As the date approaches for the highly anticipated release of Maynard James Keenan’s authorized biography, A Perfect Union of Contrary Things, on November 8th. Co-author Sarah Jensen, A Perfect Union of Contrary Things, on November 8th. A wide-ranging excerpt has posted. Read some of it below:
Starting with the time before Tool existed, the excerpt shared by Rolling Stone,covers a time when a fledgling Keenan cultivated a tight circle of friends in Los Angeles, including a pre-Rage Against The Machine Tom Morello and Green Jello’s Bill Manspeaker. The following excerpt focuses on Maynard and Morello:
“After the clubs closed at night, Tom Morello often accompanied [Maynard] back to the loft, where they discussed Devo‘s innovative time signatures and the blues roots of Led Zeppelin. They loaded the tape deck with music a step beyond the mainstream, the obscure and innovative music Maynard had always appreciated the most.
“I remember he played for me a Swans album, which was way outside my comfort zone,” Tom would recall. Maynard explained the group’s minimalist chord structures, the emotional effect of their snarling vocals, their primal interpretation of heavy metal, and Tom took careful note.
Now that Lock Up had officially dissolved, Tom focused his energies on laying the groundwork for a new band he planned to call Rage Against the Machine, a group he envisioned would push the boundaries of metal and challenge political complacency. Determined that Rage would be a cut above the fledgling bands he and Maynard saw at Coconut Teaszer and Raji’s, he set about learning all he could to avoid the missteps that had doomed Lock Up. “Maynard taught me drop D tuning,” Morello would recall.
The two sat on the park bench that completed the aviary’s décor. Maynard cradled Tom‘s Fender Telecaster and tuned the low E string to D to create the Seattle sound, the heavy resonance that gave bands like Soundgarden and Nirvana and Pearl Jam their signature sonic quality…”
You can read the full excerpt here:
Keenan will be on a book tour of speaking engagement to promote the book release.
Tool just headlined Aftershock Festival in Sacramento and are currently out on the road playing a number of shows, including last night at the Maverik Center in Salt Lake , Utah. Although unannounced as yet, Tool continues to make progress on their new album, the follow-up to 2006’s 10,000 Days (Volcano) for 2017 release. Keenan’s other band Puscifer continues to tour behind 2015’s Money $hot album (Puscifer Records). Full MJK related tour dates are listed below:
MJ Keenan A Perfect Union of Contrary Things Seminar with moderators:
November 9: City Winery – Nashville, TN
Moderators: Dino Paredes (Suretone Management) & Mark Brooks (“Metalocalypse” director)
Nov 10: Chapel of Sacred Mirrors – Wappinger Falls, NY
Moderator: Alex Grey (Renowned artist/Chapel of Sacred Mirrors founder)
Nov 11: The New York Society for Ethical Culture – New York, NY
Moderator: Roxy Myzal (“HardDrive” Producer/radio personality)
Nov 12: Sixth & I Historic Synagogue – Washington, DC
Moderator (both 7:30 and 10 p.m. readings): Roxy Myzal (“HardDrive” Producer/radio personality)
Nov 14: Convocation Hall – Toronto, ON (University of Toronto)
Moderator: Alan Cross (102.1 The Edge Music Director)
Nov 16: Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL (7 p.m. reading)
Moderator: Amanda Danielson (owner, Trattoria Stella and The Franklin/Master Sommelier)
Nov 16: Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL (10:30 p.m. reading)
Moderator: Dirk Flanigan (executive chef, Ocean Cut and Il Coniglio/former Pigface vocalist)
Nov 18: The Aladdin Theater – Portland, OR
Moderator (both 7:30 and 10 p.m. readings): Paul Barker (Ministry, Lead Into Gold, Puscifer)
Nov 19: Kane Auditorium – Seattle, WA
Moderator: Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
Nov 21: Herbst Theatre – San Francisco, CA
Moderator: Laura Milligan (a.k.a. Hildy Berger/”Mr. Show”)
Nov 22: The Montalban Theater – Los Angeles, CA
Moderator: Billy Howerdel (A Perfect Circle, Ashes Divide)
Nov 25: Mesa Arts Center – Phoenix, AZ
Moderator: Kimber Lanning (Local First Arizona, Stinkweeds)
Nov 26: Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO
Moderator: Matt Mather (Sommelier at Frasca Food & Wine)
Nov 27: Texas Theatre – Dallas, TX
Moderator: Steven Drozd (Flaming Lips)
Tickets for all dates are on sale now, with the exception of the November 14 event at the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, which are available to the general public on October 14.
Tool on tour, remaining dates:
Oct 26: Pepsi Center – Denver, CO
Oct 28: Verizon Arena – Little Rock, AR
Oct 29: Voodoo Fest – New Orleans, LA
Puscifer Tour Dates-Money Shot Tour, Round 4
Oct 28- 30: Voodoo Festival- New Orleans, LA
Nov 01: Bob Carr Performing Arts Center – Orlando, FL
Nov 02: Miami, FL Jackie Gleason Theater
Nov 03: Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
Nov 05: Nashville, TN Jackson Hall at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Puscifer tour 2017- Money Shot Round Under
Jan 20: MONA FOMA AU – Hobart, TAS
Jan 22: Convention & Exhibition Center -Melbourne, AU
Jan 23: Thebarton Theater Adelaide, AU
Jan 25: Darling Harbor Theater – Sydney, AU
Jan 26: Convention & Exhibition Center – Brisbane, AU
Jan 29: Vector Arena -Auckland, NZ