Tool (band): Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Tool was formed in 1990 by vocalist Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones, bassist Paul d'Amour, and drummer Danny Carey. They are a contemporary American rock band whose music includes elements of heavy metal, progressive rock, psychedelia and art rock.

Indicative of their varied and far-reaching influences (chiefly King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, and Progressive Rock Bands Pink Floyd, and Rush), their music features complex harmonic structures, unconventional time signatures, and borderline New Age subject matter. They may be the only popular musical group to have recorded songs about the mutation of DNA and geometric plane curves. Paul d'Amour left the band in 1995 and was replaced by Justin Chancellor of the UK band Peach in time for Tool's 1996 album Ænima.

Tool has long clashed with conventional television and radio due to their dark musical content and dry disposition: their first single from Ænima was at first shortened for radio play by broadcasting companies until overwhelming fan response compelled them to play the track uncut. The music video for that single, "Stinkfist," was consequently renamed because of the title's suggestive nature to "Track #1." Though their Ænima singles received heavy radio play, their 2001 release Lateralus featured songs that averaged six and a half minutes in length, unwieldy for even the most pioneering of commercial radio disc jockeys. Additionally, the length of their most recent music video for the song "Parabola" clocked in at an unheard of ten and a half minutes, almost condemning it from being aired on mainstream music channels. Compounded with their aversion to appearing in their own music videos, these aspects of their collective personality makes the band's popularity especially peculiar.

Tool are currently working on their fourth full length album which is expected to be released by this year's end or the first quarter of 2005. Tourmates Fantômas and Meshuggah were cited as influences.

Many stories and rumours circulate this band, and they've been known to incite rumours themselves, encouraging fans and listeners to think for themselves.

Discography

The band's singles and accompanying music videos include: "Hush" from Opiate, "Sober" and "Prison Sex" from Undertow, "Stinkfist" and "Ænema" from Ænima, and "Schism" and "Parabola" from Lateralus. "Hush" was the only video where the band members appear prominantly, although they are each present in the "Sober" video, obscured.

Henry Rollins appears briefy on Undertow, reciting a spoken word piece during the song "Bottom."

Samples of Bill Hicks' comedy appear in the song "Third Eye," and both "Third Eye" and "Ænema" are based on his philosophy.

Timothy Leary appears on the live version of Ænema's "Third Eye" on Salival ("Think for yourself. Question authority.")

Tricky appears, uncredited, in the video for "Parabola."

The String Tribute to Tool: Third Eye Open is a tribute album released in 2001. A number of Tool songs are rearranged for classical music string instruments (violins, viola, cello and a double bass) with at least three musicians. The lack of percussion is sometimes countered with "clicking" arco techniques. Tool's songs are mostly multi-sectioned, and the band's sophisticated grasp of harmony allows for an interesting instrumental interpretation.

The Opiate EP has a secret track called "The Gaping Lotus Experience." It fades in six minutes, six seconds into track six ("666").

The final song of the Undertow album, called "Disgustipated," although the tenth listed song, only appears at track 69 on US copies of the disc. On European and other releases, it appears at track 10 after a period of silence following "Flood."

Danny Carey (Drummer)

• Uses one of the largest drum sets in modern music - containing approximately 25 different percussive instruments. Incorporates tabla rather often.
• Is the drummer for Pygmy Love Circus.
• Played drums on the Collide song "Somewhere" and Skinny Puppy track "Use Less."

Justin Chancellor (Bass guitar)

• Was the bass player for the band Peach.

Adam Jones (Lead guitar)

• Is trained in special effects and movie makeup and directs most of Tool's videos (not the video to the song "Hush," nor the video "Sober" which is credited to deceased animator Fred Stuhr). He worked on the special effects for such movies as , Jurassic Park, and Predator 2.
• Has appeared on albums by The Melvins and plays as an additional touring guitarist when off from working with Tool.

Maynard James Keenan (Vocals)

• Performed the bridge of Rage Against the Machine song "Know Your Enemy" both studio and live when the bands toured together.
• Dueted on The Deftones' album White Pony, in the song "Passenger."
• Contributed the line "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin" to the novelty song "Three Little Pigs" by Green Jellÿ (whose leader was MJK's roomate, and the receiver to the death threats in the segues "Message to Harry Manback" and its sequel)
• Together with his friend Tori Amos, performed the song "Muhammad My Friend" during a live concert. "Muhammad My Friend" is off Tori's record Boys for Pele.
• Also appears as the lead singer in A Perfect Circle. He treats this as a full-time band when not writing and touring with Tool. Albums: Mer de Noms and Thirteenth Step.
• Would have appeared on the now-canceled album of "Tapeworm" (side project of Nine Inch Nails bass player Danny Lohner and vocalist Trent Reznor). He performed "Vacant" from this project live with A Perfect Circle on the Mer de Noms tour, which was subsequently circulated online.
• Appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Underworld in the songs "Bring Me the Disco King" and "REV 22:20" as well as remixes of "Judith" (Mer de Noms) and "Weak and Powerless" (Thirteenth Step).
• Also appeared on-screen in "Bikini Bandits" (2002) in the role of the devil.
• Has appeared on HBO's "Mr. Show with Bob and David."