Primus bassist Les Claypool was interviewed for the latest episode of the Kyle Meredith With… podcast. While the bulk of the conversation was devoted to previewing Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade‘s soon-to-begin Summer Of Green Tour 2023, Claypool also spent a few minutes discussing an album he’s working on with guitarist Billy Strings.
Meredith asked Claypool whether the Frog Brigade would record an album. Les responded he’s halfway through a new The Claypool Lennon Delirium LP and “Billy Strings and I have been working on a record,” so it’s unlikely the Frog Brigade will hit the studio. The host pushed the bassist to talk about the sound of his project with Strings. “It’s kinda Duo de Twang … nothing against [Duo de Twang bandmate Bryan] Kehoe because Kehoe is badass … but Billy is just a whole nother level. It’s pretty amazing playing with that guy.”
“We’ve just been picking away at it. I’m not sure where it is or where it’s going and if and when it’ll even come out,” Claypool added. “We have a handful of songs and we’ve been having fun with it. But now I’m getting busy and he’s busy. So it’ll come together whenever the planets align.”
The host queried the Colonel about what makes Strings so special. “He’s had a very interesting life,” Claypool explained and compared him to the late Bernie Worrell in that Billy infuses his life experiences naturally and honest into his music. Les went on to share the following about Billy Strings:
“He’s become a good friend, a friend of the family and I hear these stories. We have kind of similar upbringings. His was even more colorful in many ways and he’s got more years on him than his actual tenure on the planet if that makes any sense. He’s got an old soul vibe to him. I call it salt. He has salt, he’s salty, he’s the real deal. He can play like he plays because he sat on the porch with his family for many years and just played with his friends and relatives and it’s like breathing for him.”
Kyle Meredith told Claypool he hopes he hears the material soon rather than later. “It’s more a matter of getting in there and finishing,” Les said. “It’s like a bathroom that you’re wallpapering and you haven’t quite gotten it there yet. You’ve still got to paint the trim.”
The guitarist’s relationship with Les Claypool was forged over Billy Strings’ breakout 2022. Strings shared images of recording with Claypool at Les’ California facility in January 2022. Both musicians then sat-in with Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros at Sweetwater Music Hall the next month. In April 2022, Strings was among contributors to Claypool’s guest-filled benefit single “Zelensky: The Man With The Iron Balls.” Additionally, last May, Claypool joined Billy Strings at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium before Strings jammed with Primus at the same venue the next night.
Listen to Les Claypool’s appearance on Kyle Meredith With… below:
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Les Claypool & Billy Strings
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Les Claypool, Bob Weir & More Join Billy Strings At The Ryman
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Les Claypool, Billy Strings, Stewart Copeland & Others Share ‘Zelensky: The Man With The Iron Balls’ Single
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Primus Welcomes Billy Strings At The Ryman
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Bob Weir & Wolf Bros Welcome Billy Strings & Les Claypool At Sweetwater Music Hall
