Primus will pay homage to one of its biggest influences, Rush, this spring and summer on the 'Tribute to Kings' tour, the band has announced.
As the name of the trek suggests, the Bay Area power trio will perform Rush's classic 1977 album, A Farewell to Kings, in its entirety each night of the tour in addition to a selection of Primus material.
Rumors of the 'Tribute to Kings' began swirling last week when a New Jersey venue posted and then removed a listing for the tour, which also features special guests Wolfmother, The Sword and Battles.
Primus bassist and frontman Les Claypool explained in a statement that he and guitarist Ler Lalonde have entertained the idea of a full-on Rush tribute show for a few years. Claypool himself has a special connection to A Farewell to Kings.
"A little over one year ago, Ler Lalonde and I started kicking the idea around of Primus performing a series of shows featuring an iconic Rush album from our youth," he said. "Being that A Farewell to Kings was the first Rush record I ever heard, and that it contains my all-time favorite Rush tune, 'Cygnus X-1,' the choice narrowed quickly."
The tour kicks of in May and includes over 40 shows through August.
A special pre-sale, including VIP packages, goes on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, February 19 at 10 a.m. local time. The general public on-sale begins Friday, February 21 at 10 a.m. local time. For tickets and more information, go here.
While the tour might seem like a reaction to Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart's death in January, Claypool says the original plan was actually to launch the 'Tribute to Kings' tour last fall. Primus put the idea on hold, however, after being asked to join Slayer on the final leg of its farewell tour, however. In fact, Primus performed "Cygnus X-1" several times in its set on the Slayer tour.
Claypool has become close friends with Geddy Lee in recent years; Primus first befriended Rush when two bands toured together in the '90s. Claypool was featured in Lee's Big, Beautiful Book of Bass, and the last time Lee performed live was with The Claypool-Lennon Delirium in Toronto last spring.
Primus 'A Tribute To Kings' Tour Dates
5/26 — Irving, TX: The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory *^
5/27 — Houston, TX: Revention Music Center *^
5/29 — Austin, TX: ACL Live at the Moody Theater *^
5/30 — New Orleans, LA: Saenger Theater *^
6/01 — Asheville, NC: ExploreAsheville.com Arena *^
6/03 — Orlando, FL: Hard Rock Live Orlando *^
6/05 — Atlanta, GA: Coca-Cola Roxy *^
6/06 — Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre *^
6/07 — Raleigh, NC: Red Hat Amphitheater *^
6/09 — Cincinnati, OH: PNC Pavilion *^
6/10 — Columbus, OH: Express Live! – Outdoor *^
6/12 — Manchester, TN: Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival
6/15 — Richmond, VA: Virginia Credit Union LIVE! *^
6/16 — Baltimore, MD: MECU Pavilion *^
6/17 — New York, NY: Beacon Theatre *^
6/19 — Philadelphia, PA: The Met Philadelphia *^
6/20 — Asbury Park, NJ: The Stone Pony Summer Stage *^
6/21 — Essex Junction, VT: Midway Lawn at Champlain Valley Exposition *^
6/23 — Boston, MA: Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion *^
6/24 — Wallingford, CT: Toyota Oakdale Theatre *^
6/26 — Sterling Heights, MI: Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill *^
6/27 — Cleveland, OH: Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica *^
6/28 — Pittsburgh, PA: Stage AE – Outdoor *^
6/30 — Toronto, ON: RBC Echo Beach *^
7/02 — Lafayette, NY: Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards *
7/03 — Westbrook ME: Main Savings Pavilion at Rock Row *
7/06 — Indianapolis, IN: The Amphitheater at White River State Park *+
7/07 — Milwaukee, WI: BMO Harris Pavilion *+
7/08 — Minneapolis, MN: The Armory *+
7/10 — Chicago, IL: The Chicago Theatre *+
7/11 — St. Louis, MO: Saint Louis Music Park *+
7/12 — Kansas City, MO: CrossroadsKC *+
7/14 — Denver, CO: The Mission Ballroom *+
7/15 — Salt Lake City, UT: The Complex *+
7/17 — Berkeley, CA: Greek Theater *+
7/18 — Los Angeles, CA: Greek Theatre *+
7/19 — Las Vegas, NV: Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort *+
7/21 — Boise, ID: Outlaw Field at Idaho Botanical Garden *+
7/23 — Bonner, MT: KettleHouse Amphitheater *+
7/24 — Redmond, WA: Marymoor Park *+
7/25 — Troutdale, OR: Edgefield *+
7/28 — Spokane, WA: Riverfront Park Amphitheater *+
7/29 — Bend, OR: Les Schwab Amphitheater *+
7/31 — Paso Robles, CA: Vina Robles Amphitheatre *+
8/01 — San Diego, CA: Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU *+
8/02 — Phoenix, AZ: Arizona Federal Theatre *+
* w/ Wolfmother
^ w/ The Sword
+ w/ Battles
Photo: Getty Images