Tool and A Perfect Circle Vocalist Maynard James Keenan Talks His Love for Jiu-Jitsu

Story by Anne Erickson

Not only is Tool and A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Keenan a well-known musician and winemaker, he’s also — get this — a martial arts enthusiast. Keenan has a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and he opens up about his secret pastime in a new video for Revolver.

In the video, Keenan is spotted at a martial arts academy he co-founded in his hometown of Jerome, Arizona. “Oxygen in the brain is important for creativity and productivity and being aware and in your skin,” Keenan says in the video. “Being in the wine industry or being on the mat, you have to be conscious and present for that to be a successful endeavor. You can’t phone it in.”

Keenan also says he enjoys mastering the art of jiu-jitsu for personal growth and understanding, not to mention self-defense.

In other news, Keenan is currently on a North American tour with A Perfect Circle, which dropped a new song called “The Doomed” last month. The group is expected to release a new album sometime in 2018.

Earlier this year, Keenan performed a handful of sold-out headlining tour dates and festival shows with his other band, Tool. No word yet on when that group’s much -anticipated album will drop, but whenever it does, it will mark the band’s follow-up to 2006’s “10,000 Days.”

Photo credit: Tim Cadiente

Publication date: November 5, 2017
Anne Erickson
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Posted by Anne Erickson | Music, Rock, Rock News

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