Les Claypool will release The Les Claypool Frog Brigade Presents Purple Onion on September 24th. The former Primus frontman Claypool enlisted members of his touring band, the Frog Brigade (Jay Lane, Skerik, Eenor and Mike Dillon), to work on the record, which also features guest spots from Fishbone's Norwood Fisher, Weapon of Choice's Lonnie Marshall, Gov't Mule's Warren Haynes and sitar player Gabby Lang.

"This is my first real attempt at a solo record," said Claypool, whose other non-Primus projects have included Sausage and the Holy Mackerel. "It's also the first time I've written music without any specific musicians in mind. It's been about coming up with ideas and then finding the right people and instruments to flesh them out."

Claypool will tour with the Frog Brigade through July and is planning a more extensive tour for the fall.

The Les Claypool Frog Brigade Presents Purple Onion track listing:

Purple Onion
David Makalaster
Buzzards of Green Hill
Long in the Tooth
Whamola
Ding Dong
Barrington Hall
D's Diner
Lights in the Sky
Up on the Roof
David Makalaster II
Cosmic Highway

CHRISTINA SARACENO
(June 21, 2002)