View source for Les Claypool

{{short description|American musician (born 1963)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Les Claypool
| image             = Soundwave Melbourne Friday 4th March 2011 (5508225441).jpg
| landscape         = yes
| caption           = Claypool performing in March 2011
| birth_name        = Leslie Edward Claypool
| alias             = Colonel Claypool
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1963|9|29}}
| birth_place       = [[Richmond, California]], U.S.
| origin            = [[El Sobrante, Contra Costa County, California|El Sobrante, California]], U.S.
| instrument        = {{flatlist|
* Bass guitar
* vocals
* double bass
}}
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative metal]]
* [[funk metal]]
* [[funk rock]]
* [[progressive rock]]
* [[experimental rock]]
* [[thrash metal]]
}}
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
* Musician
* songwriter
}}
| spouse            = {{marriage|Chaney Smith|1995}}
| years_active      = 1984–present
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Primus (band)|Primus]]
* [[Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade]]
* [[Oysterhead]]
* [[Duo de Twang]]
* [[The Claypool Lennon Delirium]]
}}
| past_member_of    = {{flatlist| 
* [[Blind Illusion]]
* [[Sausage (band)|Sausage]]
* [[Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains]]
* [[Les Claypool's Fancy Band]]
}}
| website           = {{URL|lesclaypool.com}}
| module            = 
}}

'''Leslie Edward Claypool''' (born September 29, 1963) is an American musician, best known as the founder, lead singer, bassist, and primary songwriter of [[Primus (band)|Primus]]. Ranked as one of the greatest bassists of all time by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'',<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Vozick-Levinson |first1=Jonathan Bernstein, David Browne, Jon Dolan, Brenna Ehrlich, David Fear, Jon Freeman, Andy Greene, Kory Grow, Elias Leight, Angie Martoccio, Jason Newman, Rob Sheffield, Hank Shteamer, Simon |last2=Bernstein |first2=Jonathan |last3=Browne |first3=David |last4=Dolan |first4=Jon |last5=Ehrlich |first5=Brenna |last6=Fear |first6=David |last7=Freeman |first7=Jon |last8=Greene |first8=Andy |last9=Grow |first9=Kory |date=2020-07-01 |title=The 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-1003022/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> his unique playing style mixes [[tapping]], [[flamenco]]-like strumming, [[whammy bar]] bends, and [[Slapping (music)|slapping]].

Claypool has been involved in a number of non-Primus projects, including [[Supergroup (music)|supergroups]] such as [[Oysterhead]] (with [[Trey Anastasio]] and [[Stewart Copeland]]) and [[Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains]] (with [[Buckethead]], [[Bryan Mantia]], and [[Bernie Worrell]]) and duos such as [[Duo de Twang]] (with [[M.I.R.V.|Bryan Kehoe]]) and [[The Claypool Lennon Delirium]] (with [[Sean Lennon]]). He also fronts the experimental rock projects [[Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade]] and [[Les Claypool's Fancy Band]]. He has produced and engineered several of his own releases from Rancho Relaxo, which is his studio in California.

Claypool appears in the opening titles of the animated comedy series ''[[South Park]]'', for which Primus has performed the theme song since its debut in 1997. In 2006, he made his debut as both a filmmaker and author when he wrote and directed the mockumentary ''[[Electric Apricot: Quest For Festeroo]]'' and released the novel ''[[South of the Pumphouse]]''.

== Early life ==
Leslie Edward Claypool was born into a working-class family of car mechanics in [[Richmond, California]], on September 29, 1963.<ref name="bio" /> He was raised in [[El Sobrante, Contra Costa County, California|El Sobrante, California]]. He learned to play the bass guitar at age 14, but did not begin a career in music until much later. He attended [[De Anza High School]] in Richmond, where he was friends with [[Kirk Hammett]], and worked as a carpenter for several years after graduating from high school.<ref name=BoingBoing2014 /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuXufXYFMfc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/kuXufXYFMfc| archive-date=2021-11-13 | url-status=live|title=Les Claypool: An Offbeat Odyssey|website=YouTube| date=September 13, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Career==
===Early career===
After the death of [[Metallica]] bassist [[Cliff Burton]] in 1986, Metallica guitarist [[Kirk Hammett]] reconnected with his high school friend Claypool and asked him to audition as Burton's replacement. In Metallica's episode of the documentary series ''[[Behind the Music]]'', Claypool said that he jokingly asked the members of Metallica if they wanted to "jam on some [[Isley Brothers]] tunes" during the audition, a reference to his lack of experience with Metallica's [[thrash metal]] style. He later recalled Hammett giving him a copy of Metallica's 1984 album ''[[Ride the Lightning]]'', which he enjoyed, but also stressed he "wasn't a big metal guy" and did not realize how popular Metallica had become until he arrived at the audition.<ref name=BoingBoing2014>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCGFddeI8Ng Les Claypool on his Metallica audition], ''[[YouTube]]'', accessed March 7, 2018</ref><ref name="kerrang weirdos">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/primus-rocks-favourite-weirdos/|title=Primus: Rock's Favourite Weirdos|date=May 8, 2018|website=Kerrang!}}</ref> He also did not realize at the time that the intro riff of "[[For Whom the Bell Tolls (Metallica song)|For Whom the Bell Tolls]]" was performed on bass, and thus did not play it during the audition.<ref name="kerrang weirdos"/> Metallica frontman [[James Hetfield]] said that Claypool was not offered the job because "he was too good" and "should do his own thing". Claypool responded by admitting that he "wasn't the right guy" for the band due to being a self-proclaimed "weirdo" and said that Hetfield was just "being nice" with his comments.<ref name=BoingBoing2014 />

===Primus===
{{Main|Primus (band)}}
[[File:Primus copenhagen 1998 (cropped Les).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Claypool in 1998]]
[[Primus (band)|Primus]] began as "Primate" in the mid-1980s. The band featured Claypool on bass, [[Todd Huth]] on guitar, and various drummers (most notably [[Jay Lane]]); however, Huth and Lane left shortly thereafter to pursue other projects. Claypool replaced them with guitarist [[Larry LaLonde]] and drummer [[Tim Alexander (American drummer)|Tim Alexander]].

Claypool is considered to be the leader of the band, as well as the driving force behind its blending of [[Funk music|funk]] with other genres. He frequently utilizes the slap-bass technique prominent in funk music, and is the only member of Primus who comes from a funk background. Because of Claypool's strong funk influence, Primus is often described as "[[Thrash metal|thrash]]-funk" or [[funk metal]],<ref name="Spin Jan 91">{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z9fMwxwJ7tkC&pg=PA39 |page=39 |title=The Thrash-Funk scene proudly presents Primus |last1=Darzin |first1=Daina |last2=Spencer |first2=Lauren |journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=January 1991 |volume=6 |number=10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.guitarworld.com/primus-set-release-new-album-green-naugahyde-september |title=Primus Set To Release New Album, 'Green Naugahyde,' This September |last=Hart |first=Josh |date=June 6, 2011 |work=Guitar World |access-date=August 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125326/http://www.guitarworld.com/primus-set-release-new-album-green-naugahyde-september |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-dec-04-ca-40260-story.html |date=December 4, 1999 |title=Primus Mixes Metal With a Bit of Satire |last=Weingarten |first=Mark |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref name="MusicOMH 2014">{{cite journal |url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/primus-primus-chocolate-factory-fungi-ensemble |title=Album Reviews: Primus – Primus & The Chocolate Factory and the Fungi Ensemble |date=November 3, 2014 |first=Dylan |last=Kilby |journal=Music OMH }}</ref> although Claypool dislikes the labels. He said, "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 |location=Sydney, Australia |last=Potter |first=Valerie |date=July 1991 |volume=29}}</ref><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>

From 1989 to 2000, Primus gained significant mainstream airplay, headlining [[Lollapalooza]] in 1993 and appearing on ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' and ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'' in 1995. They also appeared at [[Woodstock '94]], where they performed their ''[[Pork Soda]]'' hit "[[My Name Is Mud]]" and were pelted with mud by the audience, much to the band's displeasure. It drove Claypool to stop playing telling the audience "the song's called My Name is Mud, but keep the mud to yourself you son of a bitch".<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6221688/exclusive-primus-les-claypool-talks-woodstock-94-20-years-later Primus' Les Claypool Talks Woodstock '94, 20 Years Later] billboard.com</ref> In 1991, the band was featured in the movie ''[[Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey]]''  performing their song "[[Tommy the Cat]]" live. Claypool and [[Tom Waits]] first recorded on each other's records in 1991 and have continued to do so since. In 1997, Primus was asked to play and record the theme song for the animated television show ''[[South Park]]''. In 1999, Claypool allowed Activision's use of the song "[[Jerry Was a Race Car Driver]]" in the popular video game ''[[Tony Hawk's Pro Skater]]''. Primus went on hiatus in 2000.

In mid-2003, Claypool reunited with former Primus drummer Tim Alexander and guitarist Larry LaLonde to record a DVD/EP called ''[[Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People]]''. In October of the same year, the band embarked on a two-month tour in which two sets were performed per show, the second set consisting of their 1991 release ''[[Sailing the Seas of Cheese]]'' being performed in its entirety. Primus continued touring into 2004, performing their 1990 release ''[[Frizzle Fry]]'' as their second set, as documented on the DVD ''[[Hallucino-Genetics]]: Live 2004''.

On October 17, 2006, Primus released both their first greatest hits album, ''[[They Can't All Be Zingers]]'', and their third DVD, ''Blame It on the Fish'', subtitled ''An Abstract Look at the 2003 Primus Tour De Fromage.'' The band toured in 2006 on their Primus: The Beat a Dead Horse Tour 2006, and played at a small number of festivals in 2008. In 2010, Alexander, who had left the band for the second time due to lack of interest, was replaced by Jay Lane, who had not played with the band since 1988.  The band resumed touring after the free ''[[June 2010 Rehearsal]]'' was released later that year, and a studio album, ''[[Green Naugahyde]]'', was released in 2011.

In 2013, Lane left Primus for the second time to focus on his other band [[RatDog]], who were coming off hiatus at the time, and was replaced again by Alexander. Primus' eighth studio album, ''[[Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble]]'', a re-imagining of the [[Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory#Track listing|soundtrack]] from the 1971 film ''[[Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory]]'', was released in October 2014.

In 2017, Primus released ''[[The Desaturating Seven]]'', an album that is based on a bedtime story published by Italian author [[Ul de Rico]], which is about a group of rainbow eating goblins. They then started a tour with [[Mastodon (band)|Mastodon]] through most of 2018.

In 2024, Alexander resigned from Primus "effective immediately," seemingly retiring from music due to a "lost passion to play." The band announced plans to continue touring with members from Claypool's other bands and began searching for "the world's best drummer" to replace Alexander on X (formerly Twitter).

=== Solo work ===

==== Sausage ====
{{main|Sausage (band)}}
In 1988 Claypool began a short-lived alternative/funk rock band featuring [[Todd Huth]] on guitar and [[Jay Lane]] on drums. The group released their first album in April 1994 "Riddles Are Abound Tonight" by [[Prawn Song Records]], and did a few short tours and opened for groups such as [[Helmet (band)|Helmet]], [[Rollins Band]], and [[Slayer]]. The band reunited for a show on December 31, 2019, opening for [[The Claypool Lennon Delirium]] and have not returned since.

==== Holy Mackerel ====

In 1996, Claypool produced, engineered, and released a solo album, "Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel presents" ''[[Highball with the Devil]]''. He is credited with playing bass, and drums as well as vocals on several tracks as well as guitar. Also on the album are [[M.I.R.V.|Mark "Mirv" Haggard]], [[Adam Gates]], [[Jay Lane]], Joe Gore, [[Charlie Hunter]], and [[Henry Rollins]]. The accompanying tour included Haggard and Gates on guitars with [[Bryan Mantia]] on drums. It was announced during the Holy Mackerel tour that Mantia had been chosen to become the next Primus drummer.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

==== Oysterhead ====

{{Main|Oysterhead}}
In April 2000, Claypool collaborated with [[Trey Anastasio]] (of [[Phish]]) and [[Stewart Copeland]] (of [[the Police]]) to form a [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] called [[Oysterhead]]. Claypool and Anastasio had been looking for an opportunity to collaborate. Each had a mutual interest in playing with Copeland who had been a rock idol of their teen years. Plus, Claypool and Copeland already had an established friendship. Oysterhead were originally intended as a one time performance during [[New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival|Jazz Fest]] in [[New Orleans]]. Though timid of the band's sudden and surprising popularity they decided to record and tour.<ref name="frogs&oysters">{{Cite web|url=http://www.jambase.com/Articles/859/FROGS-and-OYSTERS-A-LES-CLAYPOOL-INTERVIEW|title=FROGS-and-OYSTERS-A-LES-CLAYPOOL-INTERVIEW|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022065910/http://www.jambase.com/Articles/859/FROGS-and-OYSTERS-A-LES-CLAYPOOL-INTERVIEW|archive-date=October 22, 2015|date=January 26, 2001|access-date=December 25, 2017|author=Mike Powers|publisher=jambase.com}}</ref> They released one studio album, ''[[The Grand Pecking Order]]'', and toured before disbanding in 2001. They re-united in 2006, at the [[Bonnaroo Music Festival]]. In 2016 Les tried to reunite the group, but ended up releasing an album with [[The Claypool Lennon Delirium]]. Fortunately they re-united once again in 2020 for two shows at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado, with the rest of their tour cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

==== The Frog Brigade ====
{{Main|Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade}}
In May 2000, Claypool formed [[Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade]], an experimental rock group. He was asked to put together a band for the Mountain Aire Festival in [[Angels Camp, California]]. The band "of the most incredible guys (he) could possibly find" debuted that Memorial Day weekend and played a number of other festivals including [[moe.#moe.down|moe.down]].<ref name="frogs&oysters" /> Originally he was going to call the band "Les Claypool's Thunder Brigade". Claypool said:

<blockquote>I originally was going to do the two drummer thing with [[Tim Alexander (American drummer)|Herb]] and [[Jack Irons]], so I was gonna call it the Les Claypool Thunder Brigade. Michael Bailey from [[Bill Graham Presents]] said to me that it may sound a bit too heavy for the Mountain Aire crowd and to perhaps try something a little different that had to do with the event itself. Since it was home of the Calaveras County Frog Jump... hence the Frog Brigade and then it evolved into Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade.<ref name="frogs&oysters" /></blockquote>

The Primus hiatus allowed him to return to his musical roots, playing songs by bands such as [[Pink Floyd]], [[King Crimson]], and [[the Beatles]]. Claypool has called the Frog Brigade his "[[mid-life crisis]] band". From a set of October shows recorded at [[Great American Music Hall]] in San Francisco, Claypool released two Frog Brigade live albums, one being a cover of [[Pink Floyd]]'s ''[[Animals (Pink Floyd album)|Animals]]''. The line-up included [[Todd Huth]], Eenor, [[Jeff Chimenti]], [[Jay Lane]], [[Skerik]] and Claypool.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

The Frog Brigade is also noted for Claypool's being accepted into the [[jam band]] scene.<ref>''Jambands'', Dean Budnick, Backbeat Books, 2003, pp 248–9</ref> ''[[Live Frogs Set 1]]'' won "Best Live Album" at the second annual [[Jammys]]. Jay Lane and Jeff Chimenti are both members of [[Bob Weir]]'s bands [[Ratdog]] and [[Wolf Bros]]. Claypool performed with the Rat Brigade when opening for Ratdog once in 2000 and again in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.toasterland.com/setlists/browse.php?band=100|title=Toasterland|website=Toasterland.com|access-date=December 25, 2017}}</ref> The Rat Brigade includes Claypool, drummer Lane and keyboardist Chimenti, with guest appearances by saxophonist Kenny Brooks and Bob Weir.
Claypool also guested on the Ratdog sets in 2000, 2006 and 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ratdog.org/stuff/guests|title=Bob Weir & RatDog Guest Musicians, Stats, and Other Stuff|website=Ratdog.org|access-date=December 25, 2017}}</ref>

In 2002, Claypool released a studio album of the Frog Brigade, ''[[Purple Onion (album)|Purple Onion]]''. Musicians on multiple tracks for ''Purple Onion'' include Warren Haynes (Gov't Mule) Eenor, [[Mike Dillon (musician)|Mike Dillon]], [[Skerik]], Jay Lane, Ben Barnes, and Sam Bass (Dillon and Skerik were both from [[Critters Buggin]]; Barnes and Sam Bass were from [[Deadweight (U.S. band)|Deadweight]]). The album includes "Whamola" which later appeared as a remix for the theme of [[South Park]] [[List of South Park episodes#Season 10 (2006)|Season 10]].

==== C2B3 ====
{{Main|Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains}}
Also in 2002, Claypool collaborated with guitarist [[Buckethead]], [[Parliament-Funkadelic]]/[[Talking Heads]] keyboardist [[Bernie Worrell]], and former [[Primus (band)|Primus]] drummer [[Bryan Mantia]] under the name [[Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains]] (stylized "C2B3," which is pronounced as "C Squared, B Cubed"). Their concerts pushed the improvisational envelope by preparing no material and not rehearsing beforehand. At one of their shows they prepared sandwiches onstage for the audience to eat.

C2B3 re-united in 2004 to record ''[[The Big Eyeball in the Sky]]'', an album with equal parts instrumental and vocal songs. The band began an 18-state [https://web.archive.org/web/20040825214022/http://www.c2b3.com/tour/ tour] of the US on September 24, 2004. Aux TV was dismissive of Claypool's effort,<ref name=AuxTV>{{cite web |url=http://www.aux.tv/2015/08/the-11-worst-supergroups-of-all-time/ |title=The 11 worst supergroups of all time |last=Locke |first=Jesse |date=August 6, 2015 |work=[[Aux (TV channel)|Aux.tv]] |access-date=August 17, 2015}}</ref> but when the tour arrived in [[Northern California]] where Claypool lives the local press gave a very positive review.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bohemian.com/northbay/les-claypool/Content?oid=2179912 |title=Les Claypool |last=Cahill |first=Greg |date=November 3, 2004 |work=The Bohemian |quote=It's a carnival of carnality, a sideshow of visceral funk-metal in which the bassist dons a malevolent monkey mask and thrashes about on stage like a crazed simian while banging on a six-foot aluminum synth-stick...}}</ref>

The album features only one guest, the childlike multi-instrumentalist [[Gabby La La]] (noted as Gabby Lang on [[Les Claypool's Frog Brigade]]'s [[Purple Onion (album)|Purple Onion]]) on vocals and sitar. She also opened on every show (sometimes to scathingly negative reviews) during the 2004 tour as a solo act, and sometimes with members of C2B3. Claypool also produced and performed on Gabby La La's first album, ''[[Be Careful What You Wish For...]]''. Gabby La La is the first artist Les has signed to his label since [[Charlie Hunter]] in 1993. He has performed select shows with her (including the 2005 [[Bonnaroo Music Festival]]) and added her to his then new touring band, [[Les Claypool's Fancy Band|Les Claypool & His Fancy Band]]. The 2005 Fancy Band line-up also included [[Skerik]], [[Mike Dillon (musician)|Dillon]] and [[Jay Lane|Lane]].

At the end of 2005, Claypool released ''[[5 Gallons of Diesel]]'', a video retrospective of all of his work away from Primus.

==== 2006 ====
===== ''Of Whales and Woe'' and the Fancy Band =====
{{Main|Of Whales and Woe|Les Claypool's Fancy Band}}
On May 30, 2006, Claypool released a solo album, ''[[Of Whales and Woe]]'', with guest appearances by Skerik, Mike Dillon, and Gabby La La. The album includes the song "Robot Chicken", which is the theme song of the [[Robot Chicken|show of the same name]] that airs on [[Adult Swim]]. His son Cage and his daughter Lena make a special appearance on the song "Back Off Turkey". The release was followed by a tour of the U.S. with the following lineup:

*Les Claypool – Bass Guitar, Upright Bass, Bassjo, vocals
*Skerik – Tenor Saxophone
*Mike Dillon – Vibraphone, Percussion
*Gabby La La – Sitar, Theremin
*[[Paulo Baldi]] – Drums

The lineup is called [[Les Claypool's Fancy Band]] and did national tours in both 2006 and 2007. A live DVD, ''[[Fancy (DVD)|Fancy]]'', was recorded from the 2006 tour and released in 2007. The audio track includes a mix of both soundboard and [[Bootleg recording#Authorized live bootlegs|taper recordings]].  A song from the album, "One Better", was used in [[National Lampoon's TV: The Movie]] in a fight scene between [[Preston Lacy]] and [[Lee Majors]].

==== 2007–2016 ====
[[File:Les Claypool @ Bluesfest 2009.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Claypool playing an upright bass in 2009]]
Besides touring in the summer of 2007 nationally with the Fancy Band, Claypool performed that October with a version of the band, dubbed the Fancy Trio. The trio consisted of Claypool, Skerik on saxophone, and Mike Dillon on drums, vibraphone and percussion. They played at The Echo Project, an inaugural ecologically minded 3-day festival in [[Fairburn, Georgia|Fairburn]], Georgia on the Boukeart family farm. The set was similar to that of the Fancy Band's tours, culling from Claypool' solo and Frog Brigade albums, as well containing a cover of "[[One Step Beyond (song)|One Step Beyond]]" by [[Prince Buster]] and teases of other songs, including several Primus tunes, throughout their improvisational jams.

For many years Claypool has done a [[New Year's Eve]] show at [[The Fillmore]] in [[San Francisco]]. More recently the New Year's Eve show has been an annual New Year's Eve Hatter's Ball featuring a hat contest. December 31, 2007 was the 3rd such annual event.

In 2008, a United States tour spanned from February 29 to April 5. It kicked off at the Neighborhood Theatre in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]] and ended at [[The Warfield]] in San Francisco. The 2008 tour was a quartet featuring Claypool, Dillon, Skerik and Baldi.

During the year Claypool also performed several shows with Primus at festivals across America and Canada.''[[Pig Hunt]]'' is a film directed by James Isaac released in 2008. Claypool contributes previously unreleased material and plays the role of "The Preacher".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1022883/|title=Pig Hunt|date=July 31, 2008|access-date=January 15, 2018|website=IMDb.com}}</ref><ref>[http://www.pighuntmovie.com/ Pig Hunt] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201084441/http://www.pighuntmovie.com/ |date=February 1, 2008 }} – official site</ref> He composed several songs for the [[Wii]] game ''[[Mushroom Men]]'', released in December 2008.

On December 31, 2008, Claypool rang in the New Year with his annual New Year's Eve show.  It was at the [[War Memorial Opera House|San Francisco Opera House]] with [[Zappa Plays Zappa]] sharing the bill and playing first.

Claypool was also a judge for the 7th annual Independent Music Awards.  His contributions helped assist upcoming independent artists' careers.<ref>[http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2008.asp 7th Annual Judges] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306153750/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2008.asp |date=March 6, 2014 }}. Independent Music Awards. Retrieved on April 7, 2012.</ref> His second solo album, ''[[Of Fungi and Foe]]'', was released on March 17, 2009. The album consists of expanded material of the music from the ''Mushroom Men'' game, as well as the ''Pig Hunt'' motion picture, and features a guest appearance by [[Gogol Bordello]]'s Eugene Hutz.<ref>[http://skopemag.com/2009/01/13/les-claypool-to-release-of-fungi-and-foe-in-march-2009/ LES CLAYPOOL TO RELEASE 'OF FUNGI AND FOE' IN MARCH 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923122054/http://skopemag.com/2009/01/13/les-claypool-to-release-of-fungi-and-foe-in-march-2009 |date=September 23, 2009 }}. Skopemag.com (January 13, 2009). Retrieved on 2012-04-07.</ref>

In 2009, Claypool toured with [[Matisyahu]], performing as a 'double-feature' set, as well as appearing together on stage. On March 28, 2010, Claypool performed a rendition of [[Rush (band)|Rush]]'s "[[The Spirit of Radio]]" for their induction into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cshf.ca/song/the-spirit-of-radio/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704124628/http://www.cshf.ca/song/the-spirit-of-radio/|title=THE SPIRIT OF RADIO – Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame|archive-date=July 4, 2017|access-date=December 25, 2017}}</ref>

From May 2010 to July 2013, Claypool toured extensively with Primus, alongside Larry LaLonde, and the return of former Primus drummer, Jay Lane. On September 6, 2012, a new side project was revealed as an acoustic band called Duo de Twang.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=408471332541206&id=10915944530 |title="Les Claypool" – Les Claypool Acoustic Shows Les... |publisher=Facebook |access-date=July 16, 2014}}</ref> Featuring Claypool and originally Marc Haggard. After two shows, Haggard was replaced with Bryan Kehoe. Both guitarists play together in the associated band [[M.I.R.V.]]

On September 25, 2013, it was announced Lane had left Primus to rejoin the [[Bob Weir]] group [[RatDog]]. Tim Alexander was named as his replacement. Claypool and [[Dean Ween]] worked together for a reality TV show called Musishermen.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Greg Prato |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-les-claypool-on-primus-future-and-his-tv-show-with-dean-ween-20130925 |title=Primus Reuniting With Drummer Tim Alexander &#124; Music News |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=July 16, 2014 |archive-date=February 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224020033/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-les-claypool-on-primus-future-and-his-tv-show-with-dean-ween-20130925 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On February 4, 2014, [[Duo de Twang]] released their debut album ''[[Four Foot Shack]]'' and began touring in late February.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=John Gentile |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/les-claypool-is-country-fried-with-duo-de-twang-album-premiere-20140129 |title=Les Claypool Premieres Duo de Twang &#124; Music News |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=January 29, 2014 |access-date=July 16, 2014 |archive-date=July 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724172647/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/les-claypool-is-country-fried-with-duo-de-twang-album-premiere-20140129 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During the last part of the 2014 Spring Tour, Primus's drummer, Tim Alexander, had a small heart attack rendering him unable to play. Luckily instead of canceling the September shows, they were able to use their close friend [[Danny Carey]] as a drummer for the late shows.<ref>[http://lesclaypool.com/news/ Danny Carey to fill in for 3 Sept Shows] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122081133/http://www.lesclaypool.com/news/ |date=November 22, 2013 }}. Les Claypool. Retrieved September 22, 2014.</ref>

On January 19, 2016, it was announced that [[The Claypool Lennon Delirium]], a collaboration between Claypool and [[Sean Lennon]], would debut at [[Bonnaroo]] 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/19/bonnaroo-2016-lineup|title=LCD Soundsystem, Pearl Jam, Dead & Co. to headline Bonnaroo 2016|website=Ew.com|access-date=January 15, 2018}}</ref> Claypool has spoken fondly of the collaboration, stating, "Sean is a musical mutant after my own heart. He definitely reflects his genetics – not just the sensibilities of his dad, but also the abstract perspective and unique approach of his mother. It makes for a glorious freak stew."<ref>{{cite web|author=Olivia Isenhart |url=http://pancakesandwhiskey.com/2016/03/22/les-claypool-sean-lennon-form-new-band/ |title=Les Claypool & Sean Lennon Formed a Band and This is What it Sounds Like |website=Pancakesandwhiskey.com |date=March 22, 2016 |access-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref>

On March 21, 2016, it was announced that the duo would release their debut album, entitled ''[[Monolith of Phobos]]'', on June 3, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theclaypoollennondelirium.com/|title=The Claypool Lennon Delirium|website=Theclaypoollennondelirium.com|access-date=January 15, 2018}}</ref> Their second album, ''[[South of Reality]]'', was released February 22, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/south-of-reality-mw0003219804 | title=South of Reality – Claypool Lennon Delirium |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |first = Stephen Thomas |last = Erlewine  |access-date = November 12, 2019}}</ref>

On May 31, 2016, he was featured on the [[Death Grips]] song "More Than The Fairy".<ref>{{cite web|last=Death Grips|title=Death Grips – More Than The Fairy (feat. Les Claypool)|date=May 30, 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWkJghqMSpo| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/UWkJghqMSpo| archive-date=2021-11-13 | url-status=live|website=Youtube.com|access-date=May 31, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==== The Claypool Lennon Delirium ====
In 2016, Claypool formed a group with [[Sean Lennon]] of [[The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger]], [[Paulo Baldi]] of [[Cake (band)|Cake]], and João Nogueira of Stone Giant. Claypool met Lennon in 2015 when he was on tour with [[Primus (band)|Primus]], [[The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger]], and [[Dinosaur Jr.]] Claypool stayed in touch with Lennon and the group released their first album ''The Monolith Of Phobos'' in 2016. On their first tour they switched out their keyboardist [[Money Mark]] of [[Beastie Boys]] for Pete Drungle. In 2017, The Delirium returned with their EP ''Lime And Limpid Green'' and released their second album ''South Of Reality'' in 2019, this time with Nogueira on keyboards.

=== Other work ===
Claypool was a special guest star in a ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]'' episode with the most celebrities on [[Cartoon Network]] in 1996.

Claypool's first book, ''[[South of the Pumphouse]]'', was released on July 1, 2006, by [[Akashic Books]]. Copies of the book were sold during his 2006 tour of the U.S. following the release of ''[[Of Whales and Woe]]''. The book is a dark tale of brothers, murder, drugs, and fishing; it has been likened to the work of [[Hunter S. Thompson]]. Claypool gave his first interview about the book on May 11, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thebookstandard.com/bookstandard/news/author/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002501410|archive-url=https://archive.today/20061119205807/http://www.thebookstandard.com/bookstandard/news/author/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002501410|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-11-19|title="Primus Rocker Turns His Screenplay into a Novel: A Talk with Les Claypool"|website=Archive.today|access-date=February 27, 2023}}</ref>

Also in 2006, Claypool wrote and directed the mockumentary film ''[[Electric Apricot: Quest For Festeroo]]''. It was shown at various film festivals and is a spoof of the jam band scene centered on the fake band Electric Apricot, with Claypool also playing the band's drummer and backing vocalist.<ref name="jambasearticle">[http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?StoryID=8945&pagenum=0 "Les Claypool: The Art of Falling"]. ''JamBase''. 2006. Retrieved February 2, 2008.</ref> The band performed real shows in the California area (such as [[High Sierra Music Festival]]) for the filming of the movie. During a question and answer session at the Tiburon Film Festival, where the film debuted, he said that the DVD would have an accompanying soundtrack CD. The film has won awards including Best Feature (audience choice) at the [[Malibu, California#Arts and culture|Malibu Film Festival]]. Claypool also said that the band would possibly perform a few select shows, but a tour never transpired as the film's star Adam Gates worked for [[Pixar]], which made touring difficult.

In 2007, Claypool created Claypool Cellars, a wine-making project that turned into a boutique business. It makes wine from grapes grown in California's [[Russian River (California)|Russian River Valley]]. The wines are named based on his music, such as "Purple Pachyderm" and "Pink Platypus".<ref>{{cite web| title=Through The Electric Grapevine: The Les Claypool Interview| publisher=1 Wine Dude| url= http://www.1winedude.com/index.php/2010/07/08/through-the-electric-grapevine-the-les-claypool-interview/#more-2299| year=2010| access-date=March 24, 2011}}</ref> "Purple Pachyderm" in particular was co-created alongside Claypool's wife, Chaney.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.purplepachyderm.com/who-we-are.php |title=Who We Are |website=Purple Pachyderm |access-date=April 1, 2024}}</ref>

== Artistry ==
Claypool is well known for his "quirky and eccentric" style of bass playing, and is noted for his musical versatility.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-05 |title=Ranking the greatest bass players of all time |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_best_bass_players_of_all_time_ranked/s1__38665918#slide_3 |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Yardbarker |language=en}}</ref> In addition to the sheer prominence of his bass playing on recorded works throughout his discography, Claypool's style also incorporates several other unusual techniques, such as [[flamenco]]-style strumming, [[Guitar tapping|tapping]], [[Slap-bass|slapping]], and guitar-like chording. He has made prominent use of a Kahler "bass tremolo" vibrato system, as well as [[Guitar effects|effects]] such as [[Fuzz pedal|fuzz boxes]] and [[envelope filter]]s. For most of his career, Claypool has played four-stringed basses, but has experimented with [[extended-range bass]]es, most notably six-stringed models, as heard on songs like "[[Jerry Was a Race Car Driver]]", which features Claypool tapping the main melody on a fretless six-string bass; Claypool noted he was "getting more into the six-string" during the making of ''[[Pork Soda]]'', giving the album a heavier edge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/rank-your-records-primus-les-claypool/|title=Rank Your Records: Les Claypool Rates Primus' Albums|first=Bill|last=Jones|date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>

Claypool has cited [[Rush (band)|Rush]] and their bassist [[Geddy Lee]],  [[Larry Graham]], [[Chris Squire]], [[Tony Levin]], [[Roger Waters]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Geezer Butler]], [[Bootsy Collins]], [[Stanley Clarke]], [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]], and [[the Residents]] as being musical influences.<ref name="bio">Prato, Greg. (September 29, 1963) [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/les-claypool-p64967 Les Claypool]. AllMusic. Retrieved on 2012-04-07.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://residentsmovie.com/a-bold-statement-from-les-claypool/ |title=A Bold Statement from les Claypool - Theory of Obscurity |access-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324080115/http://residentsmovie.com/a-bold-statement-from-les-claypool/ |archive-date=March 24, 2018 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

===Equipment===
[[File:20060614 - claypool playing the whamola.jpg|thumb|Claypool playing the [[Whamola]] in 2006|237x237px]]
Claypool has, for a long time, endorsed [[Carl Thompson (luthier)|Carl Thompson]] basses, but also uses a custom "Pachyderm" bass built by [[luthier]] Dan Maloney, and an [[NS Design]] [[upright bass]]. He uses [[Mesa/Boogie]] amplifiers, and an extensive set of effect pedals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mixdownmag.com.au/features/gear-rundown-les-claypool/|title=Gear Rundown: Les Claypool|first=Eli|last=Duxson|date=September 14, 2018|website=Mixdown Magazine}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Claypool married clothes designer Chaney Smith in December 1995.<ref name="Chaney">{{cite web |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/nin09h/primus-les-claypool-sails-into-matrimony |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401225402/https://www.mtv.com/news/nin09h/primus-les-claypool-sails-into-matrimony |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 1, 2024 |title=Primus' Les Claypool Sails Into Matrimony |website=[[MTV]] |date=December 2, 1995 |access-date=April 1, 2024}}</ref> They reside in [[Sonoma County, California]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oregonwinepress.com/les-claypool-les-is-more|title=Les Is More|date=April 1, 2016|website=Oregonwinepress.com|access-date=September 29, 2025}}</ref> and have a son and daughter together.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/xjfzu8/just-call-primus-kingpin-les-claypool-dad|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407154452/https://www.mtv.com/news/xjfzu8/just-call-primus-kingpin-les-claypool-dad|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 7, 2024|title=Just Call Primus Kingpin Les Claypool "Dad"|website=MTV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/primus-les-claypool-my-daughter-tells-me-im-weird-all-the-time/|title=Primus' Les Claypool: "My daughter tells me I'm weird all the time"|date=May 14, 2021|website=Kerrang!}}</ref>
[[File:Purple Pachyderm wine - Sarah Stierch.jpg|thumb|168x168px|A bottle of Pinot Noir from Purple Pachyderm.]]
Claypool is known for his eccentric personality, surreal sense of humor, cannabis use and his love of wine.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kenneally|first=Tim|date=July 1994|title=The Secret Life of Primus|journal=[[High Times]]|issue=227|issn=0362-630X}}</ref> His love of wine led him to start the process of opening [https://www.purplepachyderm.com Pachyderm Station] in [[Sebastopol, California]] with his wife Chaney in 2007. They produce [[high-end]] [[wine]] with the aim of providing the utmost flavor and quality, mainly focusing on [[Pinot noir|Pinot Noir]] wines and [[Champagne]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Ogden |first=Agent |title=Purple Pachyderm |url=https://www.purplepachyderm.com/purplepachyderm.com |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=Purple Pachyderm |language=en}}</ref> The company, whose name is [https://www.purplepachyderm.com/index.php Purple Pachyderm], originally released their wine in 2012. [[Ross Cobb]] and Katy Wilson were hired as the wine makers at the inception, but Wilson left in 2018 to pursue other ventures. The store and restaurant are open to the public for wine tasting and meals, where Les has a [[food truck]] that serves his Whamola Weiners, which are a [[high-end]] hotdog.<ref name="auto"/>

"Les Claypool Day" was declared by [[Cincinnati]] mayor [[John Cranley]] on June 12, 2018. It was presented to Claypool during Primus' show that night at the [[Riverbend Music Center]] by members of the Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation, alongside Claypool's friend and influence [[Bootsy Collins]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.citybeat.com/music/blog/21009127/yesterday-was-proclaimed-les-claypool-day-in-cincinnati-after-primus-frontperson-visits-king-records |title = Yesterday was proclaimed "Les Claypool Day" in Cincinnati after Primus frontperson visits King Records|website=Citybeat.com | date=June 13, 2018 }}</ref>

==Discography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Artist
!Title
|-
|1986
|[[Primus (band)|Primus]]
|''Primus Sucks Demo Tape''
|-
|rowspan="2"|1988
|[[Blind Illusion]]
|''[[The Sane Asylum]]''
|-
|rowspan="6"|Primus
|''Sausage'' (demo)
|-
|1989
|''[[Suck on This]]'' (live album)
|-
|1990
|''[[Frizzle Fry]]''
|-
|1991
|''[[Sailing the Seas of Cheese]]''
|-
|1992
|''[[Miscellaneous Debris]]'' (EP)
|-
|1993
|''[[Pork Soda]]''
|-
|1994
|Sausage
|''[[Riddles Are Abound Tonight]]'' <small>(1988 Primus line-up reunion)</small>
|-
|1995
|Primus
|''[[Tales from the Punchbowl]]''
|-
|1996
|Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel
|''[[Highball with the Devil]]''
|-
|1997
|rowspan="2"|Primus
|''[[Brown Album]]''
|-
|1998
|''[[Rhinoplasty (EP)|Rhinoplasty]]'' (EP)
|-
|rowspan="2"|1999
|[[Buckethead]]
|''[[Monsters and Robots]]'' <small>(Claypool features on and co-wrote 6 of the 13 tracks)</small>
|-
|Primus
|''[[Antipop]]''
|-
|rowspan="3"|2001
|rowspan="2"|[[Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade]]
|''[[Live Frogs Set 1]]'' (live album)
|-
|''[[Live Frogs Set 2]]'' (live album)
|-
|[[Oysterhead]]
|''[[The Grand Pecking Order]]''
|-
|2002
|The Les Claypool Frog Brigade
|''[[Purple Onion (album)|Purple Onion]]''
|-
|2003
|Primus
|''[[Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People]]'' (EP/DVD set)
|-
|2004
|[[Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains]]
|''[[The Big Eyeball in the Sky]]''
|-
|rowspan="2"|2006
|Les Claypool
|''[[Of Whales and Woe]]''
|-
|Primus
|''[[They Can't All Be Zingers]]'' <small> (greatest hits compilation album)</small>
|-
|2008
|[[Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo|Electric Apricot]]
|''[[Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo (soundtrack)|Quest for Festeroo (soundtrack)]]'' <small>(Claypool features on and co-wrote 5 of the 12 tracks)</small>
|-
|2009
|Les Claypool
|''[[Of Fungi and Foe]]''
|-
|2010
|rowspan="2"|Primus
|''[[June 2010 Rehearsal]]'' (EP)
|-
|2011
|''[[Green Naugahyde]]''
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014
|Les Claypool's [[Duo de Twang]]
|''[[Four Foot Shack]]''
|- 
|Primus
|''[[Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble]]''
|-
|width=35|2016
|rowspan="2"|The Claypool Lennon Delirium
|''[[Monolith of Phobos]]''
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017
|''[[Lime and Limpid Green]]''
|-
|Primus
|''[[The Desaturating Seven]]''
|-
|2018
|Beanpole
|''All My Kin''
|-
|2019
|The Claypool Lennon Delirium
|''[[South of Reality]]''
|-
|rowspan="2"|2022
|rowspan="2"|Primus
|''[[Conspiranoid]]'' (EP)
|-
|''[[South Park (season 25)|South Park: The 25th Anniversary Experience]]'' 
|-
|2024
|Primus 'SESSANTA'
|Sessanta EPPP<ref>{{cite news |last1=Team |first1=Editorial |title=PUSCIFER, A PERFECT CIRCLE & PRIMUS Release "Sessanta E.P.P.P." |url=https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/puscifer-a-perfect-circle-primus-announce-sessanta-eppp/#:~:text=of%20the%20tour.-,“Sessanta%20E.P.P.P.,Primus%20–%20Pablo%27s%20Hippos |work=Sonic Perspectives |date=29 March 2024}}</ref> (Featuring Maynard James Keenan)             
|}

===Guest appearances===
(Claypool on bass unless otherwise noted)
*1992 – [[Green Jellÿ|Green Jellö]] - ''[[Cereal Killer (album)|Cereal Killer]]'' (voice of Three Little Pigs<ref name=Galil>{{Cite web |last=Galil |first=Leor |date=2017-12-29 |title=Comedic punk-metal band Green Jellÿ are still looking for new ways to be the "worst band in the world" |url=http://chicagoreader.com/music/comedic-punk-metal-band-green-jelly-are-still-looking-for-new-ways-to-be-the-worst-band-in-the-world/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}}</ref>)
*1992 – [[Tom Waits]] – ''[[Bone Machine]]'' (on the track "Earth Died Screaming")
*1994 – [[Firehose (band)|Firehose]] – ''[[Big Bottom Pow Wow]]'' (in discussion on the various "spiel" tracks)
*1994 – [[Rob Wasserman]] – ''Trios'' (on the tracks "Home is Where You Get Across" and "3 Guys Named Schmo")
*1996 – [[Alex Lifeson]] – ''[[Victor (Alex Lifeson album)|Victor]]'' (on the track "The Big Dance")
*1998 – [[Jerry Cantrell]] – ''[[Boggy Depot]]'' (on the tracks "Between" and "Cold Piece")
*1998 – [[Metallica]] – ''[[Garage Inc.]]'' (banjo on the [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]] cover "Tuesday's Gone")
*1998 – [[Bloem de Ligny]] – ''Zink'' (vocals on the track "Capsule")
*1999 – [[Tom Waits]] – ''[[Mule Variations]]'' (on the track "Big in Japan")
*1999 – [[Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band]] – ''[[Live On (Kenny Wayne Shepherd album)|Live On]]'' (on the track "Oh Well")
*1999 – [[Limp Bizkit]] – ''[[Significant Other (album)|Significant Other]]'' (vocals on the hidden track "The Mind of Les", bass and vocals on the outtake "Hell of a Band")
*1999 – [[DJ Disk|Phonopsycograph Disk]] – ''[[Live @ Slim's / Turbulence Chest]]'' (additional bass on 8 of the 12 tracks)
*2002 – [[Fishbone]] – ''[[Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Friendliest Psychosis of All]]'' (bass on track 1)
*2002 – [[Gov't Mule]] – ''[[The Deep End, Volume 2]]'' (bass and vocals on the tracks "Greasy Granny's Gopher Gravy" and "Drivin' Rain")
*2003 – [[Gov't Mule]] – ''[[The Deepest End, Live In Concert]]'' (bass and vocals on the tracks "Greasy Granny's Gopher Gravy" and "Drivin' Rain")
*2004 – [[Tom Waits]] – ''[[Real Gone (album)|Real Gone]]'' (on the tracks "Hoist That Rag", "Shake It" and "Baby Gonna Leave Me")
*2004 – [[Jack Irons]] – ''[[Attention Dimension]]'' (on the [[Pink Floyd]] cover "[[Shine On You Crazy Diamond]]")
*2005 – [[Adrian Belew]] – ''[[Side One]]'' (on the tracks "Ampersand", "Writing on the Wall" and "Matchless Man")
*2005 – [[Gabby La La]] – ''[[Be Careful What You Wish For...]]'' (bass and percussion throughout)
*2005 – [[Mat Callahan]] – ''A Wild Bouquet'' (on the track "I See the Light")
*2005 – [[Eric McFadden]] and [[Wally Ingram]] - ''[[Alektorophobia]]'' (on the tracks,"Tick Tock", "I Only Laugh When It Hurts" and "Dancing Song"
*2006 – [[Adrian Belew]] – ''[[Side Three]]'' (on the tracks "Whatever" and "Men in Helicopters v4.0")
*2006 – [[Tom Waits]] – ''[[Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards]]'' (on the track "On The Road")
*2008 – [[Zach Hill]] – ''[[Astrological Straits]]'' (on the track "Astrological Straits")
*2009 – Vinyl – ''Fogshack Music Volume Two'' (on the tracks "Jelly James Jam", "Le Colonel", "Benthos" and "Le Colonel Part Deux")
*2011 – [[Hank Williams III]] – ''[[Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town]]'' (on the tracks "Ghost to a Ghost" and "With the Ship")
*2011 – [[Tom Waits]] – ''[[Bad as Me]]'' (on the track "Satisfied")
*2013 – [[Beats Antique]] – ''A Thousand Faces: Act 1'' (bass and vocals on the track "Beezlebub")
*2016 – [[Death Grips]] – "More Than The Fairy"
*2019 – [[The Desert Sessions]] – "'''''Volume 11 – Arrivederci Despair'''''"

==== Soundtracks and compilations ====
{{See also|Primus discography#Compilations and soundtracks}}
*1991 – ''Guitars that Rule the World'' (promo for [[Guitar World]] magazine, featuring the original track "Filet of Soul" by [[Alex Skolnick]] with Claypool and [[Bryan Mantia]])
*1993 – ''Radio 501'' (promo for [[Levi's]] jeans, featuring the original track "Can't Live Without" by Claypool, [[Jay Lane]] & [[Rob Wasserman]])
*2002 – ''NASCAR: Crank It Up'' (promo for [[NASCAR on Fox]], featuring a cover of the [[Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen|Commander Cody]] track "[[Hot Rod Lincoln]]" recorded by Claypool)
*2002 – ''Bonnaroo Music Festival 2002'' (live album, featuring the Les Claypool's Frog Brigade track "Locomotive Breath")
*2002 – ''Bonnaroo Vol. 2'' (live album, featuring the Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains track "Number Two")
*2004 – ''Concrete Corner: October Sampler 2004'' (featuring the Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains track "Junior")
*2004 – ''Never Been Done'' (soundtrack, featuring the Les Claypool's Frog Brigade track "David Makalaster")
*2004 – ''[[Not In Our Name]]'' (benefit compilation album, featuring the Les Claypool's Frog Brigade track "David Makalaster II")
*2004 – ''Under the Influence: Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd'' (compilation album, track "[[Call Me the Breeze]]")
*2006 – ''[[Barnyard (film)|Barnyard]]'' (soundtrack, featuring the original track "Hittin' the Hay" by [[North Mississippi Allstars]] with Claypool)
*2008 – ''[[Pig Hunt]]'' (soundtrack, featuring the original tracks "Goblins in the Forest", "What You Lookin' At Boy?", "Boonville Stomp" and "Male Organ-Grinder")

;Television show theme songs
<!-- DO NOT add the original South Park Theme. This section is about stuff Claypool has done separately from Primus. They have their own discography.-->
*2005–present – ''[[Robot Chicken]]'': seasons 1–4 ("Robot Chicken", released on ''[[Of Whales and Woe]]'', 2006)
*2006–present – ''[[South Park]]'': seasons 10–16 ([[mashup (music)|mashup]] of "Whamola" by Les Claypool's Frog Brigade and "South Park Theme" by Primus)

;Video game soundtracks
*2008 – ''[[Mushroom Men]]: The Spore Wars'' (original tracks)

=== Videography ===
{{See also|Primus discography#Video albums}}
:1991 – ''[[Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey]]'', features Les Claypool performing with Primus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101452/fullcredits|title=Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)|access-date=January 15, 2018|website=IMDb.com}}</ref>
:2002 – ''[[Rising Low]]'' (Documentary on [[Allen Woody]], directed by [[Mike Gordon]])
:2002 – Various Artists – ''Live from Bonnaroo Music Festival 2002'' (featuring Les Claypool's Frog Brigade and Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains)
:2003 – [[Gov't Mule]] – ''[[The Deepest End, Live In Concert]]''
:2005 – Les Claypool – ''[[5 Gallons of Diesel]]''
:2007 – Les Claypool – ''[[Fancy (DVD)|Fancy]]''
:2008 – ''[[Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo]]'' ([[Rockumentary|Rock-]] [[mockumentary]] feature film)
:2011 – ''A Cure for Pain: The Mark Sandman Story'' (documentary on [[Mark Sandman]])

== See also ==
* [[Avant-garde]]
* [[Buckethead]]
* [[Charlie Hunter Trio (album)|Charlie Hunter Trio]] (1993)
* [[Duo de Twang]]
* [[Warren Haynes]]
* [[List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards]]
* [[Oysterhead]]
* [[Tom Waits]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{official website|http://www.lesclaypool.com/}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* [http://www.toasterland.com/setlists/ Primus and Side Project Live Performances]

{{Les Claypool}}
{{Primus}}
{{Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade}}
{{Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Claypool, Les}}
[[Category:Les Claypool| ]]
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:American heavy metal bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American male bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American heavy metal singers]]
[[Category:American rock double-bassists]]
[[Category:American male double-bassists]]
[[Category:American rock bass guitarists]]
[[Category:Songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Richmond, California]]
[[Category:Primus (band) members]]
[[Category:People from El Sobrante, Contra Costa County, California]]
[[Category:Steampunk]]
[[Category:Alternative metal bass guitarists]]
[[Category:People from Occidental, California]]
[[Category:People using the U.S. civilian title colonel]]
[[Category:Guitarists from California]]
[[Category:Blind Illusion members]]
[[Category:Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade members]]
[[Category:Les Claypool's Fancy Band members]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American double-bassists]]
[[Category:Oysterhead members]]
[[Category:Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains members]]
[[Category:Alternative metal singers]]
[[Category:American carpenters]]