In late October, Tim Alexander announced his departure from Primus, and subsequently the remaining members of the band (bassist/vocalist Les Claypool and guitarist Larry LaLonde) announced open auditions for the vacant drummer position.
L-R: Larry LaLonde, John Hoffman, Les Claypool
In total, more than 6,000 people applied. Out of those, 12 finalists auditioned in Los Angeles. They had to learn four Primus songs and do a number of jam sessions with the band. From those 12, two made it to the next and final round. The final audition was held at Primus’s studio in Santa Rosa. It involved learning the entire current setlist and recording a brand new song.
The winner is John Hoffman (Killer Bees, Dirtfoot). He beat out such masters as Thomas Pridgen or Gergo Borlai (who made it to the final two).
Hoffman wrote on his Instagram account:
“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. I came and did my thing the way I do it. It went as well as I could have hoped. Maynard James Keenan was sitting directly in front of me and watched my entire audition. […] It’s been one of the most incredible days of my life.”
He is scheduled to join Primus behind the kit on the “Sessanta V2.0” tour with A Perfect Circle and Puscifer this spring.
Below, you can see Hoffman’s audition tape.
John Hoffman na FB: https://www.facebook.com/john.hoffman.9066
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnhoffmandrums/
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnHoffmanDrums
Official Primus website: https://primusville.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/primusville
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primusville/
YT: https://www.youtube.com/user/officialprimus
