Primus mainman Les Claypool says rumours about Metallica believing he was too good to join them are just that: rumours.
He was in the running to replace Cliff Burton in the band after the tour bus crash which killed him in 1986. He was far from the only candidate – along with Jason Newsted who finally got the job, wrestling star Hulk Hogan has said he also applied.
But modest Claypool says Metallica frontman James Hetfield is being too kind when he suggested in an interview that the tie-up never took place because his audition was just too impressive.
He tells CityPages: “I’d say that’s an untrue story.
“James said that I was too good in an interview – but he and I were hanging out quite bit during the time they did that interview. And I said, вЂWhat the hell are you guys talking about?
“вЂYou didn’t want me – you thought I was a freak!’ James just laughed.”
Claypool admits Hetfield and co may have had a point: “I showed up for the audition with a bleach-blond mohawk, wearing baggy skater pants and two different-coloured tennis shoes. And they were all in black with tight pants and the whole bit.”
After Newsted got the job Claypool, who’d invited Metallica to jam an Isley Brothers tune, went on to form Primus. And when the thrash role became available again in 2003, he didn’t apply.
“They have a great guy now,” Claypool says. “Robert Trujillo is one of the nicest guys in the business.”
