'Primus and the Chocolate Factory': There's One Person Les Claypool Hopes Doesn't Hate the New Album

The decision to create an entire concept album based on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was not a hasty one. The project began as a cover of one song — "Candy Man" — and mushroomed into a New Year's show theme before becoming Primus and the Chocolate Factory, due Oct. 21. In the end, Les Claypool hopes there is one person who does not hat the new album.

Bassist and singer Claypool told National Pubic Radio he has been a huge supporter of the Roald Dahl book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the 1971 movie since he was a "young fellow."

"I was in grammar school and was completely enamored by the film, and can remember sitting in the theater watching the credits roll up with the imagery from the actual chocolate-factory assembly or whatever that was," Claypool said. "A conveyor belt full of Hershey's Kisses and various things. And it just stuck right to me. I was hooked."

It is no surprise given the band's wonky discography, but Claypool has always been inspired by children's stories.

"I grew up with stuff like Willy Wonka and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and some of these Disney musicals, early Disney musicals, and being subjected to a lot of country and folk music as a kid. You know, it made me write from the perspective of a lot of these characters," Claypool said. "Being a big fan of Frank Capra and Elia Kazan and Terry Gilliam, and seeing these films with these extremely colorful, poignant characters, that's how I always tried to convey whatever the hell it was I was trying to say in the music. And even though a lot of times — just like on this Wonka recording — these characters can be sinister and tragic, there is ... a lighthearted element to them. Or a colorful element."

He is certain there will be people elated with the band's final product, but there is one person he does not want to upset.

"There's a good possibility there's gonna be some folks insulted by this, as well," Claypool says. "You know, I think that's the folly of taking on a sacred cow, you know. You're gonna please some folks and you're gonna piss off some folks. But I hope I don't piss off Gene Wilder, because he's definitely — for his '70s hairdo alone, he is a champion."

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