There were metaphysical puns galore to be had at last night’s Primus show, when Les Claypool’s Derby was literally knocked into a cocked hat by one rowdy fan. The Primus founder and frontman is very much a man of hats, and to mess with a man of hats’ hats…well, let’s just say it makes you a king prick.
Trouble started mid-way through ‘Southbound Pachyderm’, when an overenthusiastic fan clambered over the low barrier between the Section O seating area and the stage. Despite previous warnings over his behaviour, the fan took security completely by surprise, snatching the hat and making a run for the arena floor when he was finally pinned by the bouncers. Look, we’ve made a handy animation so you can visualise the hat-stealing twat’s miniature crime spree even if you weren’t there:
It was another five minutes before Claypool’s hat was retrieved, though not before it was smashed in the scuffle. Claypool, playing mid-section with the band all this time, then disappeared – and returned in a pith helmet. Claypool seemed a little shaken for a few songs, but later talked of how amazing the night had been “apart from when that shithead stole my hat and smashed it”.
Otherwise Claypool can’t complain. In recent weeks he’s played with the legendary Booker T as part of a fundraiser for Barack Obama. Last night’s greatest hits gig was the second part of a pair of shows at the Royal Albert Hall, with the previous night boasting complete run-throughs of Green Naugahyde and Primus’ 1991 breakthrough record, Sailing the Seas of Cheese. We’ll have reports on both shows next week.