Primus frontman and bassist Les Claypool was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2026 Bass Magazine Awards, held last night, January 22, at The Observatory in Santa Ana, California. Claypool shared the honor with Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt, who was also celebrated for his lasting impact on the instrument.
The ceremony turned into a full-scale onstage celebration, as several previous Lifetime Achievement recipients joined Claypool and the members of Primus throughout the evening. Tool bassist Justin Chancellor, last year’s honoree, teamed up with Dirnt for a performance of “Too Many Puppies”. Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo later took the stage for a run through “My Name Is Mud”, while acclaimed jazz-fusion icon Marcus Miller added his own distinctive touch to “Tommy The Cat”.
Fan-shot video from the event is available below.
Earlier this week, Les Claypool unveiled an expansive new touring concept for 2026 that brings together multiple corners of his musical universe into a single, full-night live experience.
Dubbed “Claypool Gold,” the upcoming summer run will unite Primus, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, and Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade on one stage each night, with all three projects performing in a fluid, overlapping format rather than as traditional opening and closing sets. The idea is designed as a continuous evening of music, with shifting lineups, unexpected transitions, and setlists that change from show to show.
“Claypool Gold” 2026 Tour Dates:
- May 20 – Reno Events Center – Reno, NV
- May 22 – Hayden Homes Amphitheater – Bend, OR
- May 23 – Marymoor Live – Redmond, WA
- May 25 – KettleHouse Amphitheater – Bonner, MT
- May 26 – The Lot at the Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
- May 28 – Starlight Amphitheatre – Kansas City, MO
- May 30 – The Factory – St. Louis, MO
- May 31 – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre – Rochester Hills, MI
- June 2 – Jacobs Pavilion – Cleveland, OH
- June 3 – Salt Shed – Chicago, IL
- June 5 – The Caverns Outdoor Amphitheater – Pelham, TN
- June 6 – KEMBA Live! Outdoor – Columbus, OH
- June 9 – Thompson’s Point – Portland, ME
- June 10 – Leader Bank Pavilion – Boston, MA
- June 12 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY
- June 13 – Stone Pony Summerstage – Asbury Park, NJ
- June 14 – All Good Now Festival – Columbia, MD
- June 16 – The AMP Ballantyne – Charlotte, NC
- June 17 – Firefly Distillery – North Charleston, SC
- June 19 – St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, FL
- June 20 – Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park – Atlanta, GA
- June 22 – Walmart AMP – Rogers, AR
- June 23 – ACL Live at Moody Theatre – Austin, TX
- June 25 – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory – Irving, TX
- June 27 – Dillon Amphitheater – Dillon, CO
- June 28 – Dillon Amphitheater – Dillon, CO
- June 30 – Arizona Financial Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
- July 1 – Gallagher Square – San Diego, CA
- July 3 – Long Beach Amphitheater – Long Beach, CA
- July 4 – Meritage Resort & Spa – Napa, CA
In tandem with the tour announcement, The Claypool Lennon Delirium have released a brand-new track, “WAP (What A Predicament)“, marking the project’s first new music in some time. The song tackles themes of morality, artificial intelligence, and social disorientation through a warped psychedelic lens.
