Primus

Primus isn't the typical bluegrass, folk, or rock band that typically uses a banjo but Les Claypool finds a way to incorporate almost every style available into his music. Claypool doesn't use the typical five string traditional banjo, or even a six string banjo like most people but instead he uses an extremely rare bassjo. It is tuned like a bass with the drum head like a banjo and has a sound that cannot be replicated.

Les Claypool and his bassjo shown below:



 

Primus has been around for since 1984 and started out of California while releasing six albums including one just two years ago (Green Naugahyde:2011). Probably their best known song is the South Park Theme Song but most people aren't even aware of the fact that it is primus.

 

This is one of the examples where Claypool uses his banjo. The band generally falls under the an alternative or funk genre. They have won platinum albums for their albums Pork Soda 1993 and Sailing the Sea of Cheese 1991 and also have won a gold album for Tales from the Punchbowl 1995. Primus has weird music videos which were created to get an audience's attention and in my case it worked. Primus has had several of their weird music videos appear on MTV such as Mr. Krinkle which is shown below:

Along with Claypool's music career he has done some minor acting roles along with writing a book. His book South of the Pumphouse tells a tale of two brothers that go on a fishing trip for sturgeon in California which he uses some of his childhood experiences to write from and the book is worth a read.