The pantheon of rock & roll needs an extra wing for the plethora of guitar heroes. The heralded slingers, pickers, and shredders are stacked on top of one another like cordwood. But bass heroes. Well, they have only an alcove.

There are, of course, plenty of phenomenal bassists throughout music history. But bass HEROES, ones who transform the instrument into a lead, into the focus, those you might build a band around — those are few and far between.

Bootsy Collins. Flea. Les Claypool.

Les Claypool grew up in the Bay Area of California and picked up the bass as a teen in the late 70s. In high school he became good friends with future Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, but while Hammett was listening to hard rock and early metal, Claypool’s tastes ran toward prog-rock and funk. His journey towards musical success would take a lot longer than his high school chum.

Primus formed in the mid-80s and slowly built success as a live act as they simultaneously went through a revolving door of members. The band self-funded their first two albums which, along with their powerful live act, eventually garnered enough buzz to score them opening slots for huge acts like the Pixies and Jane’s Addiction.

1991 finally saw the release of their major label debut album, Sailing The Seas Of Cheese, on Interscope Records. The lead single, “Jerry Was A Race Car Driver,” featured Claypool’s distinctive vocals (which you’ll recognize if you’ve ever heard the opening theme song for South Park), his virtuosic bass playing, and a small sound bite from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Nothing else sounded like it at the time, but the song fit right in with the growing grunge and “alternative” scene.

The band would later win Grammys and their albums would go Platinum while Claypool became synonymous with his instrument.

So light ’em up just for fun… with Primus.