Tool Vocalist Maynard James Keenan Admits a Mistake the Band Made Audio Ink Radio

Tool Frontman Maynard James Keenan Admits a Mistake the Band Made

2024-10-18

Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer vocalist Maynard James Keenan has admitted one mistake that he thinks Tool made later in their career. – Author: Charles Ken, Tool photo via Travis Shinn

Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer vocalist Maynard James Keenan spoke with rock personality Allison Hagendorf on October 17 and admitted one mistake that he thinks Tool made later in their career. Of course, Tool is a highly successful band, so not all is lost with Keenan’s mistake, but it’s interesting to hear that he believes the group could have made a better move.

Maynard James Keenan Says Tool Made a Misstep

Tool was late in the game getting on Spotify and Apple Music streaming services. Before those songs and albums made it onto streaming sites, fans had to listen by purchasing and downloading the music or via the band’s YouTube page. Before Tool released their 2019 record, “Fear Inoculum,” they decided to finally put their catalog on streaming services.

Keenan thinks they should have done it sooner. In the interview with Hagendorf, Keenan talked about Tool’s relationship with streaming platforms and why he thinks they messed up a bit.

“I feel like we missed the boat,” he said. “Like it started with downloads, you know, 24 years ago. And then by the time we actually came out, downloads are done. We missed 20 years of reaching two generations of people to understand what it is that we do, in a format that, you know… I don’t like listening to the mp3 version. I listen to CDs and vinyl. But that’s the gateway to get them into the vinyl and the CDs.”

He added, “I feel like we made a mistake not being on those on those mediums for 20 years. Me every year, saying ‘we should do this,'” explaining that he supported the idea of putting the band’s music on streaming well before they did.

When Tool’s songs finally went to streaming platforms, they charted quickly. Fans were obviously happy to finally get the songs on there. Hagendorf compared the showing to a music event, and Keenan said, “Well fans that knew about it. There’s an entire two generations that didn’t. That’s why [there was] the big surprise when we ended up bumping Taylor Swift off the chart for her second week. They didn’t know who [we are]. I mean ‘Who is this?’ ‘I don’t know who the fuck this.'”

“That’s just the reality, that people didn’t know who we were because we weren’t around,” Keenan said.

Maynard James Keenan to Honor Ozzy Osbourne at the Rock Hall

Keenan will be one of the musicians honoring metal great Ozzy Osbourne during his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on Saturday, October 19.

Talking with Allison Hagendorf about with a bunch of big names to honor Ozzy for the Rock Hall, Keenan said, “It’s terrifying, extremely terrifying. Yeah, because this is for him. This song is out of my range, so I’m going to be struggling to hit the notes but I got the call so I answered.”

Hagendorf then asked Keenan about his feeling about Osbourne being inducted and the weekend, and Keenan said, “If I’m being honest, mixed feelings. ‘Cause I’m having to come in, and a couple of other people are coming in, to sing for him, which is depressing, to have to sing for him.”

“But that we’re able to step up and help him in this induction is inspiring,” he added. “I’m glad I got the call. I’m sure a bunch of people got the call, but I think I responded first.”

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Charles Ken

Meet the expert - Charles Ken is a graduate of Michigan State University where he studied writing and history. He's a longtime music buff and covers classic rock for Audio Ink Radio. Contact him at ken@audioinkradio.com.