Maynard Says the Songs Are There for a New Tool Album

2024-04-03

A photo of rock band Tool.

Maynard James Keenan is giving a new Tool album update – Story by Charles Ken, Photo via Travis Shinn

Tool is one of those bands that fans are always waiting on to create new music. Whenever news of a new Tool album breaks, it’s of the upmost interest. Remember the massive break between 2006’s “10,000 Days” and 2019’s “Fear Inoculum?” The running joke was that we didn’t really think it would take 10,000 days to get a new Tool album. Well, now Maynard James Keenan is discussing why Tool’s new album is taking a while to put together. At the same time, he’s giving fans hope for new music on the way.

Maynard Discusses the New Tool Album

Maynard James Keenan knows that the band tends to take its time with new music. That said, in a new interview, he claims that Tool shouldn’t have to wait that long for their next album.

Speaking with Metal Hammer about new music, Keenan said, “Tool is a more complicated beast with a lot of egos and a lot of other things going on in our lives.” He added, “But all the creativity’s there, the songs and the ideas can flow and the arguments ensue.”

Keenan went on to say that there are “arguments” in Tool’s camp, and they have to get over them. The guys of Tool seem pretty chill, so it’s interesting to hear there are arguments, but any time people are creating art, things can get sensitive.

“As soon as we get past the arguments, we can get s*** done!” he said. “I think we could do it more efficiently. And I think everyone’s on the same page that we have to get through that, because we can’t drag this out another 14 years.”

Tool guitarist Adam Jones also appears in the Metal Hammer interview. In it, he says, “Most of the people that you hear from on those things – like, ‘When’s your next record?’ – when you do finish it, they’re like, ‘OK, when’s your next one?’ You can’t make people happy. We have this very selfish approach to art. It’s our rules. When you start trying to make people happy, you’re losing yourself. You’re losing that burn inside you of why you do what you do.”

I think it’s insightful for Jones to note that when you start trying to make people happy, you’re really losing yourself. Too many musicians feel pressured to make a certain kind of music, even if it doesn’t fit them. I could never see Tool going that direction. So, no matter how long the new Tool album takes to create, you can count on it sounding like Tool.

Keenan has a busy 2024 ahead. He and Tool will embark on a U.K. and European tour in May and June. In addition, Keenan is currently on the road in the U.S. on the “Sessanta” tour, which features his bands A Perfect Circle and Puscifer with Les Claypool’s Primus. That run celebrates Keenan’s 60th birthday.

On the topic of a new Tool album, what are the best Tool songs ever? I recently put together a list of the top 10 Tool songs of all time. I was difficult to pick just 10, but these tracks really stand the test of time.

Charles Ken
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Posted by Charles Ken | Music, Rock, Rock News

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