Publication: The Daily Telegraph
Date: July, 2001
Transcribed by
Kris (sic6sic_6@hotmail.com)
Kris (sic6sic_6@hotmail.com)
page: 19 title: It's Tool Time Again author: Matt Sun Kris's Note: This is proof of more shows in Australia The article: It's a cold, rainy day in Auckland as the four members of Tool arrive at their hotel, tired and jet-lagged by a long flight. But there's only one thing Danny Carey, drummer in the distinguished rock group, wants to know right now: are there any Wagner concerts playing at Sydney Opera House? "It's always great coming over to Australia," Carey says. "We're always so well received - and it's good timing for the Aussies because we've got about a month of touring under our belts and we're just getting comfortable. We're not tired of playing yet." Tool's new album Lateralus, released five years after their last album Ænima, has already topped the local charts and is making a similar impression around the world. Carey says it's a reflection that everything is right in Tool at the moment. "We really like what we're doing and we're happy with what we're playing," he says. "I really believe in that - and it can't help but be contagious." Why does he think Lateralus is being so well received so widely? Carey pauses and considers his answer. "There's a lack of sincerity in bands right now. They're trying to fit into a formula and people see through it. People are starved for something with a real quality to it. "It's just a pleasant relief to take a bit of a journey again when they listen to a nine minute song that takes them to a new place, something different from other music." Carey says the album is also improved by singer Maynard James Keenan's time fronting A Perfect Circle. "He's definitely become a better singer. You learn a lot when you play with different groups of people; we've all done that over the years." The music industry, says Carey, needs a shake-up. "It needs bands that won't go belly-up and bow to record executives' whims. "It's all the musicians' fault. They sell out, they don't do what they believe in, so you can't expect it to get any better. "Bands are formed now for the wrong reasons: to make money - at least that's the wait it is in LA. "They all sounds the same, they're going for a formula playing three-minute pop songs that go verse, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, out. "Their goals should be to make good music, to express yourself, to be true to your heart, and who cares if you make money if you're happy with what you're doing and not trying to live up to someone else's dreams." This three-show Australian stop-over, which Carey calls a "teaser tour", is the band's third trip here but won't be their last. Carey says the band is planning to return for a proper tour next year. "There's a good chance we'll come back in January or February and do our real tour," he says. "These were kind of teaser shows, but we don't want to neglect the rest of the country. "When we come back, we'll most likely do ten or twelve shows all up, probably another two or three in Sydney. "It'll be a live-music ritual, that's for sure. We have some good visual reinforcement this time and I think people will really enjoy it. It's more satisfying to play live, and as you keep playing live, the songs begin to develop their own life and character. "Back in 1993, the first time we were here, we were relatively unknown, but we got to do some good gigs on a smaller scale and it started the whole word-of-mouth thing. "By the time we came back in 1996, the foundation was made, we had a couple of bigger shows, and it kept growing. "We were out at a festival at Eastern Creek, where it was real muddy . . . it put a dampener on a few things but that's part of it. "Before you go on stage you think about the vibe of a rainy day, but when we start playing, it's all about the communication between the four of us and the crowd." As well as touring, the band keeps in touch with its fans via e- mail. But carey says it's getting harder and harder to keep up with all the mail. "I'm still at the point where I can read them all but it's impossible to answer all of them." On the downside of living in the internet age, Carey says he believes the medium is harming the music industry in general. "I think everyone needs to be wary of it," he says. "It's a tough thing, creating something and putting it out there, and payment is a reward for that. "Bootlegging is people not really paying respect to the person who created the music - but I'm hopeful the mindfullness of people will prevail. "There are major changes going on for the record industry, technology and downloading is not going to go away, and maybe it will make a lot strong shift towards live performance."
Posted to t.d.n: 10/25/01 03:00:07