Drummer Leaves Longtime Band to Save His ‘Mental Life’

2024-11-03

Primus. It's always a sad thing when a band looses a longtime member, and one longtime drummer is done with the gig.

It’s always a sad thing when a band looses a longtime member, and one longtime drummer is done with the gig. – Author: Charles Ken, Primus image via Prospect PR

It’s always a sad thing when a band looses a longtime member, no matter that member’s role in the band. Sure, losing a lead vocalist really takes the face of the band away, and many would say that’s the worst band member to lose. But, losing a guitarist, bass player, drummer or any other band member can also be heartbreaking for fans.

On November 1, Primus drummer Tim Alexander announced that he would be leaving the band, and according to the members of Primus, it was a surprise even to them. Now, the drummer is speaking out in a new interview with Rolling Stone.

Primus Drummer Tim Alexander Opens Up on Leaving Band

In the interview, Alexander elaborated about the situation and the statement from Primus’ Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde, in which they said, “It came as a complete shock to all of us here in the Primus camp.”

“A lot of times, you do something you love for a long time, and sometimes the passion turns into a job, and sometimes that job doesn’t feel like it’s your being anymore,” he said in the interview with Rolling Stone.

He continued, “Over time, I started realizing that it was affecting my physical life, it was affecting my mental life, and it was affecting my family life, and my heart just wasn’t in it. When I discovered that I’m struggling with all these things, I had to sit and think about exactly what am I doing. I don’t think I’ve ever chosen my path in life, I think I’ve just always thought ‘I’m a drummer, I’m just gonna do music,’ and things came to me, accepting whatever happens.”

So, why didn’t he tell his bandmates sooner? Alexander said, “Initially, I wrote this letter from my heart to those guys, to let them know … It was very heartfelt, it was very loving, I said positive things about how much I appreciated them and how much admiration there was. So it was very surprising that only certain parts would be released to the whole world.”

Alexander also talked about his past health scares, including two heart attacks in 2014 and 2016. Today, he says he’s “feeling really good.”

“I’m dealing with all the aches and pains, but I’m doing things to strengthen my body and to strengthen my relationships and to strengthen my mind,” he said. “I’m the happiest I think I’ve ever been. I’m not looking at this like, ‘I can’t function anymore, I got to quit.’ I feel good, I feel strong, but I’ve had to make these changes to get to this point.”

Even though Primus have some shows lined up, Alexander says he doesn’t want to play those shows, even if they could serve as final gigs for the fans.

“I wouldn’t being authentic to myself. I would be doing it with everyone thinking that it’s a send-off, but I’m already off,” he said. “And I really, really don’t like playing drums where every time I hit a drum I’m like ‘Ugh, this isn’t where I want to be.’ It doesn’t feel good, it feels terrible on the body.”

Charles Ken
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