Biography

Auditioned for bassist position in Metallica in 1986 after their previous bassist, Cliff Burton, was killed in a tour bus accident. Claypool didn't get the gig because his style was considered "too funky".

The original Primus members are Claypool, Jay Lane (drums) and Todd Huth (guitar). The side project band Sausage is a reunion of the original Primus members (who recorded the Primus demo "Sausage" before Lane and Huth left, hence the side project name).

High-school friend of Metallica's Kirk Hammett.

Member, with Sean Lennon, of Claypool Lennon Delirium.

In 2012 he established a boutique winery, Claypool Cellars, in Sonoma County, California.

In the early days all I hoped was to make a living out of what I did best. But, since there's no real market for masturbation I had to fall back on my bass playing abilities.

I'm a big believer in spontaneity.

I like to open new doors and blaze new trails through the jungle and all that whatnot. What keeps me goin' all these years is changin' it up.

I enjoy my John Deere tractor quite a lot. It's a tool that I must use to keep Mother Nature at bay. I have all kinds of things encroaching on my property.

Comedians get jokes offered to them, rock stars get women and underwear thrown onstage, and I get guys that want to take me fishing.