Les Claypool Expands Primus Lore With “Frizzle Fry” Graphic Novel, “The Phantoms of Barrington Hall”
Les Claypool is already having a big 2026. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bass Magazine Awards, he’s announced a new Claypool Lennon Delirium album, and he’s taking three of his bands on an extensive tour called Claypool Gold.
Now he’s announced yet another creative venture: a new graphic novel.
Frizzle Fry: The Phantoms of Barrington Hall is written by the Primus frontman and illustrated by his son, Cage Claypool, and Abimael Hernandez. The book is described as an “acid-soaked illustrated storybook for adults.”
“[It] expands Primus’ warped mythology and surreal humor, as it presents a tale allegedly based on the band’s unbelievable experiences during their early years playing shows in Berkeley and the East Bay,” publisher Z2 Comics explains. “Fans may think they know Frizzle Fry from the song and the album of the same name, but this story explodes the band’s universe into a new form of psychedelic life on every page, capturing the off-kilter spirit Primus fans have come to expect, in a way that only Primus can.”
Barrington Hall was a student housing co-op that became a cultural hub in the Berkeley and East Bay scenes. One former resident told the Daily Californian that “it had the most extreme reputation for counterculture, art, creativity and freedom of expression.” As such, it was a major influence on Claypool.
“The thing about Barrington is… I’ve said this many times throughout the years and I’ve written a couple of songs about it… Barrington was like a living entity,” he explains. “It was like a living being. You walked in and you could feel it. That’s why I tried to really emphasize the notion of this place having a pulse because it felt like a living entity.”
Frizzle Fry: The Phantoms of Barrington Hall will be three editions. The standard edition includes only the book, while the Deluxe Edition comes with an oversized graphic novel in a protective slipcase, three exclusive art prints, and Frizzle Fry blotter paper. The final package, limited to 500 copies, includes the Deluxe Edition signed by Claypool, as well as a limited-edition green vinyl LP of the 1990 album Frizzle Fry.
The book will ship on October 1st, but pre-orders are open now on the Z2 Comics website. Until then, revisit the title track from the 1990 album Frizzle Fry:
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
