Animals Should Not Try To Act Like Guitar Players

GameSpy: Since the Zingers collection includes songs you recorded with Brian "Brain" Mantia on drums after Tim left the band, will you be playing any of that stuff even though Tim is back and Brain is off with Guns N' Roses?

Les Claypool: It has been talked about. We started doing it the last time, we asked Tim to pick a couple songs off The Brown Album, but when we started to play them, they just didn't sound right because he was playing them his way. But since it was still sort of new and fresh that we were getting together, and we were doing it because we wanted to have some fun, I didn't want to tell him to go back and learn those songs. It's kind of like getting back together with your ex-wife and asking her, "Hey, would you mind getting into one of my mistresses' dresses?" But now some time has passed, and we're all good, so I think it would be fun to try that again. Especially stuff from The Brown Album, there's some songs on that album that I really enjoy.

GameSpy: Are there any plans to follow the tour with a new album?

Les Claypool: I don't know. Hopefully what will happen is that we'll get out there and we'll play and we'll write some songs, and we'll get excited about making a Primus album. That's sort of how we do Primus now: not to do it because hey, it's time to do it, but because we're inspired to do it. And hopefully doing this tour will inspire us to do it.

GameSpy: What about all your own stuff? Is there another solo album in the works? Or another Oysterhead album?

Les Claypool: I don't have anything scheduled, but I've got a lot of stuff going on. We're working on distribution for the film I directed, Electric Apricot, and it looks like it'll be coming out at the beginning of next year, and it's actually leading to another film project. My book is out, South Of The Pumphouse, so I've got a couple other writing projects I'm working on. And I've been approached by people to do some music projects. But I've put everybody on hold until after I do this Primus tour. So there's a lot of pots on the stove, but nothing's on the front burner.

GameSpy: So if you brought Guitar Hero II on tour with you, who do you think would win in a Guitar Hero II battle royale: you, Tim, or Larry?

Les Claypool: Probably Tim, to tell you the truth. He probably plays guitar more than any of us. I'm always seeing him picking up a guitar and noodling around. Though if you asked me of all my friends who would win, it would be Jay. He's a video game nut, and he'll sit there and play it for hours and hours. He's the guy who, when we go on tour [Jay plays in many of Les' side and solo bands], he's always in the back of the bus, playing games. And when he starts a new game, he always starts it on "Expert." So I'm sure he's quite proficient at Guitar Hero. And will be very excited that a Primus song - one that he actually has writing credit on - is in the game.

GameSpy: How about if it was Larry vs. Todd Huth, Primus' guitarist before Larry?

Les Claypool: It would be Ler. You know, you're putting me in an awkward position here. But I'll say Ler.

GameSpy: So if it was up to you, what songs would be featured in Guitar Hero III?

Les Claypool: That's a tough one. Because I'm not familiar enough with what songs were in the first Guitar Hero, it's really hard to say. But for me, the ultimate guitar song ever is "Heartbreaker" by Led Zeppelin. That, to me, is the ultimate guitar riff.