Tool Drummer Danny Carey to Play With Primus on Select Tour Dates
While longtime Primus drummer Tim Alexander recuperates from the heart attack he suffered last month, frontman Les Claypool has enlisted Tool's Danny Carey to fill in during a handful of upcoming tour dates.
There was already a connection between the two bands: Alexander is in Puscifer with Tool leader Maynard James Keenan, and was also the first drummer for Keenan's other outfit, A Perfect Circle.
Claypool tells Rolling Stone that Carey was his first choice to pitch in. "The mighty Tim 'Herb' Alexander is a polyrhythmic Viking of extreme and unique talent, so the one person that we thought could step into his shoes and do it justice is the one and only Mr. Danny Carey," he said. "Whereas Herb is the stocky, Easter Island-faced, boulder of a drumming human, at nearer to seven feet, Danny Carey is the mighty redwood tree of percussion; towering over his kit like a golden-haired noble sequoia."
Alexander will join Primus for their Riot Fest appearances in Chicago and Denver, along with an after party at at Concord Music Hall in Chicago on Sept. 13. Claypool said Primus decided not to cancel their appearances as a way to help make money for Alexander as he recovers.
In the meantime, Claypool said he's just as excited about the temporary collaboration as anyone. "I can't wait to see that menacing grin of Danny's shine out as we pound our way through 'Here Come the Bastards' and 'Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers,' said Claypool. "He's a dear old friend and we are extremely excited to have him aboard, and I would wager we are equally if not more intrigued than most by what kind of sounds are going to come out of the three of us once we actually get in a room together and do more than just consume fancy booze."Claypool and Carey did jam together at least once before: They hung out with Police drummer Stewart Copeland and Rush drummer Neil Peart at Copeland's studio in 2011. Check out the video below.