Primus announce “complete shock” departure of drummer Tim Alexander

30 October, 2024

Primus have announced the “shock” departure of their drummer, Tim “Herb” Alexander.

Remaining members Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde announced yesterday (October 29) via Twitter/X that Alexander had left the band “effective immediately”, via an email sent on October 17. “It came as a complete shock to all of us here in the Primus camp,” they wrote.

“On the heels of a wonderful spring & summer of touring and some fabulous plans ahead, it has been a bit bewildering for us that Herb would so abruptly opt out,” the statement continued.

“After several attempts to communicate with Herb, his only response was another email stating that he has ‘lost his passion for playing.’ As disappointing as that is, we respect his choice.”

They go on to say that, as a result of Alexander’s departure, they’ve had to “make some tough decisions” about future performances.

“We considered cancelling the annual New Year’s show, but after much talk Les and Ler have decided to pivot to an augmented version of Primus featuring members of Holy Mackerel and Frog Brigade,” they write, specifying that it will be “an exciting special, one-time event.”

For their upcoming festival date with Tool, dubbed Tool In The Sand, in the Dominican Republic, their one-time touring drummer, Danny Carey, will step in.

Next year, the band are set to embark on the second leg of Tool’s Maynard James Keenan’s ‘Sessanta’ tour. For those dates, they wrote that they will be “searching for the ‘Greatest Drummer on Earth.”

Tool In The Sand, which has been labelled as an “all-inclusive” experience, is scheduled to take place on March 7-9 next year in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic across two resorts; the Hard Rock and Royalton resorts.

Alongside Primus, bands like Mastodon, Coheed And Cambria, Eagles Of Death Metal, CKY and King’s X will be heading to the Dominican Republic for the festival.

Tickets are now on sale via the Tool In The Sand website. You can find more information, including the full lineup, here.

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