11 of the Most Insanely Awesome Les Claypool and Sean Lennon Collaborations

June 01  / Wednesday
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The new pairing of genius bassist Les Claypool and avant-garde rocker Sean Lennon, in their duo outfit they’ve dubbed The Claypool Lennon Delirium, is one of the most exciting debuts of this year so far. In anticipation of their show with the Dean Ween Group on Saturday, June 18, we're revisiting some of the most bizarrely fascinating musical creations these two veteran artists have already given to the world over the past years has gotten us even more psyched for what lies ahead.

1. Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel

In the middle of Primus’ growing popularity, Les Claypool showed his uniqueness as an individual artist that would start to make him the incredibly ambitious figure he has become. He put out his first solo record in 1996, Highball with the Devil, with a mish-mosh of Primus regulars and musical friends.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVUOs54Wc-U

2. Cibo Matto

Working often throughout his career with his own mother on various musical projects has led Lennon to meet a few of his coolest personal collaborators. One was the Shibuya-kei influenced indie pop duo of Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori, called Cibo Matto. Lennon formed both a strong friendship with the duo and a recurring partnership, often backing them or being backed by them for many exhilarating shows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr2UMIMYTZE

3. Oysterhead

In 2000, Les Claypool was approached to assemble a band for New Orleans Jazz Fest. After plotting with Phish's Trey Anastasio, the two decided on Police drummer Stuart Copeland to round out the ensemble. Only intended to perform one single performance, the band put together a set which featured almost all brand new material for the show. After creating the monster, Oysterhead decided to reform in 2001 and release a new album entitled, The Grand Pecking Order. Can we petition to bring these guys back?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmFdIUQ16f4

4. Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade

Claypool’s second experimental supergroup, formed during the Oysterhead time, was Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, also known as, The Les Claypool Frog Brigade. Again, this supergroup was comrised of huge talents regularly in Claypool’s various lineups, from Skerik, to Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane, the Brigade put out two great live albums along with many more masterful shows over the years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx6pSnq9EvI

5. Friendly Fire

Claypool and Lennon have revealed their incredible versatility not only in the musical world, but the cinematic one as well. In 2006, Lennon released his album Friendly Fire, along with the filmic counterpart that went with it. The film, written and directed by Sean Lennon and filmmaker Michele Civetta, is a series of 10 music videos put together to visually portray the album’s conceptual story of love and betrayal. The film stars Lennon as well, along with actors like Carrie Fisher, Lindsay Lohan, and others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBe2ZSQm95A

6. Electric Apricot

For as artistically focused as Lennon’s first foray into film was, Claypool’s was hilarious. Electric Apricot: Quest For Festeroo, directed by, and starring Claypool, follows the spirit of the great classic mockumentary Spinal Tap, and features the fictional band Electric Apricot and their stint in the rising jamband scene. The result is another one of the most entertaining musical-based films you could watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvC4qzJrB3I

7. Mystical Weapons

Lennon formed this improvisational psych duo after meeting Deerhoof drummer Greg Saunier at a Plastic Ono Band show. To make things even more interesting, video director Martha Colburn, acts as Mystical Weapons’ third unofficial member. Colburn psychedelic visuals perfectly pair with Mystical Weapons' sonic attack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_YMK4U9nmM

8. Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains (C2B3)

After meeting at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in 2002, Les Claypool rounded up a third supergroup, Colonel Claypool’s Bucket of Bernie Brains, for some incredibly unique music. The shows of this experimental group, which featured Buckethead, legendary keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and Primus’ former member Bryan "Brain" Mantia on drums, was especially that. This band is the epitome of experimental, as their completely improvised shows featured no rehearsal beforehand. In 2004, ensemble reunited to record The Big Eyeball in the Sky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmswo1Rey6k

9. The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger

Lennon and Claypool’s adventurous musical careers have seen both of them take on projects of Americana-influences. In 2008, with his girlfriend and close collaborator Kemp Muhl, Lennon debuted The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger. The earthy, folk rock outfit, which has often performed with a larger band, has put out a few albums so far, and many successful live shows. Check out this live performance of “Poor Paul Getty.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VDxLP4Es4Y

10. The Duo De Twang

Working with longtime friend Bryan Kehoe, Les Claypool formed this fun, foot-stompin' country music duo. The outfit rocks with the same dark energy as Primus but this time through the toe-tapping zest of classic country. Check out this performance of “Jerry Was A Racecar Driver” at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQZl4l77YiY

11. The Claypool Lennon Delirium

Given this incredible scope of different musical partnerships from both Claypool and Lennon, we expect their latest and current one to be the most mind blowing yet. The Claypool and Lennon Delirium brings all of their experience together into a wicked cool fusion of their buzzing hard rock and old school psychadelia. Don't miss seeing them at The Cap on June 18!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp2EO0dtmK8
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