Publication: OOR
Date: June, 1993
Transcribed by
Leon Spaans (leon.spaans@infonet-europe.nl)
Leon Spaans (leon.spaans@infonet-europe.nl)
page: 54 title: Frustration is Tools chief motive. Look inside yourself, cry .... author: Mark van Schaik This article was translated from Dutch to English and might contain some errors. Frustration is Tools chief motive. Look inside yourself, cry, write some INSANE MUSIC, Simple ? by Mark van Schaick People who saw Tool perform live, with singer Maynard James Keenan as some kind of Satan in a nighty, should at least be somewhat puzzled. It is an elusive group. After the positive receiving of their Opiate EP and their debut-CD Undertow, Tool toured England with Rage Against The Machine (one and a half years ago, in L.A., it was the other way around) and now with Fishbone through the rest of Europe. From the 18th of june on it'll be the Lollapalooza-caravan in the U.S. and Canada. Drummer Danny Carey and bassist Paul D'Amour love it, gitarist Adam Jones smiles a bit, while Keenan is definitely NOT doing that. He silently stares out of the window pondering his deeper grounds. Four people in one room, who seemlingly have nothing to do with each other. It was Jones who took the initiative at the end of 1989, after reading the book 'A Joyful Guide To Lachrymology' by amateur- philosopher Ronald P. Vincent. This obscure book out of 1949, also described as 'a study of crying', is written in the point of view that there is no necessity to think or create without pain. Until 1960, there was a sect in L.A., who embraced this point of view. And in 1988 Adam Jones met, the lonely man, Vincent, prior to his death. Two years later Jones had thoroughly read and embraced 'A Joyful Guide To Lachrymology'. At least, that is the story. If I was to be told that this whole lachrymology was made up by the band, I wouldn't be in the least surprised. (If it is that important, why isn't Vincent thanked in the credits of Tools CD's? Well?). It doesn't bother me either. At least it is something different than: "We started as a punkband in my garage". With his new way of life, Jones began writing songs, after which he started bothering a crew-member of Satan's Pizza, his favorite pizza place in L.A., with the question wether he'd like to be a singer. At first Maynard James Keenan wasn't interested, after a couple of tough years at the prestigious military academy of Westpoint he had thrown himself on his study at the art-academy, while making music was not in his planning. To his amazement the cooperation went o.k. and slowly he too was caught by the ideas of Ronald P. Vincent. 'It has nothing to do with religion, there is no group of people who practice these teachings nor talks about them. By constantly confronting myself and digging deeper within myself, I manage to canalize my frustrations better. It provides me with a better grip in my life and my art. That's all' says Keenan. - SICK MIND - Paul D'Amour and Danny Carey are healthy and happy bandmembers who enjoy their first worldtour the fullest. Before Tool existed, was the former a scenery-builder in Hollywood, while the latter was getting rather famous as a session-drummer. As a neighbor of Jones he found it a pity that they couldn't find a drummer who could keep up with the spicy mix of metal and progressive sounds. So he left the jazz-,rock- and classical jobs for what they were and helped Tool out. Songs grew, live performances were received well and Zoo Entertainment signed the band. Opiate consists of six songs that are particularly heavy and loud, but very well contructed. The song-material on Undertow has the same characteristics; a lot of odd rhythms, a lot of rhythm and speed-changes and lots of power. Keenans voice sounds clear and most of the time restrained, after which he shouts it out the more. Needless to say is the fact that his disturbing lyrics complete the picture. Insane and incomprehensible, perhaps, but perfectly in line with the nervous character of Tools music. D'Amour: 'Half of the time I don't know what he's talking about or what he is referring to, but that doesn't matter, his lyrics have radiation (?). That's inspiring enough. Whether he can still surprise us with his lyrics ? Hmmmmm, no, not anymore. We have gotten used to that sick mind.' - ALTERNATIVE HEROES - Although Keenan claims that Undertow is a concept, in which, music, lyrics, artwork and video's - ofcourse completely realized by the band themselves - form a coherent unity, in his opinion no one has ever understood what this binding theme was. And who am I to ask this ? Give me half an hour and I'll find out. Keenan: 'You can't see Lachrymology as a starting-point, because it describes us and not the music. It is a tool, a filter, that helps us with our ideas. It is too easy to say that we want people to have their own interpretation of what we do, but I think it should be possible to get the essence from our music, even when your not raised in the English-language. Ofcourse it would be fun if one or two people exactly understood us, but I cannot force anyone ofcourse.' Tool feels connected with bands who have their roots in the punkmovement. D'Amour: 'But I do think that we go beyond that, perhaps due to our very diverse musical backgrounds. When you think that Danny played in a symphonic orchestra and did jazzsessions, that we, like many, listened to Judas Priest and Rush and were impressed by King Crimson, or that we've been hanging around with the Rollins Band a lot the last few years, you'll understand what I mean.' Tool takes the prosperity as it comes. D'Amour says that all his dreams about playing in a band have already been realized. Whatever happens, Tool will not sell out. 'We recently did an acoustic performance,' says Keenan, with a grin, 'We were invited as alternative heroes for a benefit against animal-testing. Whether you are concerned with a couple of rabbits or not, in L.A. you'll get a benefit down your throat every day and usually in a very hysteric way. While you have no clue were the raised funds went. People want you to think for yourself, but that you also get as motivated as they are for the good cause. Well, Alice in Chains and the fat bitch in Heart showed the audience that they were very good in playing Folktunes! I couldn't believe my ears. We especially drove to Tijuana to buy some cheap acoustic guitars. Which we slammed to pieces on a drumbeat, while Henry Rollins slammed some iron bars on a trashcan while I cited the lyrics to disgustipated and meanwhile firing blanks with my gun. Now that was impressive!'.
Posted to t.d.n: 03/31/01 19:09:45