Tool - the Band
Created | Updated Apr 4, 2005
Tool came together and produced their EP, Opiate, back in 1992. Since then, Tool has become a hard-rockin' musical juggernaut, shaping the way we listen to music and not looking back. Tool's Adam Jones and Danny Carey create powerful guitar riffs and drum notes, while Maynard maintains a melodic, smooth voice to convey the incredibly deep lyrics that Tool is famous for.
About the Band
Tool met up in 1991. Maynard James Keenan, the vocalist, was actually a neighbour of Danny Carey, the drummer. Danny let Maynard and Adam Jones, the guitarist, use his practice space. He felt bad for them, because the musicians they contacted to come play didn't show up. So, Carey filled in. Later, Paul D'Amour was introduced, and the rest is history...Maynard James Keenan (vocals and lyrics)
Maynard, born to a Baptist family, grew up with an older sister in Ravenna, Ohio. Maynard attended high school in Ravenna through the tenth grade, when his family moved to Michigan. There, he attended Mason County Central High School in Scottville, Michigan.
Maynard entered the army in 1982. He was a member of the West Point prep school class of 1984. He was a member of the wrestling and cross country teams, the glee club1, and the "Knight Crier."2 Maynard quit the military to study art at Kendall College of Art and Design in Michigan, one of the best in that area.
Maynard began his musical career with the Children of the Anachronistic Dynasty in the 1980s, and they produced an independent album, Fingernails. Maynard was also part of a band called the TexAns before coming together to form Tool.
Adam Jones (lead guitar)
Adam, originally from Illinois, was very musically inclined even as a boy. He started playing violin in elementary school, was accepted into the Suzuki program, and continued to play violin through his freshman year of high school. He then played stand up bass in an orchestra for three years. He was also part of a band, Electric Sheep, with Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine at Libertyville High School. He received a music scholarship to go to college, but decided to go to art school instead.
Adam attended the Hollywood Makeup Academy, where he learned techniques he would later apply to Tool's many music videos. After graduation, Adam worked on numerous commercials and movies, including Jurassic Park and Terminator 2.
Adam has a pet chameleon and Great Dane, is a big Devo fan, and used to skateboard. Adam Jones is one of the best guitarists of today's era, creating brilliant riffs that take the listener on a journey.
Danny Carey (drums and percussion)
Danny grew up in Paola, Kansas, in a typical, middle-class home. He has one older brother and one younger brother. Danny started taking lessons when he was eleven years old, and received a scholarship to go to the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City.
He, instead, attended the University of Missouri for three years. He received a lot of classical training there, and could have gotten a degree with a little more time. However, he wanted to go back to playing the drum set, so quit school when the opportunity to play in a band came.
He drew a lot of influence from Billy Cobham and Buddy Rich. He said that, "no matter how fast they played, you could always hear every note." He played with such bands as Green Jello and Pygmy Love Circus.
In 1986, he moved to Los Angeles and eventually joined a band with his neighbor, Maynard James Keenan that we all know as Tool.
Paul D'Amour (bassist 1991-1995)
Paul is native to Spokane, Washington. He moved to L.A. because of the film industry. He actually hadn't played music in a while and was considering putting it to rest. However, Adam Jones introduced Paul to his band, Tool. Tool was a perfect match for D'Amour, who felt he needed to express some of his anger.
D'Amour left Tool after Undertow, because of a shift in his musical tastes. He wanted to get rid of the heavy riffs and try more experimental things.
Justin Chancellor (bassist 1995-present)
Justin first met Tool in New York and was very impressed. He kept in touch with all the band members. Justin's band, Peach, did tours with Tool in Europe in 1994.
When Paul D'Amour left Tool, they contacted Chancellor. At first, Justin was reluctant to join. Peach broke up several months before D'Amour left, and Justin was in the process of starting a new band with Peach's guitarist. However, this just wasn't an opportunity he could pass up. So, he flew to the States, auditioned, and became the new Tool bassist.
Albums
Opiate (1992 - Zoo/BMG/Volcano)Opiate, a six song EP, is a wonderful introduction to what Tool is all about and what was yet to come.
Undertow (1994 - Zoo/BMG/Volcano)
Undertow is the first actual Tool cd and went platinum a few years after release. Undertow is a powerful collection of songs more intricate than Opiate’s.
Ænima (1996 - Zoo/Volcano/BMG)
Ænima, the second Tool cd, shifts away from the anger and power of the previous cd and EP. Tool began to evolve with this album. Ænima soon went platinum also.
Salival (2000 - Volcano II/Tool Dissectional)
Salival is a collection of live cover songs put out. Tool fans hadn't seen much action at that time, and Salival, complete with a video/dvd of Tool's music videos, sufficed at quieting the fans down.
Lateralus (2001 - Volcano II/Tool Dissectional )Lateralus is considered by many to be Tool at its greatest state. Lateralus is orgasmic. Its lyrical value and awesome, awesome guitar riffs and drum solos form one of the greatest albums ever made. It had no problem going triple platinum two years later.
Tool's Future
Although Maynard and Danny aren't always around3, Tool has found a way to make and put out their music. As for the future, Tool has promised a live DVD for 2004, and a new album for 2005. Fans can only hope that they hang around for years to come, dishing out their wonderful music.
Tool Links
Tool's official website
a non-official but very informative Tool site
1West Point's official choral music ambassadors2West Point's school newspaper3Maynard is currently working with A Perfect Circle, and Danny is currently committed to Pygmy Love Circus.
