Primus have released the final episode of Interstellar Drum Derby, the band’s behind-the-scenes YouTube series chronicling their global open-call audition for a new drummer. The finale brings the journey full circle, showcasing the last round of in-studio auditions, final interviews, and the now-iconic moment when Les Claypool surprised John Hoffman with a cake and the news that he’d officially joined Primus.

Primus is back with their first new studio track since 2022’s Conspiranoid EP: the blistering, surrealist anthem “Little Lord Fentanyl.” A twisted fable steeped in groove and dark humor, the track features a guest appearance from Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer), whose unmistakable voice slithers through the chaos with sinister glee.

Following their electrifying run on the Sessanta tour alongside A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, Primus will return this summer with the Onward & Upward Tour—an expansive, coast-to-coast trek that marks an exciting new chapter for the band. The tour not only brings the trio’s signature blend of musical innovation back to stages nationwide, but also introduces fans to drummer John Hoffman, whose recent addition to the lineup brings a renewed sense of energy, experimentation, and groove to the legendary outfit.

After an extensive search to find a new drummer, Primus is pulling back the curtain on their unique audition process with the launch of the “Primus Interstellar Drum Derby,” a brand-new episodic YouTube series chronicling the entire journey. The first episode, released today, features drummer Rory Dolan jamming with Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde, providing an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the dynamic and demanding audition process.
 

Festication and TOOL are thrilled to announce the first-ever Tool Live in the Sand, a destination festival taking place at the all-inclusive luxury, 5-star resort - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino & Royalton Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from March 7th-9th, 2025. Tool Live in the Sand will bring TOOL diehards together from around the world for an island escape.

When Primus announces a tour across the great American landscape, faces light up with excitement, urgency, and anticipation as fans scramble to secure tickets—often for multiple shows. Primus fans are a loyal, enthusiastic bunch, especially in Colorado, where Primus is considered a member of the Rocky Mountain community. This connection is partly because they contributed to Colorado's comedic culture by writing the theme song for the immensely successful animated series South Park.

Thousands of loyal Primus fans gathered at Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles on July 7th for a concert by the beloved trio. A warm, dry wind from the Central California desert blew across the venue. While temperatures topped 100 degrees midday, the climate was far more comfortable at showtime just around sunset. The breezy conditions offered crystal clear skies in the rural mountain setting.

There are few music festivals with the legacy of the High Sierra Music Festival (HSMF). After more than thirty years, HSMF has truly become far more than the sum of its parts. Sure, there's a ton of world-class music on several stages, parades, activities for kids, crafts and vendors, killer food, and all that. And of course, there's the camping scene, a hippie town that springs up almost overnight on the Plumas County Fairgrounds for the four-day festival around the Fourth of July each year.

The High Sierra Music Festival, one of California's longest-running annual music festivals, is celebrating its 32nd year on July 4-7, 2024, in the golden Sierra hills of Quincy. Headliners this year include Ziggy Marley, Primus, and Greensky Bluegrass. They will be joined by a wide variety of bluegrass, jam, Americana, funk, folk, and worldbeat acts on multiple stages at the Plumas County Fairgrounds.

When Primus takes the stage, it's not just a concert—it's an odyssey through the whimsical, the bizarre, and the downright mind-bending. Hailing from the depths of musical experimentation since 1984, with their current lineup solidifying its cosmic synergy since 2003, Primus is a band that defies categorization and embraces the unconventional with gusto.