In a recent interview with Metal Hammer, Maynard James Keenan said he doesn’t prefer to be around people.
When the interviewer asked if he thinks people misunderstand Tool due to their mysterious vibe, the frontman revealed he doesn’t really pay attention to that. They do what feels right for them, even if it might not make them more popular. Keenan continued by saying:
“I was talking to a friend of mine, and we were getting into a gin project, and the company we’re talking to is like, ‘Yeah, [Maynard], we’ll have you do all these things…’ Look, dude, [actor and Aviation Gin co-owner] Ryan Reynolds enjoys mingling with people. He’s a very enigmatic person. He’s Canadian. He’s just a nice guy. I’m not a nice guy.”
Keenan Thinks He Is A Weirdo
The singer added the following about himself:
“I am a concentric weirdo. And I’m uncomfortable in my own skin. I definitely don’t like being around a lot of people. It has nothing to do with the people. It has to do with me. So I can’t be the guy out doing the kind of things… like Dave Grohl and Ryan Reynolds. I cannot be those people. I can’t even fake being those people. So you just have to do what you’re comfortable with.”
Adam Jones Speaking On Tool’s Enigmatic Identity
Tool’s guitarist, Adam Jones, also responded to the question about whether he thinks people don’t get what they’re really about because of how Tool presents themselves, explaining:
“Yes, absolutely. But that’s kind of the magic of it: it’s left open for interpretation. Remember when you were a kid and you bought some record, and all you had was the art to look at? Then you did an interpretation of what they were saying? It’s very personal. I’ve never heard anyone go, ‘Hey, your music f*cked my life up.’ I’ve heard people go, ‘Hey, this song meant this to me and blah, blah, blah…’ I don’t have to go, ‘Well, that’s really not what it’s about.’ That’s what you get out of it. And it’s great.”
Jones also revealed that they didn’t start writing the band’s next album. They’re still jamming and waiting for one of them to suggest starting to write, and they’ll go from there.