Maynard James Keenan & Les Claypool Talk the Sessanta Tour on the Kyle Meredith With… Podcast’s 1,000th Episode

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Kyle Meredith With… is celebrating its milestone 1,000th episode (!!) with an incredible two-guest episode. Host Kyle Meredith sits down with two of rock’s most unique minds, Les Claypool of Primus and Maynard James Keenan of Tool/Puscifer, for a conversation that quickly veers off into the kind of absurdity you might expect. The two rockers talk about thwarting crimes, performing in costumes, and sticky note “message boards” from the early Lollapalooza days. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Les and Maynard don’t hold back on their shared history, recounting how their friendship began in the chaos of the ’90s alternative rock scene, where bands like Primus, Tool, and Soundgarden rose as the “alternative” to the mainstream hair metal acts that dominated the airwaves. Their latest collaboration, the “Sessanta Tour” (get tickets to 2025’s “Sessanta V2.0 Tour” here!), sees Primus, Puscifer, and Keenan’s other band A Perfect Circle sharing the stage all at once. The frontmen joke that playing each other’s songs sometimes feels like covering another band — one that comes with a steep learning curve. “It’s like we’re playing each other’s cover songs,” Maynard laughs, adding that the challenge of integrating into someone else’s music keeps them on their toes.

Of course, the first version of the tour wasn’t without its chaotic moments. The two recall technical failures during a set at Red Rocks, where amps blew out and left them to vamp on stage. “It seemed like forever,” Les admits, while Maynard jokes about it being one of the most stressful moments they’ve had in recent memory.

As for what’s next, both musicians hint at new projects on the horizon. Claypool is still working with Sean Lennon on another Claypool Lennon Delirium album and has a half-finished project with bluegrass phenom Billy Strings. Keenan, ever elusive, mentions that he’s juggling multiple ideas, but as usual, it’s a matter of timing.

Listen to Les Claypool and Maynard James Keenan discuss the “Sessant Tour” above, or watch the interview below. Keep up on all the latest episodes by following Kyle Meredith With… on your favorite podcast platform; plus, check out all the series on the Consequence Podcast Network.