Ler LaLonde

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Larry "Ler" Lalonde (born Lawrence LaLonde on September 12, 1968 in Richmond, California) is a guitarist who currently plays in Primus along with Les Claypool and Tim Alexander. He has also played with Possessed, No Forcefield, and Caca (a Frank Zappa tribute band). Despite a background in death metal, he has said that he rips off Frank Zappa for every Primus song. Larry briefly studied the guitar under the respected virtuoso Joe Satriani.

1 Biography & General Information
- 1.1 Playing style
- 1.2 Gear
2 Discography

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Biography & General Information

Ler was born and raised in the San Francisco suburb of El Sobrante, California, the same town where future bandmate Les Claypool was raised, although LaLonde, 5 years younger than Claypool, did not know him at the time.

Originally inspired by guitarists such as Frank Zappa, East Bay Ray, Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, and his teacher Joe Satriani, he eventually became interested in proto and early thrash metal bands such as Metallica and Slayer. LaLonde formed his first band in high school, a speed metal band called Blizzard, LaLonde left the band later on to join the first generation death metal band Possessed. Cutting their first album, Seven Churches in 1985 when LaLonde was just 17, "Seven Churches" is considered to be one of the most influential death metal albums of all time.

Possessed released two less successful albums before breaking up in 1987. LaLonde then joined experimental thrash metal band Blind Illusion, cutting an album, The Sane Asylum in 1988. In this band he became friendly with bassist Les Claypool, who invited LaLonde to join his own band Primus after Blind Illusion broke up.

Replacing original guitarist Todd Huth, Primus released the live album Suck on This in 1989, followed by Frizzle Fry in 1990. In 1991 they released their major label debut Sailing The Seas Of Cheese, which featured hit singles such as "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver" (which displayed LaLonde's unique guitar style) and "Tommy The Cat". Primus, now a popular band after releasing a cover EP Miscellaneous Debris in 1992, released the multi-platinum Pork Soda in 1993 featuring hit singles "My Name Is Mud", "Mr. Krinkle", and "DMV". Tales from the Punchbowls release in 1995 marked Primus's most well known single "Wynonas Big Brown Beaver", which has an instantly recognizable guitar riff from LaLonde, who is featured more on that album than any other Primus effort. It was followed up by 1997's Brown Album. 1999's Antipop features the single "Lacquer Head", the video of which was banned from MTV for drug content. Claypool wrote the song about the drug taking lifestyle, and the song is ultimately anti-drug, nonetheless it was banned. Antipop was only moderately successful, and Primus went into a hiatus in 2000.

During Primus's hiatus LaLonde formed the experimental alternative band No Forcefield with 3rd Primus drummer Brian Mantia and a few other people. No Forcefield cut two albums between 2000 and 2002. In 2002 Primus returned from their hiatus, with LaLonde and Claypool aboard as usual, and also featuring original drummer Tim Alexander. They released the EP Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People in 2003 and the Hallucino Genetics tour DVD in 2004, with a new full length album set for release in 2006.

LaLonde was the primary composer of the South Park theme song, although the song is officially credited to Primus as a group.

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Playing style

LaLonde is best known for his work in Primus, where he is in the company of avant-garde bass player, Les Claypool, and jazz-influenced virtuoso drummer, Tim Alexander. In Primus, LaLonde is usually used as an accompaniment to Claypool, and he approaches this role with a very technical and improvisational style of play. His bizarre, unique guitar sound is considered difficult to imitate convincingly. Many fans believe that few guitarists can approach a song with the same mindset as LaLonde; his creativity and ability to hold back when necessary are assets without which Primus would not be the same. Overall, LaLonde is considered to be one of modern rock's most underrated guitarists.

LaLonde receives a good deal of respect in the guitar community. In 1994, a Guitar Player readers' poll showed LaLonde tied with his friend, Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains, for best rock guitarist. In addition, guitar solos from "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" and "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver" have been considered among the best [1]. The same website also lists him at number 107 on a ranking of the 200 best guitarists.

Aside from guitar, LaLonde is also a skilled banjo player, and can be heard performing on Primus tracks such as "Pork Chop's Little Ditty", and "De Anza Jig". He also played a synthesizer on a few Antipop tracks that featured guest guitarists.

In Primus, LaLonde is Les Claypool's creative right hand man, and often pitches ideas for songs. In interviews, he often displays his dry sense of humor, and has stated many times that he does not think much of himself as a guitarist.

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Gear

LaLonde's primary guitar is a PRS, but he occasionally plays an Ibanez. In the early days of Primus, up until circa 1991, he played a Fender Stratocaster. LaLonde plays through Vox amplifiers, and uses heavy amounts of reverb and distortion. His distinctive guitar sound is created with the use of various effects, such as a whammy pedal and a wah wah pedal.

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