Larry LaLonde

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 the Frank Zappa tribute band Caca.


Larry LaLonde
Larry LaLondewww.primusville.com
Larry LaLonde
www.primusville.com
Background information
Birth name Larry LaLonde
Also known as Ler
Born September 12, 1968
Origin Richmond, California
Genre(s) Funk metal
alternative rock
Occupation(s) Guitarist
songwriter
record producer
musician
Instrument(s) Guitar
Banjo
Years active 1985 - present
Label(s) Prawn Song Records
Associated
acts
Primus
Possessed
No Forcefield
Frank Zappa tribute band
Website http://www.primusville.com/home/home.html
Notable instrument(s)
PRS, Ibanez, Fender Stratocaster

Originally inspired by guitarists such as Frank Zappa, East Bay Ray, Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, and his teacher Joe Satriani, LaLonde eventually became interested in 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. Possessed's landmark first album, Seven Churches was released in 1985 when LaLonde was just seventeen years old.

Possessed released two less successful albums before breaking up in 1987. LaLonde then joined experimental thrash metal band Blind Illusion, which released one album, The Sane Asylum in 1988. Here LaLonde became friendly with bassist Les Claypool, who invited LaLonde to replace original guitarist Todd Huth, in Claypool's own band, the funk metal outfit Primus, after Blind Illusion broke up.

[edit] Primus

With LaLonde on board, Primus released their first album, the live Suck on This in 1989, followed by the studio album Frizzle Fry in 1990. In 1991 came their major label debut Sailing The Seas Of Cheese, which featured the hit singles "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver" and "Tommy the Cat". The band's next studio album, Pork Soda, arrived in 1993 and landed in the Billboard Top 10. Tales from the Punchbowl followed in 1995, featuring one Primus' most well-known songs, the single "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver", which was nominated for the 1996 Grammy for "Best Hard Rock Performance.". The following releases, Brown Album in 1997 and Antipop in 1999, both performed rather poorly, and the band went on hiatus in 2000.

During this time LaLonde formed the experimental alternative band No Forcefield with third Primus drummer Brian Mantia, releasing two albums between 2000 and 2002. In 2002 Primus returned from their hiatus with Claypool, LaLonde, and original drummer Tim Alexander, releasing the DVD/EP Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People in 2003 and the Hallucino-Genetics live DVD in 2004. LaLonde is currently collaborating on new material via the internet with Les Claypool from Northern California, with a new Primus studio album rumored to be forthcoming in 2006 . A studio recording session with the complete band lineup is soon to follow.

[edit] Gear

LaLonde's primary guitar is a PRS, but he occasionally plays a Gibson Les Paul. In the early days of Primus, up until 1991, he played a Fender Stratocaster. LaLonde plays through Vox, Marshall and Laney amplifiers (sometimes simultaniously to create a unique sound), 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.

LaLonde's Guitar Rig (1998)

[edit] Discography

Primus
Les Claypool | Larry LaLonde | Tim Alexander
Bryan Mantia | Todd Huth | Jay Lane | Bob Cock | Robbie Bean | Tim Wright
Discography
Albums/EPs: Suck on This | Frizzle Fry | Sailing the Seas of Cheese | Miscellaneous Debris | Pork Soda | Tales from the Punchbowl | Brown Album | Rhinoplasty | Antipop | Promo de Fromage | Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People | Hallucino-Genetics, Live 2004 | Blame It on The Fish (DVD) | They Can't All Be Zingers: The Best of Primus
Songs: "John the Fisherman" | "Too Many Puppies" | "Mr. Knowitall" | "Making Plans For Nigel" | "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" | "Tommy the Cat" | "Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers" | "My Name Is Mud" | "DMV" | "Mr. Krinkle" | "Hamburger Train" | "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" | "Mrs. Blaileen" | "Southbound Pachyderm" | "Shake Hands With Beef" | "Over the Falls" | "Lacquer Head"
Related articles
Primus discography | Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains | Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade | Prawn Song Records

Blind Illusion | Guns N' Roses | No Forcefield | Oysterhead | Possessed

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