When you hear the name Primus, you already know you’re not dealing with a normal rock band. And that’s the point. With Les Claypool’s rubbery bass lines, oddball lyrics, and a sound that feels like a carnival gone off the rails, Primus carved their own lane in the late ’80s and ’90s.

But how did they come up with a name as strange and singular as their music?

The Early Days: From Primate to Primus

Before Primus was Primus, they went by another name: Primate (hence the monkey images!). But when Les Claypool and the crew started gaining traction, they realized there was already another band with that name. So they needed a change — something unique, something theirs.

Claypool, never one to take the obvious route, spun “Primate” into Primus. It sounded odd, slightly wrong, but still familiar enough to stick. The word “primus” itself comes from Latin, meaning first or best. A bold, ironic twist for a band whose fans proudly chant, “Primus sucks.”

The Joke Within the Name

That’s the thing with Primus: they’ve always leaned into the weird, the playful, and the self-deprecating. Naming the band Primus wasn’t just about sounding cool — it was about setting the tone. They weren’t going to play by the same rules as everyone else.

And while “Primus” technically means “first,” the band turned that on its head. They never tried to be mainstream, never chased radio play. They built a cult following by being gloriously themselves — the opposite of what a band called “first” might imply.

Why It Works

Like their music, the name doesn’t fit neatly into a box. It’s a little confusing, a little tongue-in-cheek, and 100% unique. The name feels just as weird as their songs, from Jerry Was a Race Car Driver to My Name Is Mud.

Final Thought

So how did Primus get their name? They morphed from “Primate” into “Primus,” grabbed a Latin word, twisted it into something stranger, and made it their own. Just like their music.

And in true Primus fashion, a band named “first” became the world’s favorite oddballs — proof that being weird is the best way to stand out.

Sam