1991 |quote=Last year's ''Frizzle Fry'' made a bigger splash and coincided with the full-blown emergence of the San Francisco thrash-funk scene, a loose network of bands fusing hard rock and dance elements ... And despite Les' slap-happy chops and the sudden marketability of metal-edged dance grooves, Claypool chafes at the 'thrash-funk' label. 'The term pretty much makes my lips curl,' he states. 'Still, it's more accurate than calling us a funk band, since I'm the only one in the group with any sort of funk background.'}}</ref> Claypool himself once classified Primus's music as "[[psychedelic music|psychedelic]] [[polka]]."<ref name="kerrang">{{cite magazine|title=Say "Cheese"!|publisher=[[Kerrang!]]|number=343|website=ram.org|date=June 1, 1991|url=http://www.ram.org/music/primus/articles/say_cheese.html|access-date=September 23, 2006|archive-date=July 21, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060721084841/http://www.ram.org/music/primus/articles/say_cheese.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Primus is the only band with its own [[ID3]] genre tag, 'Primus', as introduced by [[Winamp]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.id3.org/id3v2-00|title=ID3 tag version 2|access-date=March 14, 2009|date=March 26, 1998|publisher=[[ID3]]|archive-date=January 16, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116093412/http://www.id3.org/id3v2-00|url-status=live}}</ref> Primus's primary influence is [[the Residents]], an avant-garde band that are well known for their anonymity and surreal music. Claypool has said he is often accused of being a member of the Residents due to their similar musical style.<ref>{{cite web |last1=KTF Films |title=Theory Of Obscurity: A Film About The Residents |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poqYT_yWukU&t=48m04s |website=YouTube |date=December 5, 2016 |access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref> Other influences include [[King Crimson]],<ref name="kerrang"/><ref>{{cite web | access-date = March 4, 2017 | first = Laurent | last = Reymond | language = fr | url = http://www.heavymusic.fr/index.php/interview/41-primus-les-claypool | title = Primus – Les Claypool | publication-date = September 19, 2011 | website = www.heavymusic.fr | quote = ''Q'': J'ai toujours pensé que « Elephant Talk » de King Crimson avait servi de base au style de Primus. Qu'en penses-tu ?<br />''Les Claypool'': Je ne sais pas si cette chanson en particulier nous a servi de base pour créer Primus, mais il est clair qu'à l'époque nous étions tous fans de cette incarnation de King Crimson et Tony Levin, Adrian Belew, Robert Fripp et Bill Bruford comptaient parmi nos plus grandes influences. Tony Levin encore plus d'ailleurs, car à mon sens il est le meilleur bassiste du monde et celui qui joue avec le plus de goût !<br />(''Q'': I always thought that King Crimson's "Elephant Talk" was the basis of Primus's style. What do you think ?<br />''Les Claypool'': I do not know if this particular song served as a basis for creating Primus, but it is clear that at the time we were all fans of this incarnation of King Crimson and Tony Levin, Adrian Belew, Robert Fripp and Bill Bruford were among our greatest influences. Tony Levin even more, because in my opinion he is the best bass player in the world and the one who plays with the most taste!) | archive-date = March 4, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170304194603/http://www.heavymusic.fr/index.php/interview/41-primus-les-claypool | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | access-date = March 4, 2017 | url = http://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/primuss-larry-lalonde-talks-frank-zappa-seas-of-cheese-and-oddity-faire-6455212 | title = Primus's Larry Lalonde Talks Frank Zappa, Seas of Cheese, and Oddity Faire | first = Christopher | last = Lopez | date = June 2, 2011 | quote = When I first got there, all I cared about was Frank Zappa, the Dead Kennedys, little bit of King Crimson and the Grateful Dead. And all those bands had their own sound, and kind of didn't have boundaries. | newspaper = [[Miami New Times]] | archive-date = March 4, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170304193608/http://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/primuss-larry-lalonde-talks-frank-zappa-seas-of-cheese-and-oddity-faire-6455212 | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Rush (band)|Rush]], [[Pink Floyd]]<ref name=Elfman>{{cite news|first=Doug|last=Elfman|title=''Primus plays Hard Rock''|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Oct-15-Wed-2003/news/22374264.html|newspaper=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]|date=October 15, 2003|access-date=March 14, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040406235351/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Oct-15-Wed-2003/news/22374264.html|archive-date=April 6, 2004}}</ref> and [[Hillel Slovak]]-era [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.alternativenation.net/les-claypool-hillel-slovak-era-red-hot-chili-peppers-led-zeppelin/|title=Les Claypool Says Hillel Slovak-Era Red Hot Chili Peppers 'Were Like Led Zeppelin' - AlternativeNation.net|website=archive.alternativenation.net|access-date=December 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023021728/http://archive.alternativenation.net/les-claypool-hillel-slovak-era-red-hot-chili-peppers-led-zeppelin/|archive-date=October 23, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Despite the seemingly upbeat, quirky music, Primus lyrics have often dealt with darker subject matter such as [[war]] ("Too Many Puppies"), [[murder]] ("My Name is Mud", "Mrs. Blaileen"), accidental [[death]] ("John The Fisherman", "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver"), [[drug addiction]] ("Jilly's on Smack", "Lacquer Head") and [[suicide]] ("Bob", "Coattails of a Dead Man"), along with seemingly mundane [[observational comedy]] ("DMV"). Claypool himself has said, "The thing is, a lot of these songs, with Primus, there’s an amazing amount of tragic tales, but it’s under the guise of this lighthearted perspective, and the music a lot of the times is lighthearted"<ref name="primus book"/> and "I love the contrast of it. From [[Tommy the Cat]] to [[Wynona's Big Brown Beaver]], there's a lot of tragic figures in my music and Primus' music. It's just the way I exercise my demons, through these kinds of people."<ref>{{cite web|author=Joe Bosso|title=Interview: Primus' Les Claypool on new album, Green Naugahyde|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/interview-primus-les-claypool-on-new-album-green-naugahyde-494068|publisher=[[Musicradar]]|accessdate=12 November 2013}}</ref> Many of the songs are about fictional characters; Claypool prefers to think of himself as the narrator of their stories rather than the protagonist, saying, "It was easier for me to step into a character as if I'm in a play and be [[Mel Blanc]], than it was for me to try and be [[Peter Gabriel]]".<ref name="ryen podcast"/>