asauldm | Music

“The Ol’ Grizz” is a single and official music video by the American alt-funk/progressive rock band Primus. The song was featured on their EP A Handful Of Nuggs (May 2026) and is scheduled for inclusion on the band’s milestone 10th studio album.

The animated music video for the track was released in late July 2026, serving as a brilliant illustration of the band’s signature avant-garde madness.

The theme of the song and the entire EP A Handful Of Nuggs is directly tied to the new passion of frontman and bassist Les Claypool — gold prospecting.

The lyrics are written from the perspective of a gold prospector consumed by “gold fever,” who wanders through wild lands searching for “gold nuggies,” running into wild bears and various adventures along the way.

Musically, it is classic driving alt-funk from Primus, featuring Claypool’s twisted basslines and psychedelic guitar solos by Larry “Ler” LaLonde.

The surreal and quirky animated video was directed by Cage Claypool, son of Les Claypool. The visual style is executed in a surreal, at times psychedelic cartoon manner, perfectly complementing the narrative of a prospector gradually losing his mind in his pursuit of striking a rich vein.

“The Ol’ Grizz” and the release of the EP A Handful Of Nuggs mark the first official studio recordings by Primus with their new drummer, John “Hoffer” Hoffman. Hoffman joined the band in 2025 after winning an open global contest titled the “Interstellar Drum Derby,” beating out over 6,100 other applicants worldwide.

Band fans humorously note that the real Les Claypool became so genuinely obsessed with actual gold panning that he turned it into music, and this authentic excitement is felt in every bass riff.

Fans welcomed “The Ol’ Grizz” as proof that even after four decades on stage and lineup changes, Primus retains their unique, inimitable style and youthful energy.

“This might be the most Primus sounding Primus song they’ve ever made.” (YouTube comment)