Tool Gutarist Adam Jones Gifts 9-Year-Old Girl a Guitar, She Performs a Tool Medley

2022-12-02

Tool promo photo, fronted by the mysterious Maynard James Keenan.

Story by Cat Badra, promo photo by Tim Cadiente

Nine-year-old guitarist Maya Neelakantan was gifted a guitar from Tool’s Adam Jones, and she’s putting it to good use

Maya Neelakantan is only 9 years old, but she already has exquisite musical taste. The young girl was gifted a signature Gibson Les Paul from Tool guitarist Adam Jones, and she was quick to use it, performing a 15-song Tool medley.

Neelakantan has become something of a YouTube star due to her imaginative guitar skills. Earlier this year, she performed a newer Tool song, “7empest,” and posted the footage for all to see. The footage made its way to Jones, who was deeply impressed.

A few months ago, the Tool guitarist gave one of his beloved signature model Gibson Les Paul guitars to Neelakantan, who posted a special unboxing video for her fans to see. Having Jones’ signature guitar inspired Neelakantan to learn more Tool songs, and hence, the medley.

Earlier this week, Neelakantan uploaded a 15-song Tool medley performed with the Les Paul gifted to her from Jones. In the video, she performs impressive riffs from songs such as “Vicarious,” “Intension,” “7empest,” “Invincible,” “Right in Two,” “Lost Keys,” “The Patient,” “Pneuma,” “Descending,” “Pushit,” “Eon Blue Apocalypse,” “Third Eye,” “Wings for Marie” and “Parabol/Parabola.” In total, the video lasts just over 10 minutes and features Neelakantan performing all the songs sequentially.

“What I like the most in this is how each song connects nicely to the next one and it’s not random!” Maya stated in the video description. “This is a completely thought out video and I had such a blast with it! … I just love everything that Adam Jones does! This video only explored the clean (without distortion) melodies that he created and I can’t wait to explore everything else even more!”

Watch Neelakantan’s video of the 15-song Tool medley below, plus the video of her getting the guitar from Jones in the mail.

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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.