Maynard James Keenan has just wrapped up his Australian tour with Puscifer, so logically the next thing we might reasonably expect from the enigmatic frontman would be the finishing up of Tool‘s long-awaited new record.
Late last year Meshuggah guitarist Marten Hagstrom claimed to have heard the new album, saying that it was the best he’s ever heard from Tool. But just as the album hype was set to peak, Keenan may have just suggested that he’s hit fresh roadblocks halting progress towards its release.
Rarely does Keenan give interviews, and when he does he’s frequently cagey about new music. However, in a recent spot on The Strombo Show on CBC Radio, he’s hinted that Tool’s next record might still be some way off.
Host George Stroumboulopoulos asked whether Keenan had any plans for the rest of the year for any of his bands, to which Keenan replied “Lots… nice try though.”
Pushed on the topic, Keenan relented somewhat, saying, “For some things yes, I see a plan. For others I see roadblocks.” He would not be pressed on where the roadblocks lay, but given the constant teasing and delays behind Tool’s next project it’d be fair to assume he was referring to his most anticipated new album.
Keenan is notorious for being cagey in his responses to questions about when his bands will release new music, and took some time to explain why questions like “where’s your fuckin’ album?” irk him so much. For the Tool, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle frontman, social media has left people with the “entitled” presumption that bands owe them answers.
“Just the entitlement that you are owed something, it’s unfortunate that voice that social media has given people,” he says. “They’re so disconnected with the bigger picture and the movement of things.”
Whether the album is released anytime soon or not, Tool have so far been confirmed to play US festivals Boston Calling and Governor’s Ball in 2017.
You can check out Maynard James Keenan’s full interview on The Strombo Show here.
Listen: Tool – ‘Vicarious’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOKV9Stri_M
