Primus has already generated plenty of publicity (or about as much publicity as a band like Primus can generate) for its forthcoming album Primus and the Chocolate Factory With the Fungi Ensemble. As you can guess, the album will take much of its inspiration from the classic film Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (and not the newer, Tim Burton version, as frontman Les Claypool has emphasized). The band will be running a contest in conjunction with the release, and an appropriate one at that.
Five vinyl copies of the album will come in gold, versus the "chocolate brown" that regular copies will come in. It's a clever play off of the film's (and original novel by Roald Dahl) plot: Protagonist Charlie finds a sought-after golden ticket in his Wonka Bar and wins a tour through the mysterious Wonka Factory, with the ultimate prize of unlimited Wonka candy for life. So what does the winner of this contest get?
How about free Primus concerts for life?
Yup. The band released a promotional video for the album/contest detailing the contest. It's a genuinely cool video, even if none of the gold records are featured within (we always get a kick out of watching vinyl get pressed). Find one, and you're in the doors for every Primus show from here on out (no word on what happens if the concert is sold out).
It's a great sales pitch. Vinyl sales are way up as it is based strictly on trends but a contest like this could bring out buyers in droves. Knowing that there are actually five grand prizes out there, many who may have illegally downloaded the album will buy the record now. And don't be surprised if maniacal Primus fans buy them en masse in an attempt to snag a ticket, much like in the film (they can always sell them off on eBay afterwards).
Let's just hope this isn't a cruel lead up to Primus announcing that this will be its last tour.
