Alternative metal veterans Primus have officially released their new four-song EP ‘A Handful Of Nuggs’, offering fans another look at the band’s next creative era while continuing a busy stretch for bassist and vocalist Les Claypool.
The EP includes the newly released track “The Ol’ Grizz,” which will appear on Primus’ upcoming tenth studio album. The band have spent recent months working on that record and currently plan to release it sometime in 2027.
The title of the EP also appears to reference one of Claypool’s hobbies outside of music — gold prospecting. Speaking recently with Bass Magazine, Claypool discussed purchasing an old mining property and spending time searching for gold with friends and family.
“I bought me a gold mine up in the mountains. It’s an old hydraulic mine, and I’ve been going up there to explore it. My friends and my son and I dig holes and look for some nuggets. I’ve already found a handful of them. It’s a good ol’ time, getting dirty and hoping to not step on a rattlesnake or get eaten by a bear.”
Alongside “The Ol’ Grizz,” the EP also includes a studio version of Primus’ cover of Dio classic “Holy Diver,” featuring collaborator Puddles Pity Party. The band had previously performed that collaboration live before officially recording it.
The release additionally features “Little Lord Fentanyl,” Primus’ collaborative track with Maynard James Keenan of Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer fame.
Rounding out the EP is a live recording of “Duchess And The Proverbial Mind Spread,” captured during a performance at TD Pavilion at The Mann in Philadelphia during Primus’ 2025 ‘Sessanta’ tour alongside A Perfect Circle and Puscifer.
The forthcoming album will also mark Primus’ first full-length release featuring drummer John Hoffman, also known as “Hoffer,” who joined the group in 2025 following the abrupt departure of longtime drummer Tim Alexander.
Claypool admitted he still has not spoken with Alexander since the split.
“When Herb left the band, it felt like the rug being pulled out from under us. Nobody expected it. We were all getting along great, we were having a blast, and we were excitedly talking about the future. Then all of a sudden, we were like, what the hell happened? I have no idea what happened; I still haven’t spoken to him at all.”
He also revealed the band originally hoped to give Alexander a proper farewell performance.
“We had a New Year’s show booked, and we asked Herb to come play it — we could send him out with a bang, a farewell show. We could’ve made t-shirts and it would’ve been a whole thing. But he wouldn’t even respond to us.”
According to Claypool, those circumstances ultimately led to the creation of the upcoming ‘Claypool Gold’ touring concept.
“So, I had the idea to get a bunch of my bands together and do Claypool Gold. It was amazing, a wonderful night, and then promoters started hearing about it. Our manager told us that people wanted this. So that’s why we’re doing it this summer.”
Discussing the band’s current direction creatively, Claypool also spoke about the collaborative writing process behind Primus’ upcoming material.
“I’m really excited because Ler has been bringing in a lot of stuff, which I love. Some of my favorite tunes are the ones that Ler has written.”
He continued:
“For many years, it was mainly me bringing in the songs, but I never want it to just sound like a Claypool thing. When they bring in stuff, I get to interpret their shit, which is fun for me.”
Elsewhere during the interview, Claypool also weighed in on rising Canadian psych rock duo Angine de Poitrine, who have increasingly drawn comparisons to Primus online in recent months.
“Primus is an acquired taste. I’ve had 40 people send me Angine de Poitrine because they think it’s some derivative Primus thing. I get that and I go, brilliant! The world is finally coming around to shit that I like.”
Primus and Claypool will remain heavily active on the road throughout 2026, beginning with the ambitious ‘Claypool Gold’ tour. The run will feature Primus alongside The Claypool Lennon Delirium, who recently released ‘The Great Parrot-Ox And The Golden Egg Of Empathy’, while Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade will open the shows.
2026 ‘Claypool Gold’ North American Tour Dates
- 05/20 Reno, NV – Reno Events Center
- 05/22 Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
- 05/23 Redmond, WA – Marymoor Live
- 05/25 Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater
- 05/26 Salt Lake City, UT – The Lot at the Complex
- 05/28 Kansas City, MO – Starlight Amphitheatre
- 05/30 St. Louis, MO – The Factory
- 05/31 Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
- 06/02 Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion
- 06/03 Chicago, IL – Salt Shed
- 06/05 Pelham, TN – The Caverns Outdoor Amphitheater
- 06/06 Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live! Outdoor
- 06/09 Portland, ME – Thompson’s Point
- 06/10 Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion
- 06/12 Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
- 06/13 Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summerstage
- 06/14 Columbia, MD – All Good Now Festival
- 06/16 Charlotte, NC – The AMP Ballantyne
- 06/17 North Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery
- 06/19 St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
- 06/20 Atlanta, GA – Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
- 06/22 Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
- 06/23 Austin, TX – ACL Live at Moody Theatre
- 06/25 Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
- 06/27 Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater
- 06/28 Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater
- 06/30 Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
- 07/01 San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square
- 07/03 Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Amphitheater
- 07/04 Napa, CA – Meritage Resort & Spa
2026 European/UK Tour Dates
- 07/31 Milan, ITA – Circolo Magnolia
- 08/03 Ljubljana, SLO – Krizanke
- 08/06 Warsaw, POL – Masovian Voideship
- 08/07 Jaromer, CZE – Brutal Assault Festival
- 08/08 Kortrijk, BEL – Alcatraz Festival
- 08/10 Frankfurt, GER – Batschkapp
- 08/11 Cologne, GER – Carlswerk Victoria
- 08/13 Carhaix-Plouguer, FRA – Motocultor Festival
- 08/15 Eindhoven, NET – Dynamo Metalfest
- 08/17 Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy
- 08/18 Glasgow, UK – Barrowland Ballroom
- 08/19 London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town
- 08/21 Bristol, UK – ArcTanGent Festival
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