Les Claypool and his bandmates are getting ready to head out on a big tour; but before that, Danny Carey and Justin Chancellor of Tool join fellow rockers Primus for a special benefit concert to support film director, screenwriter, and animator Jimmy Hayward who has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing treatment.

Hayward is a close friend of the band and they are looking to help out with expenses.

The fund raising concert is set for April 17 The Belasco in Los Angeles with tickets going on sale March 24 at 10am Pacific time.

Les Claypool spoke on his friend Hayward saying, “every now and again cancer steps into our world and pulverizes the lives of people that are dear to us.  Such a thing happened a while back with our good friend Jimmy Hayward.  Over the past couple of years Jimmy has undergone many major surgeries to remove then reconstruct major damage from a cancer that invade his bones.  With a wife and two very young children at hand, Jimmy has shown incredible courage and tenacity in an unbelievably challenging time.”

Claypool spoke on the concert adding, “it is at this time that we in Primus and some of the Jimmy’s good friends in the music/entertainment world have decided to give a ‘brother a hand’ and do a live performance in his honor and for the benefit of his family.  Please come down and witness a one-time collaborative music event in celebration of our good friend.”

The Fearless Flying Frog Brigade with the Summer of Green tour.

Les Claypool and the Fearless Flying Frog Brigade tour dates:
May 17 in Stateline, NV – venue to be determined
May 19 at the Blue Note Summer Sessions in Napa, CA
May 20 at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, CA
May 21 at the Observatory North in San Diego, CA
May 23 in Salt Lake City, UT – venue to be determined
May 24 at the Mission Ballroom in Denver, CO
May 26 at Grinders in Kansas City, MO
May 27 at the Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, IL
May 28 at the Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville, KY
May 30 at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo, NY
May 31 at KEMBA Live in Columbus, OH
June 2 at the Royal Oak Music Theatre in Detroit, MI
June 3 at the Mountain Music Festival in Oak Hill, WV
June 4 in Chattanooga, TN – venue to be determined
June 6 at Brown’s Island in Richmond, VA
June 7 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh, NC
June 9 at the Rabbit Rabbit in Asheville, NC
June 10 at The Eastern in Atlanta, GA
June 11 at the Township Auditorium in Columbia, SC
June 13 at the Music Hall of Fair Park in Dallas, TX
June 14 at The Moody Amphitheater in Austin, TX
June 16 at the White Oak Music Hall Lawn in Houston, TX
June 17 at Madi Gras World in New Orleans, LA
June 19 at the Saenger Theatre in Mobile, AL
June 20 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa, FL
June 22 at The Lyric in Baltimore, MD
June 23 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY
June 24 at the NYCB Theatre in Westbury, NY
June 26 at The Pines Theater in Northampton, MA
June 28 at the State Theatre in Portland, ME
June 29 at the MGM Music Hall in Boston, MA
July 1 at the Peach Music Festival in Scranton, PA
July 2 at the Salt Shed in Chicago, IL
July 3 at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul, MN
July 7 at the Kettlehouse Amphitheater in Bonner, MT
July 8 at the Marymoor Park Live in Redmond, WA
June 9 at the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, OR
July 11 at the Hard Rock Live in Wheatland, CA
July 13 at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, CA
July 14 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA
July 15 at the Van Buren in Phoenix, AZ

Feature photo credit: courtesy of ProspectPR