In the summer of 1971, Primus' Les Claypool was a couple months shy of his eighth birthday when David L. Wolper's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory debuted in movie theaters; based on the Roald Dahl book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Like many people of a certain age and temperament, the movie became a perennial favorite that Claypool would come back to repeatedly, throughout different stages of his life, taking something different away from it each time.
So it seemed equal parts genius and obvious when he decided to throw a Willy Wonka-themed Primus show on New Year's Eve last year. During the second set, Primus performed the soundtrack in its entirety. "Of the 23 or so New Years shows, I don't think we've ever had a better combination of elements," Claypool reflects, seven months later. "It felt good. It felt like we needed to be doing this."
"Our project is an homage to Gene Wilder and David L. Wolper's, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the effect it had on me in my youth," spouts Les, "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 was founded in 1984 in El Sobrante, California by Les Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, who were later joined by drummer Jay Lane. Beginning as an underground act, the band slowly gained notoriety and critical acclaim after their records Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991) and Pork Soda (1993) both went Platinum, along with their records, Wynona's Big Brown Beaver (1996), Sailing the Seas of Cheese (Deluxe Edition) (2013) and Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble (2015), all three of which earned Grammy nominations. After the release of their record Antipop in 1999, the group disbanded but reformed as a touring entity in 2010 and began releasing music again soon after; Primus has released nine studio albums in total. The present lineup features Claypool on bass, Larry "Ler" LaLonde on guitar and Tim "Herb" Alexander on drums. Primus have delighted audiences all over the world with their oddball lyricism and out-of-the-box approach to music for over 40 years, and continue to be dedicated to bringing their innovative discography on the road.
show less
So it seemed equal parts genius and obvious when he decided to throw a Willy Wonka-themed Primus show on New Year's Eve last year. During the second set, Primus performed the soundtrack in its entirety. "Of the 23 or so New Years shows, I don't think we've ever had a better combination of elements," Claypool reflects, seven months later. "It felt good. It felt like we needed to be doing this."
"Our project is an homage to Gene Wilder and David L. Wolper's, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the effect it had on me in my youth," spouts Les, "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 was founded in 1984 in El Sobrante, California by Les Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, who were later joined by drummer Jay Lane. Beginning as an underground act, the band slowly gained notoriety and critical acclaim after their records Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991) and Pork Soda (1993) both went Platinum, along with their records, Wynona's Big Brown Beaver (1996), Sailing the Seas of Cheese (Deluxe Edition) (2013) and Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble (2015), all three of which earned Grammy nominations. After the release of their record Antipop in 1999, the group disbanded but reformed as a touring entity in 2010 and began releasing music again soon after; Primus has released nine studio albums in total. The present lineup features Claypool on bass, Larry "Ler" LaLonde on guitar and Tim "Herb" Alexander on drums. Primus have delighted audiences all over the world with their oddball lyricism and out-of-the-box approach to music for over 40 years, and continue to be dedicated to bringing their innovative discography on the road.
In the summer of 1971, Primus' Les Claypool was a couple months shy of his eighth birthday when David L. Wolper's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory debuted in movie theaters; based on the Roald Dahl book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Like many people of a certain age and temperament, the movie became a perennial favorite that Claypool would come back to repeatedly, throughout different stages of his life, taking something different away from it each time.
So it seemed equal parts genius and obvious when he decided to throw a Willy Wonka-themed Primus show on New Year's Eve last year. During the second set, Primus performed the soundtrack in its entirety. "Of the 23 or so New Years shows, I don't think we've ever had a better combination of elements," Claypool reflects, seven months later. "It felt good. It felt like we needed to be doing this."
"Our project is an homage to Gene Wilder and David L. Wolper's, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the effect it had on me in my youth," spouts Les, "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 was founded in 1984 in El Sobrante, California by Les Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, who were later joined by drummer Jay Lane. Beginning as an underground act, the band slowly gained notoriety and critical acclaim after their records Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991) and Pork Soda (1993) both went Platinum, along with their records, Wynona's Big Brown Beaver (1996), Sailing the Seas of Cheese (Deluxe Edition) (2013) and Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble (2015), all three of which earned Grammy nominations. After the release of their record Antipop in 1999, the group disbanded but reformed as a touring entity in 2010 and began releasing music again soon after; Primus has released nine studio albums in total. The present lineup features Claypool on bass, Larry "Ler" LaLonde on guitar and Tim "Herb" Alexander on drums. Primus have delighted audiences all over the world with their oddball lyricism and out-of-the-box approach to music for over 40 years, and continue to be dedicated to bringing their innovative discography on the road.
read more
So it seemed equal parts genius and obvious when he decided to throw a Willy Wonka-themed Primus show on New Year's Eve last year. During the second set, Primus performed the soundtrack in its entirety. "Of the 23 or so New Years shows, I don't think we've ever had a better combination of elements," Claypool reflects, seven months later. "It felt good. It felt like we needed to be doing this."
"Our project is an homage to Gene Wilder and David L. Wolper's, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the effect it had on me in my youth," spouts Les, "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 was founded in 1984 in El Sobrante, California by Les Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, who were later joined by drummer Jay Lane. Beginning as an underground act, the band slowly gained notoriety and critical acclaim after their records Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991) and Pork Soda (1993) both went Platinum, along with their records, Wynona's Big Brown Beaver (1996), Sailing the Seas of Cheese (Deluxe Edition) (2013) and Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble (2015), all three of which earned Grammy nominations. After the release of their record Antipop in 1999, the group disbanded but reformed as a touring entity in 2010 and began releasing music again soon after; Primus has released nine studio albums in total. The present lineup features Claypool on bass, Larry "Ler" LaLonde on guitar and Tim "Herb" Alexander on drums. Primus have delighted audiences all over the world with their oddball lyricism and out-of-the-box approach to music for over 40 years, and continue to be dedicated to bringing their innovative discography on the road.
show less
Date/Times:
Quarry Amphitheater
2 Upcoming Events
420 Hagar Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
The Best Events
Every Week in Your Inbox
From Our Sponsors
UPCOMING EVENTS
Great suggestion! We'll be in touch.
Event reviewed successfully.