Greg Prato (Rolling Stone contributor) sat down with PRIMUS bassist/singer Les Claypool to talk about Tim Alexander reuniting with the band, the likelihood of an OYSTERHEAD reunion with PHISH’s Trey Anastasio and the POLICE’s Stewart Copeland, what to expect from a fishing series starring himself and Dean Ween, and more.

An excerpt from the chat below:

Prato: Sounds like a lot is going on in the Primus camp.

Claypool: “I really don't know what you're talking about. Whatever could that be? Yeah, a series of events has made the ever-elusive Viking known as Tim "Herb" Alexander come out of the forest, and he's going to start beating drums again for us - starting next week. It should be an interesting experience.”

Prato: I think Primus with Tim is the quintessential Primus line-up.

Claypool: “There's a lot of people that feel that way. We're excited. It will be interesting to see what happens next week, when we get in a room together and start making racket. But you can feel the excitement from him and the enthusiasm, which is great, 'cause you just didn't feel that before.

And for me as well, reading through the [yet-to-be titled] book as I have been, you become a little nostalgic for what we were in the "heyday," so to speak. And then I had dinner with GEDDY [LEE] and Alex [Lifeson] a couple of months ago, and they're big Primus fans, but they're bigger fans of the Primus with Tim Alexander. I assume they'll be excited about this.”

Prato: Will this lead to a full-length Primus album with Tim and tour?

Claypool: “We're talking about going into the studio in November. But it's all a little premature - we'll see what happens next week. If we get together and things are just flowing like crazy, then I'm sure we're going to hop right in the studio. If not, then … we'll be calling Alex Van Halen.”