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Les Claypool: Bass-Sick-ly
interview Page 2
Page 1 of interview
Page 3 of interview
mt: Do the subjects of your stories come randomly or is there a more intertwined line of thinking that carries through as a parallel in the tales?
Les: It depends on how I am feeling at the time. I have to say that the stuff that I am writing right now is a bit more sinister and dealing with more concern to the environment—not the physical environment to an extent, but the social environment. Basically, I am getting older and have kids, and I am becoming more concerned with that sort of thing. One thing, I look back at my lyrics and people think of me as the fishing cartoon guy. A lot of the themes that run through my lyrics have to do with this whole addiction/speed thing. It comes up in a lot of my material. I just did a song with Gov't Mule and the song was based on that, as well. I lot of that comes from my family, because I have a cousin who is actually a fugitive right now, in and out of prison, because he has a speed problem. He was my buddy when we were kids. He was a little bigger than me, a little older than me. We would hang out and see each other everyday. That is sort of the folly of part of my family. That drug has had a big effect on my family, so it tends to pop up a lot in my music.
mt: Is that something you recognize while you are writing, or do you find insight as you go back to songs and listen to them yourself?
Les: I knew what I was writing about, but, looking back, I hadn't realized how extensively I had written about it. I mean, there are a lot of songs that I have written with metaphors for speed in them.
mt: Seeing as how many of your songs are very high profile, does your family see those messages in your songs?
Les: I don't really know. I am not really close with that side of my family. I think we see each other on holidays. I tend not to talk too much about my writing, let alone to my family.
mt: Many casual Les Claypool fans, be they of Primus or other projects, may think of you as the type of person who writes quirky or silly lyrics. How does it make your feel that many fans don't attempt to grasp the deeper meaning behind the words you create?
Les: Ideally, you want to be understood and respected, but I don't like just sticking stuff out on the line. I tend to bury it a little bit, make it something you have to dig for; the meaning is a bit more subtle. It used to bother me, because I would think my message was clear and it wouldn't be clear. It is just human nature to want to look at something and grasp it for face value and that's it. The inclination isn't to go much deeper unless you really get into something. For instance, if you get into Tom Waits, then you get into his lyrics and find that there is a lot of depth there. I am finding that as I am getting older, there are more people that have been digging and figuring these things out. It doesn't really bother me. It is like anything else: I look back at some of the things I did and I am like, "Yeah, that is cool," whereas with other stuff I am like, "What the hell was I thinking?" It is like looking at your high school haircut.
mt: When I was in high school, I had a hightop fade like Kid 'n' Play. I look back at those pictures and wonder why I put a certain design in my hair.
Les: I had a buddy whose hair was like that and I used to cut it for him. We used to give him the big ol' eraser head hairdo. It was awesome.
mt: You have a family, correct?
Les: Yes.
mt: How difficult is it balancing family life and being on the road?
Les: It is hard. I was talking to Enor last night. This is his first big tour with a tour bus and all. It is fun. Back in the old days, before I was married and had kids, it was all about going out and partying and screwing—rock 'n' roll. Now, I might have a drink or two, smoke some weed, but for the most part, it is all about the music. The screwing and partying isn't important anymore, because I would rather be with my wife and kids. The music is the only thing that keeps me out here now.
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