“The biggest challenge was not to come off like Tenacious D. It could easily be interpreted as some form of parody”: How Primus made an album about goblins and rainbows while trying not to mention goblins and rainbows
Primus bassist Les Claypool has spoken about the making of the band's 2017 concept album The Desaturating Seven, which reimagines the darkly-themed 1970s children's book The Rainbow Goblins by Italian illustrator Ul de Rico. Claypool explained he was drawn to adapting the story, having read it to his own children years earlier, and found renewed relevance in its themes given contemporary events, while consciously avoiding overt references to goblins and rainbows so the album wouldn't be mistaken for parody.
The original 1978 book follows seven evil goblins, each named after a colour of the spectrum, who steal colour from rainbows using lassos before meeting a violent end. Its author went on to work as a designer on Hollywood films including The NeverEnding Story and Flash Gordon. Primus's musical retelling features a spoken-word introduction voiced by Tool bassist Justin Chancellor, and draws on influences including King Crimson, Tool and Sean Lennon to capture the book's blend of vivid colour and menace.
- Primus's 2017 album reworks a dark 1970s children's book about goblins
- Les Claypool wanted to avoid the record seeming like parody
- Tool's Justin Chancellor voices the album's spoken-word intro