Tool Singer Loves Generalizations

[Steve Henderson]

Apparently Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan thinks (http://www.avclub.com/content/node/55757) his fans are "primates" and "cretins." Even though it might be true, might want to keep that one to yourself, buddy.

[dubey]

hahaha that's awesome.

[notoaststereo]

hes 42? i didnt know he was that old.

[sweetmik]

Well he gets a bunch of kids to wear shirts that say tool on them. He can't think to much of his fans. This makes me have more respect for him, though.

[Mike Kraft]

hahahaha, did anyone else read that interview and think he was full of himself?

[TakingBackNolan]

:gay:

[notoaststereo]

hahahaha, did anyone else read that interview and think he was full of himself?

nah. its too long. i can only assume that hes pretentious and an asshole.

[Jason Tate]

[You play] heavy music, and your record company, which has never owned an album anything like what you're doing, immediately markets you to the obvious stinky kid with the dreadlocks and the B.O. and the urine on his shoes because he's been sleeping in his own filth in a festival in the middle of the rain. They basically market right to that guy. And then you realize the only people showing up to your shows are those primates—these weird, cretin people… Then, let's say you're at a coffee shop, and you've got a friend sitting next to you, and you've been reading some Noam Chomsky, or you're reading The Onion, and you look over and see a bunch of kids [who] look like they could be made of cheese, because there are flies everywhere. And you go, "Hey, you want to go where they're going?" and everybody goes, "Fuck no." And they're wearing Tool shirts. Why would you want to go there? Why would anybody other than those kids wanna go see Tool if that's our representative in that area? So it ends up being a no-win situation. Of course, that's a completely extreme example.

:jawdrop:

Interesting that he came out and said that. Not going to lie .. it's the sort of thing you kind of expect a few artists in our scene to want to say every once in a while, don't you?

[Steve Henderson]

:jawdrop:

Interesting that he came out and said that. Not going to lie .. it's the sort of thing you kind of expect a few artists in our scene to want to say every once in a while, don't you?
Haha, the exact quote that stuck out to me. I remember reading it and thinking, "What a fucking dick!" Then, I realized he is 100% true.

[PaintTheTarget]

i give him props for it

[Roboman]

Well he gets a bunch of kids to wear shirts that say tool on them. He can't think to much of his fans. This makes me have more respect for him, though.

Hahah, great point.

[GirlyGirlGirlGi]

This just in, apparently Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz thinks his fans are "girls" and "14 years old." Even though it might be true, might want to keep that one to yourself, buddy.

[HoboAdam]

he has always been out there. did anyone know that he sings on know your enemy by rage against the machine. i just found that out two weeks ago.

[KidLightning]

hahahaha, did anyone else read that interview and think he was full of himself?
i got the exact opposite impression, it seems to me that he thinks everyone else is so full of him (for a lack of a better way to say that) and he thinks they just need to chill out and not take things so seriously.

all in all, great interview and i have a lot more respect for him now (and i had a good amount before). and i think that's the first interview i've ever read with him.

[SkylineCollapse]

the funny thing is, even though he thinks that, all his fans will still idolize him.

[Tomisthekiller]

I might get attacked for this, but I really never got Tool. A perfect circle was alright I guess but Tool just never appealed to me

[a hybrid]

great interview. the man is truthful and people jump on him for being full of himself? come on people. its refreashing to read interviews where people in general dont mind saying the truth even if it will alienate their own fans or peers.

[bung]

Interesting interview.

The best quote was right after he was asked if he went online and read the fans interpretations of his songs: "Oh, God, no."

Haha!

Still an incredible band, even if some peoples' boners for them are a little excessive.

I also thought it was cool how he explained why they never include the lyrics in the CD booklet.

[pennyflipnfe]

i respect that he comes out and says these things. but if you think about it, the reason he's making a living is because of the stinky kids with dreadlocks who support him.

[TheHeretic]

Great respect for the man. He's truthful, let alone the fact that he couldn't be more right.

[jimboj917]

i don't think he sounded like a dick at all. i'd rather hear that than a sugar-coated version. but that was a realy informative interview, i really enjoyed it.

[ACA]

Great interview.

-ACA

[Justin Link]

i respect that he comes out and says these things. but if you think about it, the reason he's making a living is because of the stinky kids with dreadlocks who support him.


whoa were from the same hometown... weird.

[dubey]

whoa were from the same hometown... weird.
It is a small world, after all.

ps. Can I just say I hate stinky kids with dreadlocks, especially when they manage to get in front of you at a show.

[smokedsanity]

Yeah, yeah, it's "refreshing" for a musician to come out and say what he really feels about a large group of his fans (I know a number of Tool fans who aren't of the stinky variety). Well, it's good, but what about these kids? Sure, they should bathe, and they should proably get a clue about many things, but they look up to him. They get excited about his band's new cd months before it comes out. They buy that cd and t-shirts. They give him praise, because his music touches them. I'm not saying that all the stinky kids feel this way, but I'm positive that some do. They may not be the best and brightest of kids, they don't deserve for one of their "heroes" to blatantly slap them in the face. But, stinky kids don't read, so it probably won't hurt them.

[Jason Tate]

Yeah, yeah, it's "refreshing" for a musician to come out and say what he really feels about a large group of his fans (I know a number of Tool fans who aren't of the stinky variety). Well, it's good, but what about these kids? Sure, they should bathe, and they should proably get a clue about many things, but they look up to him. They get excited about his band's new cd months before it comes out. They buy that cd and t-shirts. They give him praise, because his music touches them. I'm not saying that all the stinky kids feel this way, but I'm positive that some do. They may not be the best and brightest of kids, they don't deserve for one of their "heroes" to blatantly slap them in the face. But, stinky kids don't read, so it probably won't hurt them.
I felt a little horrible for my continued smirking and chuckling at very instance of the worst "stinky" in your post.

[zeropunk16]

it's maynard
and maynard is god
therefore, maynard can say whatever he wants

haha

[emerica171]

"it's this crazy nationwide, if not global, push for this polarizing religious fanaticism that's just infecting everything. One of the Baldwin brothers is now preaching? Jesus fucking Christ." MJK's the man

[hollywoodending]

wow. it kinda sums up what i thought exactly about this band.

maybe i can actually listen to the music now knowing that the actual band members realize this.

[Tony]

It's funny, I've never bothered to check Tool out because of the people I typically see wearing Tool shirts. So, he's 100% correct, a lot of their fans do more harm than good.

[smokedsanity]

I felt a little horrible for my continued smirking and chuckling at very instance of the worst "stinky" in your post.

Well, he made a few comments concerning their cleanliness. I felt that "stinky" was a good way to sum it up. Besides, some of them are very stinky, to the point that they make that a defining trait.

I can understand where he means, and it's cool to see him be so open and honest about it, but geez, some of these kids really get into it and this will crush them.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Um, mixed reaction for me. I appreciate his honesty, but he bashes stinky Tool kids who may be clinging to life by a Tool CD.

[smokedsanity]

wow. it kinda sums up what i thought exactly about this band.

maybe i can actually listen to the music now knowing that the actual band members realize this.

Really? I mean, I knew that a majority were that way, but I've known plenty of Tool fans weren't like that at all. For instance, there is a very attractive (also clean and fashionable) girl in one of my classes who loves Tool. I just thought that, while they weren't the majority, that there were plenty of respectable Tools fans. It seems as if I know the very few. Oh well, I guess that fans like this girl will rejoice when the dirty kids either bathe or stop going to concerts.

[Matt_Dizzle]

hahaha he tells the truth and people will bash him for it,thats the kind of world we live in if he tells the truth hes a dick.But yeah i think he does get kinda "mean" ? sometimes.

[Bishop]

Well it wasn't like he was making any generalizations that weren't true, the only people that seem to be capable of appreciating Tool are kids like that and music majors.

Actually this does remind me of a time when I went to a Jazz festival and there was a group of guys and three of them were wearing Tool shirts so I suppose not all of them are horrible.

[shtjames]

thats not really even what he was saying if you read the interview but its more than typical for someone like you to post the hottest one liner you can find

[PomonaForEmpusa]

see now.. i like both APC and Tool. not die-hard or any shit like that, i'm just a casual listener and appreciate Maynard's work.

i have noticed what douches his fans (for the most part) are. seriously they're pretty much the same kids that idolize that chick from Evenescence (sp?), Disturbed, Slipknot, or whatever the fuck.

props to Maynard.

Tool and APC definately have more thought (and intelligence) going into their work and releases than half the bands out today.

[Paul Tao]

That was actually a great interview.

[whyte39]

That was actually a great interview.
my thoughts exactly

[James Hale]

i got the exact opposite impression, it seems to me that he thinks everyone else is so full of him (for a lack of a better way to say that) and he thinks they just need to chill out and not take things so seriously.

all in all, great interview and i have a lot more respect for him now (and i had a good amount before). and i think that's the first interview i've ever read with him.

When he says that we need to start acting on what we say and not sit around just to say I told you so, I dont think he means chill out and don't take things so seriously. I think this guy is generalizling about his fans, narcissistic about his life and putting himself up on a mountain for us to look up and say man this guy is so smart. He should be proud that his music can affect not only the ones that he wanted it to but the smelly ones that got exposed to it first. There is no reason to call someone of youth, or anyone for that matter, a cretin who is not going anywhere because man they got there whole fucking life ahead of them. Please don't have respect for a guy that doesn't seem to want to be happy and wants to be so exclusive that he doesn't want to have the ones he makes happy listen to his music.

[3GunGaz]

It's funny, I've never bothered to check Tool out because of the people I typically see wearing Tool shirts. So, he's 100% correct, a lot of their fans do more harm than good.

Seconded

[lagwagonchick18]

I like maynard because he gets it and could give shit what anyone has to say. he's honest.

If you've never seen TOOL live, you are missing out. Its not a show. Its an experience.

[[Brendan]]

Seconded
Thirded.

[weworemasks]

i enjoyed the interview. he is a hell of a character. dude is out of his fucking mind 99% of the time it seems.

[redsand62]

;5015477']Thirded.

Fourthded.

[Riki]

Im really not into that sort of music but I thought he seemed really straight up and genuine.

[Nigel Tufnel]

True story.
My fiance's best friend's family owns a production company in Houston that does all of the major concerts for Houston, and I was stage crew for a Tool show once. I hate this band first of all, so, I didnt want to be there, but, it was money. I ran into Maynard a couple of hours before the show and, no joke, I went to shake his hand, and he looked towards the sky and extended his hand with all of his fingers towards the ground as if he was royalty. I just laughed and walked away. He's an asshole.

[IAPAI]

that describes a lot of people I've seen wearing Tool shirts.

[AdamTheGreat]

That's funny because i've always thought the same thing..

[mogwaifearsatan]

That's only one tiny slice of their fanbase though. The amazing thing about Tool, and the sign that they are a truly great band, is that you can't pick their fans out of a line. There's no stereotypical Tool fan. There are some people of course who are drawn to their whole 'dark' thing, which I think are the people who Maynard is talking about. But most Tool fans are people from all walks of life who just like good music.

[jonbolden]

He's right... it sucks having the opposite fans that you aim for...

I don't appreciate the way this thread was presented. it was almost an invitation to say "bash this band" why does that happen so much on this site?

[imirish06]

maynard > you

[Nigel Tufnel]

He's right... it sucks having the opposite fans that you aim for...



Thats the biggest bullshit Ive ever heard. His fans that he is making fun of give him a career and a life in music, which is a huge gift and something not to be taken for granted.
If my band attracted grandmas and 4th graders by the thousands every night, am I going to tell them to not come in or pay for tickets or buy c.d's and merch because I would rather have 20-30 year olds there???? I would just be glad that they were there and that they are allowing me to live the dream. Did he ever stop and think that the reason most Tool fans are asshats is because Tool is a numetal/prog band?????? I mean, come on. His fans are willing to wear a shirt that says TOOL on it. What does he expect??

[Photo13]

He's a tool.

[AHMYBRAIN]

Tool is the most appropriately named band in the world.

[Steve Henderson]

Thats the biggest bullshit Ive ever heard. His fans that he is making fun of give him a career and a life in music, which is a huge gift and something not to be taken for granted.
If my band attracted grandmas and 4th graders by the thousands every night, am I going to tell them to not come in or pay for tickets or buy c.d's and merch because I would rather have 20-30 year olds there???? I would just be glad that they were there and that they are allowing me to live the dream. Did he ever stop and think that the reason most Tool fans are asshats is because Tool is a numetal/prog band?????? I mean, come on. His fans are willing to wear a shirt that says TOOL on it. What does he expect??

That is exactly my problem with it.

For example, I would love to have super literate 20 somethings reading my reviews, but if a gaggle of 13 year old girls want to read my work and support me, I would like to think I would not turn my nose at it.

There is a difference between silently being cynical about your fanbase and publicly insulting them. Hope he remembers that those "primates" are the reason he has gotten where he is now.

[.KillMoneen.]

i dont understand why most people in here think that he should keep his opinion to himself? If you knew anything about the guy you would know that he doesnt give a fuck about fame or anything along those lines. He just makes music. And if he loses fans because of the truth then i think he knows the band is better of for it.

[.KillMoneen.]

He's right... it sucks having the opposite fans that you aim for...

I don't appreciate the way this thread was presented. it was almost an invitation to say "bash this band" why does that happen so much on this site?

because the staff at this site love bashing things they dont like. Cause they think everyone else shouldnt like them either.

[Nigel Tufnel]

That is exactly my problem with it.

For example, I would love to have super literate 20 somethings reading my reviews, but if a gaggle of 13 year old girls want to read my work and support me, I would like to think I would not turn my nose at it.

There is a difference between silently being cynical about your fanbase and publicly insulting them. Hope he remembers that those "primates" are the reason he has gotten where he is now.


Very well said. That is exactly what Im getting at. If those primates didnt fill the arenas every night, he would just be another weekend warrior with a dry, sterile voice.
But, with a person like that fellow, you pretty much just have to consider the source and move on. It's kind of like getting upset over something Tom DeLonge says in the press ha.

[Of Machines]

That's only one tiny slice of their fanbase though. The amazing thing about Tool, and the sign that they are a truly great band, is that you can't pick their fans out of a line. There's no stereotypical Tool fan. There are some people of course who are drawn to their whole 'dark' thing, which I think are the people who Maynard is talking about. But most Tool fans are people from all walks of life who just like good music.

the obvious stinky kid with the dreadlocks and the B.O. and the urine on his shoes because he's been sleeping in his own filth
no i think he got it right.

this guy seems like a complete dumbass to me, just by his language, the analogies he uses, etc.

[Nigel Tufnel]

because the staff at this site love bashing things they dont like. Cause they think everyone else shouldnt like them either.

Your a moron. Im not even staff and I could tell you that that's not what they were going for at all. Its a MUSIC NEWS website. Tool, unfortunately, falls under the music catagory so they posted news about them.
Do you think that because the moron singer from Tool spouts of something negative about his fans that he is going to loose any of them?? No way. Hell, he may even GAIN some. I could see it now....

" dOOd!! Our Imperial Leader Maynard called us Primates! aWeSOMEEE!!!"

[jetsto]

I might get attacked for this, but I really never got Tool. A perfect circle was alright I guess but Tool just never appealed to me
probably because you don't play any instruments

[The Fix]

hahahaha, i love maynard

AVC: Do you ever jump online to read fans' interpretations of your songs?
MJK: Oh, God, no.

[They]

probably because you don't play any instruments

He may or may not....but...

I believe this is what makes the majority of tool fans, they are mostly musicians. If you dont understand WHAT they are doing, then its hard to appreciate how simply amazing it is. The time signatures are mind boggling and 80% of the songs are structured in a way that is simply masterful. Some of the newer album I will admit is hard to just "listen" to, but if you havent, pick up Ænima to experience IMO one of the best albums ever written.

p.s. I hate when I read negative things about Tool on AP.net.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Im not saying that those fellows cant play. Their drummer is amazing. Im just cant stand the music that they make.

[thewebguy]

it doesn't matter though, tool fans only listen to the radio anyway and will never hear about this.

[goyoyofosoco]

it doesn't matter though, tool fans only listen to the radio anyway and will never hear about this.




Yeah, "Tool fan" just SCREAMS "radio listener", doesn't it? There's nothing quite like hearing pissed off, angry, metallic music be chopped to bits by the FCC...





Burn?

[fearthesloths]

True story.
My fiance's best friend's family owns a production company in Houston that does all of the major concerts for Houston, and I was stage crew for a Tool show once. I hate this band first of all, so, I didnt want to be there, but, it was money. I ran into Maynard a couple of hours before the show and, no joke, I went to shake his hand, and he looked towards the sky and extended his hand with all of his fingers towards the ground as if he was royalty. I just laughed and walked away. He's an asshole.

I've heard that exact story many times, and not just on here... So I think you're full of shit.... i mean even the way the story starts makes it sound like complete crap

"My fiance's best friend's family owns a production company"

Even on the slight chance that this story is true, there is a 100% chance he was fucking with you, thats what he likes to do, fuck with people. Anyone else remember after Munky from Korn found jesus, Maynard came out and said he also had found jesus and was quitting tool and APC, let the prank run on for a week or so and let all his fans flip out before revealing he just wanted to fuck with everyone.

[Steve Henderson]

I've heard that exact story many times, and not just on here... So I think you're full of shit.... i mean even the way the story starts makes it sound like complete crap

"My fiance's best friend's family owns a production company"

Even on the slight chance that this story is true, there is a 100% chance he was fucking with you, thats what he likes to do, fuck with people. Anyone else remember after Munky from Korn found jesus, Maynard came out and said he also had found jesus and was quitting tool and APC, let the prank run on for a week or so and let all his fans flip out before revealing he just wanted to fuck with everyone.
omg are YOU Maynard?

[fearthesloths]

omg are YOU Maynard?

huh?
i'm just saying his story sounds like one of those retarded stories you hear that people claim to be involved in but in reality probably never happened.

[NationalProduct]

This just in, apparently Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz thinks his fans are "girls" and "14 years old." Even though it might be true, might want to keep that one to yourself, buddy.

haha =)...it just sounds funny, cus its not a bad thing, fans are fans period, i think i just like the last line, and there should be a fact thread posted so everyone can write up lines on people and bands for fun with " Even though it might be true, might want to keep that one to yourself, buddy."

[foisol]

Yeah, yeah, it's "refreshing" for a musician to come out and say what he really feels about a large group of his fans (I know a number of Tool fans who aren't of the stinky variety). Well, it's good, but what about these kids? Sure, they should bathe, and they should proably get a clue about many things, but they look up to him. They get excited about his band's new cd months before it comes out. They buy that cd and t-shirts. They give him praise, because his music touches them. I'm not saying that all the stinky kids feel this way, but I'm positive that some do. They may not be the best and brightest of kids, they don't deserve for one of their "heroes" to blatantly slap them in the face. But, stinky kids don't read, so it probably won't hurt them.

I don't think he cares much to be a "hero". All that set aside... I used to like Tool but got tired of them years ago.

[foisol]

True story.
My fiance's best friend's family owns a production company in Houston that does all of the major concerts for Houston, and I was stage crew for a Tool show once. I hate this band first of all, so, I didnt want to be there, but, it was money. I ran into Maynard a couple of hours before the show and, no joke, I went to shake his hand, and he looked towards the sky and extended his hand with all of his fingers towards the ground as if he was royalty. I just laughed and walked away. He's an asshole.

I dunno... I'd do the same if I were famous ;-)

[CalmerThanYou]

the onion > noam chomsky

[Clarity14]

Maynard is awesome. And he's got it right.

[TomAce]

Oh god, someones in a band and actually acts like a human being. Hes not being a dick, hes being down to earth and real about the situation hes found himself in, something that alot of people in bands in this scene need to check themselves on.

[TomAce]

i respect that he comes out and says these things. but if you think about it, the reason he's making a living is because of the stinky kids with dreadlocks who support him.


I really dont think he cares about making a living. Im sure hed find some other way to bring in a substantial paycheck if it werent for music anyway.

[jwsmith01]

Tell me someone understands that this is from the Onion...

[Steve Henderson]

Tell me someone understands that this is from the Onion...

Still a real interview.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I've heard that exact story many times, and not just on here... So I think you're full of shit.... i mean even the way the story starts makes it sound like complete crap

"My fiance's best friend's family owns a production company"

Even on the slight chance that this story is true, there is a 100% chance he was fucking with you, thats what he likes to do, fuck with people. Anyone else remember after Munky from Korn found jesus, Maynard came out and said he also had found jesus and was quitting tool and APC, let the prank run on for a week or so and let all his fans flip out before revealing he just wanted to fuck with everyone.


Please rid yourself of this earth. Why would I make something like that up???? The company is called Upstage Productions and its a very prominant staging company here in Texas. Look it up fucker. I shouldnt have to explain myself to a piece of filth like you.
Yes, when I decided to get married, I obtained a fiance. Yes, my fiance has a best friend. Yes, said friend's family owns a production company, in which I worked for for 2 years right out of high school. Yes, I accidentally met Maynard. Yes, he was an asshole. Whats it to you???
Go slice your throat with a butterknife :-)

[James Hale]

True story.
My fiance's best friend's family owns a production company in Houston that does all of the major concerts for Houston, and I was stage crew for a Tool show once. I hate this band first of all, so, I didnt want to be there, but, it was money. I ran into Maynard a couple of hours before the show and, no joke, I went to shake his hand, and he looked towards the sky and extended his hand with all of his fingers towards the ground as if he was royalty. I just laughed and walked away. He's an asshole.

I believe it.

[James Hale]

1. Just because a person speaks their mind does not mean that they are right. Especially rockstars. Start thinking for yourself and stop looking at his idea of the fans. 2. ITS MUSIC. everyone is allowed to listen or wear whatever the fuck they want and no one, not even that band, should stop them or get mad at people who listen to it.

[PomonaForEmpusa]

anyone who listens to Fall Out Boy has no right to talk shit on Tool or APC.

[whataclush]

anyone who listens to Fall Out Boy has no right to talk shit on Tool or APC.
Truth.