Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains
| Company type | Supergroup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Les Claypool, Buckethead, Bernie Worrell, Brain |
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Fate | Disbanded |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Les Claypool, Buckethead, Bernie Worrell, Brain |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Number of employees | 4 (2002–2004) |
Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains (abbreviated as C2B3) was a experimental rock supergroup consisting of bassist Les Claypool, guitarist Buckethead, keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and drummer Brain.
History
The ensemble Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains emerged when Les Claypool, famed for his work with Primus, teamed up with virtuoso guitarist Buckethead, funk-influenced keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and former Primus drummer Brain. The band's name is a fusion derived from the members' identities. Their collaboration began after crossing paths at the 2002 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, where Worrell, Brain, and Buckethead appeared as part of Praxis. When Praxis leader Bill Laswell was unable to perform, Claypool invited the others to join an impromptu jam session, which laid the groundwork for this supergroup. Their live performances were distinguished by a focus on spontaneous improvisation without any rehearsed or prearranged compositions. A memorable aspect of one concert included making sandwiches onstage for the audience.
In 2004, C2B3 regrouped to produce The Big Eyeball in the Sky, an album combining both instrumental and vocal pieces. The band embarked on an eighteen-state tour across the United States beginning on September 24, 2004. Claypool characterized this tour as "a traveling, oversized sock-puppet show spawned by the characters of a Tobe Hooper film and scored by Danny Elfman on bad acid." The album features guest contributions from multi-instrumentalist Gabby La La, who also served as the opening act during the 2004 tour, receiving mixed critical reception.
Keyboardist Bernie Worrell died at his residence in Everson, Washington on June 24, 2016.
Lineup
- Les Claypool – bass, vocals
- Buckethead – guitar
- Bernie Worrell – keyboards
- Brain – drums
Discography
Studio album
2004 Fall Tour
Compilations
- 2003: Bonnaroo, Vol. 2 – includes live track "Number Two"
- 2004: Concrete Corner: October Sampler 2004 – features the song "Junior"
Videography
- 2005: Les Claypool – 5 Gallons of Diesel
Contains four live tracks: "Opening Jam," "Encore Jam," "Tyranny of the Hunt," and "Scott Taylor."
Showcases an exclusive live rendition of "Number Two."