Primus will pay homage to one of its biggest influences, Rush, this spring and summer on the 'Tribute to Kings' tour, the band has announced.

As the name of the trek suggests, the Bay Area power trio will perform Rush's classic 1977 album, A Farewell to Kings, in its entirety each night of the tour in addition to a selection of Primus material.

Rumors of the 'Tribute to Kings' began swirling last week when a New Jersey venue posted and then removed a listing for the tour, which also features special guests Wolfmother, The Sword and Battles.

Primus bassist and frontman Les Claypool explained in a statement that he and guitarist Ler Lalonde have entertained the idea of a full-on Rush tribute show for a few years. Claypool himself has a special connection to A Farewell to Kings.

"A little over one year ago, Ler Lalonde and I started kicking the idea around of Primus performing a series of shows featuring an iconic Rush album from our youth," he said. "Being that A Farewell to Kings was the first Rush record I ever heard, and that it contains my all-time favorite Rush tune, 'Cygnus X-1,' the choice narrowed quickly."

The tour kicks of in May and includes over 40 shows through August.

A special pre-sale, including VIP packages, goes on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, February 19 at 10 a.m. local time. The general public on-sale begins Friday, February 21 at 10 a.m. local time. For tickets and more information, go here.

While the tour might seem like a reaction to Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart's death in January, Claypool says the original plan was actually to launch the 'Tribute to Kings' tour last fall. Primus put the idea on hold, however, after being asked to join Slayer on the final leg of its farewell tour, however. In fact, Primus performed "Cygnus X-1" several times in its set on the Slayer tour.

Claypool has become close friends with Geddy Lee in recent years; Primus first befriended Rush when two bands toured together in the '90s. Claypool was featured in Lee's Big, Beautiful Book of Bass, and the last time Lee performed live was with The Claypool-Lennon Delirium in Toronto last spring.

About Ken Dashow

Q104.5 · The Lowcountry's Classic Rock