Maynard James Keenan Details His Experience with Coronavirus

2020-10-15

Maynard James Keenan says he contracted coronavirus back in February and it still dealing with the effects of the virus.

Story by Cat Badra, promo photo by Tim Cadiente

Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer frontman Maynard James Keenan says he contracted coronavirus back in February and it still dealing with the effects of the virus

Maynard James Keenan is usually a very private person, but he’s sharing his story about contracting the coronavirus back in February, including detailing some of the after-effects.

“I’m still dealing with the residual effects,” Keenan — who fronts Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer – told The Arizona Republic of dealing with COVID-19. “But it was ugly. I survived it, but it wasn’t pretty.”

Keenan says he’s still dealing with coughing and lung damage.

“Every other day, I have these coughing fits because my lungs are still damaged at the tips,” Keenan said. “And I just got over the inflammation that was going on with my wrist and hands.”

“I had an autoimmune attack on my system in the form of, like, a rheumatoid arthritis,” he added. “Basically, from what I understand, it attacks weird spots and it’s random.”

Keenan went on to say that the way mask-wearing has become a political issue is “ridiculous.”

“I feel like there’s this twist on the idea of personal freedom where somehow freedom is you being able to walk into anybody’s house and take a dump on their meal or shout ugly things at their grandma,” Keenan said. “That’s not what freedom is.”

“Freedom is the ability to pursue your lifestyle, pursue what you want to do for your family, for your future, what education you want to get,” he added. “And with that freedom comes a responsibility to look out for yourself, for your neighbor, for your family, for everybody. So there are some compromises that come along with freedom. I’m not sure why that’s so difficult to grasp.”

In other news, Keenan has a new album on the way with Puscifer, “Existential Reckoning,” due out Oct. 30.

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Cat Badra

Meet the expert - Cat Badra is a music writer for Audio Ink Radio and a range of other music, sports and lifestyle publications. She's a graduate of Michigan State University with a master's degree in theater and speech. Contact her at cat@audioinkradio.com.