Primus drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander has left the band again. The rest of the oddball funksters shared the news in a statement on social media yesterday (October 29th), saying that they’d received an email from the percussionist where he explained he’d “lost his passion for playing.”
“As disappointing as that is, we respect his choice,” vocalist-bassist Les Claypool and guitarist Larry “Ler” LaLonde wrote in a joint statement, adding that Alexander’s departure “came as a complete shock to all of us here in the Primus camp.”
Despite the drum-seat setback, Primus don’t plan to cancel any upcoming show. Their New Year’s show will feature an “augmented version of Primus featuring members of Holy Mackerel and Frog Brigade,” and for TOOL’s forthcoming Live in the Sand destination festival, they’ll be joined by TOOL’s Danny Carey. The alt-metal drum great has shared the stage with Primus numerous times over the years, including filling in for Alexander in 2014 while the latter was recovering from a heart-attack.
As for Primus’ 2025 Sessanta dates alongside A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, Claypool and LaLonde put it out there that they’re planning on “searching for the ‘greatest drummer on earth.’” You can read their statement in full down below, where you’ll likewise find all of Primus’ upcoming tour schedule.
While Alexander is part of Primus’ classic line-up, he’d been in and out of the band a few times. He joined Primus in 1989, left in 1996, rejoined in 2003 when Claypool and LaLonde reformed the group after a brief hiatus, then left again in 2010, and rejoined a few years later in 2013.
PRIMUS: 2024-2025 TOUR DATES:
Dec 30, 2024 Fox Theater Oakland, CA Support: Limbomaniacs
Dec 31, 2024 Fox Theater Oakland, CA Support: Beanpole
Mar 7, 2025 – Mar 9, 2025 Tool Live In the Sand Punta Cana, La Altagracia
Apr 24, 2025 Acrisure Arena Palm Desert, CA
Apr 25, 2025 PH Live at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, NV
Apr 27, 2025 Isleta Amphitheater Albuquerque, NM
Apr 29, 2025 Freeman Coliseum San Antonio, TX
May 1, 2025 BOK Center Tulsa, OK
May 2, 2025 Walmart AMP (Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion) Rogers, AR
May 4, 2025 The Orion Amphitheater Huntsville, AL
May 6, 2025 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL
May 8, 2025 MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre Tampa, FL
May 10, 2025 PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte, NC
May 11, 2025 Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre Virginia Beach, VA
May 14, 2025 SNHU Arena Manchester, NH
May 15, 2025 TD Pavilion at The Mann Center Philadelphia, PA
May 17, 2025 PNC Bank Arts Center Holmdel, NJ
May 18, 2025 EagleBank Arena Fairfax, VA
May 20, 2025 Petersen Events Center Pittsburgh, PA
May 22, 2025 Budweiser Stage Toronto, ON
May 24, 2025 Ruoff Music Center Noblesville, IN
May 25, 2025 Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls, OH
May 28, 2025 The Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, MI
May 29, 2025 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre St. Louis, MO
May 31, 2025 American Family Insurance Amphitheater Milwaukee, WI
Jun 1, 2025 Xcel Energy Center Saint Paul, MN
Jun 3, 2025 Baxter Arena Omaha, NE
Jun 6, 2025 RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater Ridgefield, WA
Jun 7, 2025 White River Amphitheatre Auburn, WA
This article was originally published on BrooklynVegan.com and has been edited by Revolver.