Who is Billy Strings? Primus hints at finding their replacement drummer after Tim Alexander's departure

American rock band Primus has hinted at Billy Strings (born William Lee Apostol) being the next lead drummer after the departure of Tim "Herb" Alexander. The band announced the news of the drummer's "shock" exit via X on October 29, 2024.

The search for a new percussionist started last month when Primus urged artists and fans to send their audition videos online. According to their Instagram post, dated November 19, 2024, the rock band was "seeking a well-mannered, affable individual with original sensibility and aesthetic, possessing a desire to open new doors in the creative world."

As per a December 7, 2024, post by frontman Les Claypool, Bluegrass icon Billy Strings appears to have been chosen as the replacement for Alexander. The 61-year-old shared the audition video of Strings on Instagram with the caption:

"We may have found our guy…"

Billy Strings is an American guitarist, songwriter, singer, and bluegrass musician. The 32-year-old is best known for his fourth studio album, Home, which won Best Bluegrass Album at the Grammys in 2021.

In the video posted by Les Claypool, Strings is seen getting rid of the guitar and embracing the drum kit. Thereafter, he displays his percussion skills in an attempt to impress the band.

In addition to sharing Billy Strings' video, Primus took to Instagram on December 11, 2024, to notify interested candidates that they were seeking more submissions. The band also encouraged people to upload their audition clips on YouTube. They also added that the applicants will be narrowed down in January, and updates on the selection process will be posted on their social media accounts.

The rock band also included a message for the candidates looking to participate in the audition process.

“During our recording career, the drum throne has been held by three amazing players with three very different approaches. Avoid focusing on just one. We aren’t looking for a clone,” they remarked.

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Exploring the professional life of Billy Strings

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As per Rolling Stone, Billy Strings' first musical inspiration came from his stepfather, Terry Barber, who was an accomplished amateur bluegrass musician. At school, he was a part of a metal band called To Once Darkened Skies. However, his first major breakthrough came when he was invited to join a paid gig by Don Julin, a veteran mandolin player. The partnership between Strings and Julin continued for the next four years.

In 2016, Strings won the Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year award from The International Bluegrass Music Association. In 2017, he released his first full-length studio album called Turmoil & Tinfoil, which became a chart-topper and reached number three on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart, holding its spot for seven consecutive weeks.

In June 2019, Strings was signed to Rounder Records, and he released Home, his second full-length studio album. Debuted on September 27, 2019, the album topped the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart for 77 weeks.

He also received his first Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for Home at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in March 2021. The same year, he joined Bill Kreutzmann's Billy & the Kids for a number of shows.

Home's success was followed by Billy Strings' third studio album called Renewal. It was his second consecutive album to top the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart. The following year, he received six nominations at the International Bluegrass Music Awards and won two, including Entertainer of the Year (his second win after 2019) and Song of the Year for Red Daisy.

His fourth studio album was a collaboration with his stepfather, Terry Barber. Called Me/And/Dad, the album was released on October 3, 2022, and featured music from artists like George Jones, Doc Watson, Hank Thompson, A.P. Carter, and others.

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Billy Strings married former yoga instructor Ally Dale on September 9, 2023, after dating for nine years. The couple welcomed their son on September 29, 2024.