SANTA MONICA, CA. (By Sujata Murthy/ UMe Records) - Ingenious and imaginative, satirical and sarcastic, original and outlandish,
Primus became one of the most acclaimed underground alternative rock phenomenons of the '90s and beyond. Their musical reach includes influencing bands from Tool to Korn, as well as writing and performing the theme song to the critically acclaimed television show "South Park." Yet,
Primus has never issued a retrospective collection. "They Can't All Be Zingers: The Best Of Primus" (Interscope/UMe) and a new DVD, "BLAME IT ON THE FISH" (on their own Frizzle Fry Inc. imprint), released October 17, 2006, fill that void.
The 16-selection "They Can't All Be Zingers" spans the band's career from 1990 to 2003, featuring all of its original Modern Rock hits - "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver," "My Name Is Mud" and Grammy-nominated "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" - plus fan favorites and a previously unreleased, extended version of "Shake Hands With Beef." "They Can't All Be Zingers" also marks the first time Primus' Interscope Records catalog has been digitally remastered.
In the mid-'80s, San Francisco Bay Area bass virtuoso, singer and songwriter Les Claypool became one of the pioneers of the thrash funk exemplified by Faith No More and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But Primus truly took form when guitarist Larry "Ler" Lalonde and drummer Tim Alexander joined in 1989. Its first albums were quickly embraced by alternative fans - the live "Suck On This" (1989) won the Bammie (Bay Area Music Award) as Outstanding Independent Album and "Frizzle Fry" (1990), with "To Defy The Laws Of Tradition," "John The Fisherman" and "Too Many Puppies," was one of Spin's Albums of the Year.
The eccentric musical vision of Primus made its major label bow on Interscope with "Sailing The Seas Of Cheese" (1991). The album roared into the Top 10 of alternative charts with "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver," "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers" and "Tommy The Cat" (marking the first time the band worked with one of their biggest influences, Tom Waits), and eventually was certified platinum. After being anointed "the hottest band on the alternative scene" by Rolling Stone, "Pork Soda" (1993) debuted at No 7 Pop and, with "My Name Is Mud," "Mr. Krinkle" and "DMV," went platinum. When "Tales From The Punchbowl" (1995) was served up with "Over The Electric Grapevine," "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" and "Southbound Pachyderm," the album hit gold and reached No 8 Pop.
"They Can't All Be Zingers" also includes "Over The Falls" from 1997's "The Brown Album" (which sported the original "Shake Hands With Beef"), "Coattails Of A Deadman" (again featuring Tom Waits) from 1999's "Antipop" and "Mary The Ice Cube" from the 2003 DVD+EP "Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People" which went video platinum.
Also being released simultaneously is "Blame It On The Fish," the third DVD release from Primus and follows "Hallucino-Genetics Live 2004." Years in the making, this DVD of the band's 2003 reunion tour - which was augmented by ambitious sets and innovative multi-media installations - contains live performance footage, interview segments, candid behind the scenes shots and intense visual imagery. Not a typical concert film, "Blame It On The Fish" is a surreal sensory adventure pushing the limits of visual artistry. The main feature film is 70 minutes and is accompanied by over 90 minutes of bonus material. In addition to dozens of additional scenes, the extras also include a 30-minute futuristic documentary about the band set in the year 2065 and interviews with the then-102-year-old bandleader Les Claypool.
"Blame It On The Fish"'s director Matt Powers also directed the award-winning film "Never Been Done Been Done (The Jon Comer Story)" and was director of photography for Les Claypool's "Electric Apricot (Quest for Festeroo)." Fans will luxuriate in live performances of PRIMUS favorites including "Mr. Krinkle," "Jerry Was A Racecar Driver," "Over The Electric Grapevine" and many more. Of the Tour De Fromage, Blender raved, "The energy of [them] playing together again was overwhelming," while the Los Angeles Times said, "The band charges hard into career-spanning sonic excursions free of self-indulgent excesses."
Primus will be hitting the road in November in support of both "They Can't All Be Zingers" and "Blame It On The Fish" serving up a healthy offering of music from rock's most inventive band.
