Publication: hit parader
Date: October, 1997
Transcribed by
Joe the Article Transcriber (undertow@mailcity.com)
Joe the Article Transcriber (undertow@mailcity.com)
page: 56 title: TOOL Headline Grabbers author: Rob Andrews Headlining a major national rock festival was perhaps the last thing on the minds of TOOLís four members when they first set out on the road last year to support their latest album, NIMA. Sure, Maynard James Keenan, Danny Carey, Adam Jones and Justin Chancellor didnít necessarily mind the concept of emerging as one of the most notable, influential and highly visible groups in the hard rock stratosphere. But at the same time such a notion seemed to go entirely against the grain of a band philosophy that since the release of their debut disc in 1992 has server to cloak their identities and protect their anonymity to an almost alarming extent. Remember, this is a band that refuses to appear on their own album covers and has so-far resisted the temptation to make more than cameo appearances in their own award-winning videos. Yes last spring, when the offer came for TOOL to headline the prestigious 1997 Lollapalooza Festival. such notions as ìmaintaining our mysterious imageî quickly were cast out the window by this L.A.-based quartet. TOOL realized that they were quiet possibly being handed the opportunity of a lifetime, and that while the top-billed spot at the summerís most notorious music festival may indeed serve to cast them into the media spot light to a greater extent than ever before, it was a chance they were not about to passup. With such notable superstar acts as Metallic and Pearl Jam ranking as previous Lollapalooza headliners, it didnít take a rocket scientist to convince TOOL that they should grab hold of this truly special opportunity for career advancement...and hold on for dear life. ìWe realized that for a band like ours this was going to be a very strange experience,î Carey said. ìThe idea of getting on stage in front of 30,000 or 40,000 people every night was a little intimidating, but we really welcomed that chance. It was quite exciting. It was our opportunity to see if we could communicate with a crowd that size on the level we wanted - to reach them on a deeper level than mere superficial entertainment. After a full day of activities that was certainly a challenge, but I think we accomplished our goal, at least for the most part.î Accomplishing their task-at-hand of touching the minds and souls of all in attendance - quickly proved to be an unexpectedly arduous job for TOOL. Not only did the band have to battle against the unsavory outdoor elements that confronted them at certain Lollapalooza dates, but they also found themselves fighting against the ever-present phenomenon of audience fatigue. Many of the fans in attendance had already been at the fest for the better of ten hours by the time TOOL took the stage, having imbibed themselves not only with food and drink, but also with a brainnumbing variety of other entertainment and musical options. By the time TOOL appeared on stage, the group knew they certainly had their jobs cut out for them. But like the road-proven rock and roll veterans that they have become, the band delivered the goods night-in and night-out, continually captivating the somewhat intoxicated, thoroughly exhausted gathering and lifting then to new heights of musical ecstasy. ìWeíre at our best live,î Carey explained. ìThe songs seem to take on a life of their own. Thereís nothing that can match the feeling of when four people who share a similar cause and similar beliefs put their talents together. We have yet to make a studio recording that comes close to capturing what this band can accomplish on stage.î The success of their Lollapalooza tour outing served as something of a salvation for TOOL who, in all honesty, had suffered through the some what lackluster response afforded NIMA both from a critical and commercial level. Following the platinum sales success of the bands previous disc, 1994ís Undertow, many believed that the time was right for TOOL to emerge as one of the true superstar acts of the late ë90s. Prior to their latest discís release last October, some pundits within the musical industry were predicting double or even triple platinum sales on the bands sometimes fragile artistic chemistry. Though NIMA sold well, finally attaining platinum status some eight months after its realease, its sales preformance was viewed as a disappointment be the ever-demanding rock biz. But with their successful helming of this yearís Lollapalooza event- which, in turn, resparked sakes of the bandís current disc - TOOLís status as one of hard rocks ìhotî bands has once again been reffirmed. ìThe best thing about the band is that no matter how many albums we sell, or how many tours we headline, our focus remains on the music,î Jones said. ìItís always been that was with us and I hope it will always stay that way. We never started doing any of this for the money or the glory - we did it for the music itself. Our fans sense our commitment, and they share it with us. Our music is designed to inspire - to create thought - and no matter where we are, and how many people maybe in the audience, thatís where our efforts go.î The question now becomes, whatís next on TOOLís always intriguing agenda. Rumors persist that alive album - perhaps drawn from highlights of their Lollapalooza performances - will be released this fall. Other stories indicate that the group hopes to get back in to the recording studio later this year, with a new disc to emerge by next summer. Certainly the group has no desire to duplicate the more-than-three year gap that separated the release of Undertow from the appearance of NIMA. Whatever momentum the band may have generated with their critically hailed headlining appearances at Lollapalooza, TOOL certainly wants to see it continue far into the future. ìWeíre lucky in that weíve never been one of those ëfashioní bands,î Carey said. ìWith us ëartí has always come first. It would really hurt if we ever believed that we were becoming trendy, or a ëflavor of the monthí band. I think we ran that risk at times after Undertow came out. Thankfully, I think weíre past that now
Posted to t.d.n: 08/28/97 11:40:09