Shreveport’s Own John Hoffman Lands the Gig of a Lifetime with Primus
The moment Shreveport local John Hoffman learned he was chosen to become the newest member of Primus, filmed as part of a multipart YouTube web series called the “Primus Interstellar Drum Derby,” chronicling the band’s search for a new drummer, is pure cinema. Discovered in a nationwide talent search and performing against some of the best drummers in the world, John had reached the final two and was prepared to head home to await the band’s final decision.
“At the wrap party for the audition, they were doing some final interviews with me, and it was dawning on me that this might be the last time I was around all these great people I had met,” recalls John. “Only, I realized the interview was a distraction.”
But then, Primus’ legendary front man and lead guitarist, Les Claypool and Larry “Ler” LaLonde, emerged from a back room carrying a cake, singing, “For He’s a Jolly Good Drummer.” From the video, it’s clear that the enormity of the moment is too much for John to initially comprehend. But that confusion evaporated once Les uncovered the cake and John read the life-changing message spelled out in white icing.
“It took me a second to process what was happening. Then I saw the words ‘HOFFINGTON YOU GOT THE GIG’ spelled out on the cake, and everything clicked,” says John. “The multi-month process had been incredibly emotional, so it didn’t take much to send me over the edge.”
Hoffman, son of keyboardist Stanton Hoffman of The Killer Bees, made a career gigging in and around the Shreveport music scene. Sometimes averaging five to 10 gigs a week, John credits a supportive community of local drummers with helping to find and sustain steady work, from house shows to corporate jobs and even church gigs, earning him the affectionate nickname “The Busiest Drummer in Shreveport.” Little did John know that his amiable reputation, his ability to chameleon himself into the performance style of dozens of collaborators and the creative outlets forged during the dog days of COVID lockdowns were precisely the training he would use to secure his place with Primus.
“Looking back, I was unconsciously making the right decision the last few years, leading up to the audition,” says John. “After work dried up during COVID, I started filming myself playing video game music and nostalgia television like ‘The Jetsons,’ a lot of weird songs that I loved. When Primus called for audition tapes, I had a huge collection of videos to send in.”
John’s style of quirk and high musicianship caught the eye of Primus, rocketing him into a whirlwind audition process that saw him not only meeting personal heroes like Claypool and LaLonde, but also competing against some of his favorite drummers like Nikki Glaspie. In the end, John outlasted the competition and found himself performing his first gig with the band in the Dominican Republic, proudly wearing his Drew Brees jersey to keep a little bit of home close by. Soon enough, a true homecoming was in order as Primus’ upcoming tour led straight through Shreveport, back where John’s Cinderella story began many months before.
“I remember the morning of the show, waking up on the bus and looking outside. I saw some of my friends from the local crew already working to set up,” remembers John. “Everything about that day was personalized and familiar; the mayor made July 29 John Hoffman Day, I got to look out on the crowd and see a thousand people wearing white sunglasses like I often do, my brother got to play with the band and after the show, we hugged for the third time in our entire lives. It was so special to see everyone come together in a way they maybe hadn’t in a while. I saw high fives and fist bumps; there was just this warmth coming off that crowd that translated onstage and made for a really, really great night.”
Having secured their permanent drummer behind the kit, who knows what the future holds for Primus? Yet assuredly, John Hoffman will continue to do Louisiana proud in whatever galaxy the legendary band blasts off to next.
