San Francisco- based rock band Primus, composed of Les Claypool, Larry “Ler” LaLonde, and Tim Alexander, have reunited and announced the release of a new album, their first in nearly twenty years. The homage album, Primus and the Chocolate Factory, is set to drop October 21 via ATO Records with touring beginning the very next day.
On the inspiration for the themed album, Claypool reveals he’s always, “in some way, wanted to be Willy Wonka” and has always been drawn to covering “The Candyman” off the original film’s soundtrack. He noted, “Hell I’ve been doing the line from the boat ride on stage since the ’80s,” to which Les responded by singing, “‘There’s no earthly way of knowing, which direction we are going…”
Claypool discussed his deep connection with the wacky and wonderful Gene Wilder and David L. Woper version, “It just seems like the perfect project to take on in part because those tunes are all so strong. The recording is about my early perception of the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory film. the notion wasn’t so much to go in and redo the soundtrack not for note as much as it was to utilize the classic elements of the music yet try to reflect some of the darker undertones of the Roald Dahl books…there is an eerie and somewhat menacing aspect implied.”
They hope to reinterpret the classic themes of the film, book, and music for the tour sets as well. Claypool explained, ” We’re going to take it out there, around the planet, and see what happens.” They’ve even got some PRIMUS brand chocolate bars for the tour. Les chimed in, “Now we get to sell PRIMUS bars and hang out with demented Oompa Loompas. Plus to top it off, it gives me an excuse to wear a purple, velvet waistcoat and brown top hat for the next 18 months.” Primus will hit the road this fall with a hint of nostalgia, a sprinkle of youth, and a dash of wonk.
Primus and The Chocolate Factory Tour
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10/22: Upper Darby, PA – Tower Theatre
10/24: Albany, NY – Palace Theatre
10/25: Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre
10/26: Burlington, VT – Flynn Center for Performing Arts
10/28: Waterbury, CT – Palace Theater
10/29: Baltimore, MD – Hippodrome
10/31: New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
11/01: New Brunswick, NJ – State Theatre
11/02: Rochester, NY – Main Street Armory
11/03: Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
11/05: St. Louis, MO – Peabody Opera House
11/07: Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
11/08: Atlanta, GA – Taft Theatre
11/09: Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
11/11: Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach at The Jackie Gleason Theater
11/12: Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
11/14: Biloxi, MS – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
11/15: Austin, TX – ACL live at the Moody Theater
11/16: Dallas, TX – The Majestic Theatre
11/17: San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre
11/19: Phoenix, AZ – Orpheum Theatre Phoenix
11/21: Los Angeles, CA – Orpheum Theatre LA
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