Les Claypool looks to rival Howard Sterns claim as the King of All Media this spring . In addition to prepping a new studio album (due in May on Prawn Song Records), Claypool will release both a novel and film in 2006. The bassists first novel South of the Pumphouse, will be released in July 2006 and is said to be a dark tale of two brothers, a fishing trip, misconceptions, drugs and murder.

Confirming months of rumors, Claypool has also announced that his film Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo will be screened at the Tiburon Film Festival on March 15, the Portland Lonbaugh Film Festival on April 6 and Bonnaroo on June 17. Best described as a jam-scenes answer to Spinal Tap, the mockumentary will follow the farcical Electric Apricot as it navigates the jam scene, making its first record and its debut appearance at Festeroo. In addition to Claypool the feature film boasts appearances from Bob Weir, Mike Gordon, Warren Haynes and Matt Abts, as well as cameos from Seth Green, Arj Barker and South Park’s Matt Stone.