Shreveport drummer Hoffman returning as a member of Primus

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — John Hoffman is proof that you can go home again.

The Shreveport drummer is returning home now as the drummer for the legendary rock band Primus.

Formed in 1984, Primus has long been a staple of the rock scene. Famous for songs like “My Name Is Mud” and “Jerry Was a Racecar Driver,” Primus found their own niche.

It was hard at times, but not metal and clearly not grunge. Bassist/vocalist Les Claypool described the band’s music as “psychedelic polka.” The band was so unique that, for a time, its genre title was simply “Primus.”

In October 2024, Primus drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander abruptly left the band, stating he “lost his passion for playing,” according to Stereogum. The band began searching for a new drummer with a national search via YouTube submissions. Over 6,200 drummers auditioned.

Those auditionees were whittled down to two: Gergo Borlai and Shreveport’s John Hoffman, with Hoffman getting the nod.

Hoffman is primarily known in the Shreveport music scene for his over 10-year stint as the drummer for local band Dirtfoot. Now, he returns as the drummer for one of the most influential bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s, being cited as an influence for bands like Korn, the Deftones, and Incubus.

Hoffman already got a taste of life on the road with Primus, opening for A Perfect Circle since April 24. That tour concludes on June 7. The band then starts their first headlining tour with Hoffman on the drum kit on July 5, with a return home on July 29 at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium.