If you were watching the Bonnaroo lineup announcement on Conan last night, you may have been confused and asked yourself, “What is The Claypool Lennon Delirium?”   This morning Rolling Stone answered that question and debuted the duo’s first single “Cricket and the Genie” from their new album coming this year.

“Sean and I hit it off during our Primus, Dinosaur Jr., GOASTT summer tour. We had a few backstage, acoustic jamborees that I found interesting but when he sat in with us and melted our faces with his guitar during Southbound Pachyderm, I realized that this fella had some chops. Primus was about to take some time off and I was gearing up a new project so I asked Sean if he’d like to come to Rancho Relaxo and see if we couldn’t get some interesting sounds on tape. Next thing I know he’s staying in my guesthouse over the holidays and we’re drinking vino, hunting mushrooms and throwing musical pasta at the walls.

One thing I think folks will be surprised by is what a monster of a guitar player Sean is. Not only does he have technical ability, but also the sounds that come out of his rig tend to be pretty bent and compelling. His DNA definitely shines through, though it isn’t just his father’s musical sensibilities that he reflects but also his mother’s abstract perspective, which to me, makes for a glorious freak stew.

Basically it was like two guys being stuck in a tree fort full of instruments and vintage recording gear, trying to keep up with each other’s musical and lyrical output. It was a very easy and natural record to make and not only have Sean and I become very good friends but he has been embraced by my family like an eccentric, surrogate uncle; sitting at the dinner table nightly debating with my daughter about everything from pop culture to politics. He’s a good egg. I look forward to traveling around in a shiny box with him this summer, playing this music for the folks.

I have to say…It’s pretty cool being in a band with Neil Diamond’s nephew.”

Les Claypool