Tool (band)
Tool was formed in
1990 by
vocalist Maynard James Keenan,
guitarist Adam Jones,
bassist Paul D'Amour, and
drummer Danny Carey. They are a contemporary
American rock band whose
music includes elements of
heavy metal,
progressive rock,
psychedelia and
art rock.
Indicative of their varied and far-reaching influences (chiefly
King Crimson,
Pink Floyd, and
Led Zeppelin), their music features complex harmonic structures, unconventional
time signatures, and borderline
New Age subject matter. They may be the only popular musical group to have recorded songs about the mutation of DNA and geometric plane curves. D'Amour left the band in
1995 and was replaced by
Justin Chancellor of the UK band Peach in time for Tool's 1996 album
Ænima.
Tool has long clashed with conventional television and radio due to their dark musical content and dry disposition: their first
single from
Ænima was at first shortened for radio play by broadcasting companies until overwhelming fan response compelled them to play the track uncut. The
music video for that single, "Stinkfist," was consequently renamed because of the title's suggestive nature to "Track #1." Though their
Ænima singles received heavy radio play, their
2001 release
Lateralus\nfeatured songs that averaged six and a half minutes in length, unwieldy for even the most pioneering of commercial radio disc jockeys. Additionally, the length of their most recent music video for the song "
Parabola" clocked in at an unheard of ten and a half minutes, almost condemning it from being aired on mainstream music channels. Compounded with their aversion to appearing in their own music videos, these aspects of their collective personality makes the band's popularity especially peculiar.
Tool are currently working on their fourth full length album which is expected to be released by this year's end or the first quarter of 2005. Tourmates
Fantômas and
Meshuggah were cited as influences.
Many stories and rumours circulate this band, and they've been known to incite rumours themselves, encouraging fans and listeners to think for themselves.
Following the
September 11, 2001 attacks, a list of 150 songs circulated on the
Internet, purported to be from
radio conglomerate
Clear Channel Communications to its subsidiaries, with the recommendation that these songs be pulled from airplay (it was later revealed that the list was originally the work of a few specific station program directors, was not an official Clear Channel missive, and changed over time as it was distributed). Tool's "Intolerance" was on the list.
Discography
\nThe band's singles and accompanying videos: including "Sober" from
Undertow, "Stinkfist" and "Ænema" from
Ænima, and "Schism" and "Parabola" from
Lateralus.
Henry Rollins appears briefy on
Undertow, reciting a spoken word piece during the song
Bottom.
Samples of
Bill Hicks' comedy appear in the song "Third Eye", and both "Third Eye" and "Ænema" are based on his philosophy.
Timothy Leary appears on the live version of Ænema's "Third Eye" on
Salival ("Think for yourself, Question authority".)
Tricky appears, uncredited, in the video for "Parabola".
The String Tribute to Tool: Third Eye Open is a tribute album released in 2001. A number of Tool songs are rearranged for
classical music string instruments (
violins,
viola,
cello and a
double bass) with at least three musicians. The lack of
percussion is sometimes countered with "clicking"
arco techniques. Tool's songs are mostly multi-secioned, and the band's sophisticated grasp of
harmony allows for an interesting instrumental interpretation.
The vinyl rendition of
Opiate has a secret track embedded in a double groove. If the needle is dropped on the correct groove, the secret track can be experienced instead of the last track.
Members
Danny Carey (Drummer)
Justin Chancellor (Bass guitar)
- Was the bass player for the band Peach.
Adam Jones (Lead guitar)
- Is trained in special effects and movie makeup and directs all of Tool's videos. He worked on the special effects for such movies as Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Jurassic Park, and Predator 2.\n*Has appeared on albums by The Melvins and plays as an additional touring guitarist when off from working with Tool.
Maynard James Keenan (Vocals)
- Appeared briefly in the Rage Against the Machine song "Know Your Enemy", as well as on The Deftones' album White Pony, in the song "Passenger". \n*Together with his friend Tori Amos, he performed the song "Muhammad My Friend" during a live concert. "Muhammad My Friend" is off Tori's record "Boys for Pele".\n*Also appears as the lead singer in his side project A Perfect Circle. Albums: "Mer de Noms" and "Thirteenth Step".\n*Will also appear on the not yet released album of "Tapeworm" (side project of Nine Inch Nails bass player Danny Lohner and vocalist Trent Reznor).-NOTE( Tapeworm has officially been cancelled.)\n*Appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Underworld in the songs "Bring me the Head of the Disco King," and "REV 22:20."\n*He also appeared on-screen in "Bikini Bandits" (2002) in the role of the devil.\n*Has appeared on HBO's "Mr. Show with Bob and David."
External links
\n*http://toolband.com\n*
HREF="http://dissectional.com" class="external">http://dissectional.com\n* HREF="http://toolarmy.com" class="external">http://toolarmy.com (The official Tool fanclub)
An unofficial archive of Tool-related material is at:\n*http://toolshed.down.net
Unofficial book of lyric interpretations:\n* Vanilla Circus' Tool Book (PDF)
Unofficial site with over 100 live-songs of tool:\n* dead ohio sky
Unofficial Fan Site for Tool (fans from their web chat, toolarmy etc)\n* Toolchurch
Music, Art and Philosophy Event originally inspired by Tool:\n* Third Eye Gathering
Category:Alternative musical groups Category:Rock music groups Category:American musical groups
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