The first Primus line-up (known under the name "Primate") was formed in 1984 by Les Claypool on bass and Todd Huth on guitar, subsequently joined them the drummer Jay Lane. Primus are characterized by an irreverent approach to music. They release their works on Claypool's Prawn Song Records label, a parody of Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label. In 1989, Todd Huth and drummer Jay Lane left the group to pursue other musical projects. They were replaced by guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander. In 1989, the band published his first album, "Suck on This", a live album that showed their performances at the Berkeley Square in Berkeley on 25 February and 5 March 1989. One part of the songs of this live album, will be included in the first Primus studio album "Frizzle Fry", published in 1990. After the recording of "Tales from the Punchbowl" (1995), Tim Alexander left the band to pursue others projects together with musicians such as the "Attention Deficit", and he was replaced by Bryan "Brain" Mantia, who led the band to more catchy melodies. In 1996, Primus was asked to write a song for the cartoon "South Park". The group also contributed to album "Chef Aid", which is also part of "South Park", with the song "Mephisto and Kevin". Mantia was replaced in 2003 by Tim "Herb" Alexander, who re-joined his former bandmates. In 2006, Primus released their first greatest hits, entitled "They Can't All Be Zingers: The Best of Primus."

The Oddity Faire is the name of their reunion tour started from Sacramento, California on September 14, 2010. Les Claypool himself presented the Oddity Faire world tour with his typical style, in a video published on the band's official website.