Tim Alexander

Tim "Herb" Alexander (born April 10, 1965 in Cherry Point, North Carolina) is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band Primus. Tim played on the Primus recordings Suck on This to Tales from the Punchbowl, before leaving the band in 1996, only to rejoin in 2003 for the EP Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People. Although Alexander has been quoted saying he was originally inspired to become a rock drummer by legendary drummers like John Bonham and Neil Peart, Primus guitarist Larry LaLonde claims Alexander's drum beats are mostly influenced by African Jùjú music.

Following Alexander's departure from Primus, he went on to form his own group, Laundry. Alexander released two albums with the band Laundry; Blacktongue and Motivator. Alexander has also collaborated with experimental bass player Michael Manring and guitarist Alex Skolnick) forming the group known as Attention Deficit.

Prior to joining Primus, he played and recorded with Major Lingo, which at the time was a ska-based rhythm band that featured a lap steel guitar as the lead instrument, played by Tony Bruno. Alexander recorded and produced two albums, The Brides and Oxygen 8, with Chapman Stick player and former Major Lingo bandmate Linda Cushma.

Alexander was the first drummer of A Perfect Circle, performing early live shows with the band, and recording drums for the track "The Hollow" on the band's debut album, Mer de Noms. He is listed as a member in the band's DVD/CD release aMOTION. Alexander is also listed as a member of Maynard James Keenan's Puscifer project.

Alexander joined the theatrical group Blue Man Group, and has occasionally played with the Las Vegas-based improvisational rock band Uberschall.

Despite being primarily known for his drum work Alexander is an accomplished guitarist and singer. He performed live guitar with the group Born Naked and held the lead vocal duties on Laundry's second album and supporting tour.

As of 2007 completed recordings on an album titled Fata Morgana were released. The album was written, produced,and almost entirely performed by Tim Alexander with guest performances by Luis Carlos Maldonado, Tony Levin of Peter Gabriel, Paz Lenchantin of A Perfect Circle and Zwan, Chris Peeler, Todd Minnix, and Sam Lersch of Fred Green.

Alexander is currently involved in a project known as Into The Presence which features songs by Luis Carlos Maldonado. Their debut album was released on Razor and Tie Records and includes performances from bassist Paz Lenchantin and cellist Ana Lenchantin. Both Into The Presence and the Fata Morgana release were recorded and produced at Alexander's own Ghost Town Studios.

Discography

Primus

• Suck on This (1989)
• Frizzle Fry (1990)
• Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991)
• Miscellaneous Debris (1992)
• Pork Soda (1993)
• Tales from the Punchbowl (1995)
• Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People (2003)

Laundry

• Blacktongue (1994)
• Motivator (1999)

A Perfect Circle

• Mer de Noms (2000) (Appears on "The Hollow")

Attention Deficit

• Attention Deficit (1998)
• The Idiot King (2001)

Various

• Drum Nation Vol. 1 (2004)

Puscifer

• "V" Is for Vagina (2007)
• "C" Is for (Please Insert Sophomoric Genitalia Reference HERE) (2009)

Fata Morgana

• This Is A Dream (2007)

Into The Presence

• Into The Presence (2009)

Equipment

Drums: TAMA, 18"x20" Bass Drum 16"x18" Bass Drum 5.5"x14" Bronze PBZ355 Snare Drum 6"x14" Starclassic G Maple Snare Drum 8"x8" Tom Tom 9"x10" Tom Tom 10"x12" Tom Tom 14"x14" Floor Tom 14"x20" Gong Bass Drum 16"x16" Floor Tom Octoban Low-Pitch Set

Hardware: TAMA, many various boom and straight cymbal stands

Cymbals: Zildjian, 9.5" & 6" Zil-Bells, 13" Z Custom Dyno Beat Hi-Hats, 18",17" & 16" A Medium Crashes, 18" A Rock Crash, 6" & 8" A splash, 12" A Special Recording Hi-Hats, 13" A New-Beat Hi-Hats, 18" Oriental China Trash, 22" K Custom Ride.

Sticks: Zildjian, Tim Alexander Artist Series (16" length, 0.53" diameter)

Heads: REMO

External links

• TA on MySpace
• TA on Twitter
• TA on Drummerworld
• Primus website
• Fata Morgana website