Tool

Members: Present
Maynard James Keenan – Vocals
Danny Carey – Drums/Percussion
Adam Jones – Guitar
Justin Chancellor – Bass

Hailing from Los Angeles, California Tool’s original line-up formed in 1990 when Danny Carey decided to join his neighbour Maynard James Keenan’s band, along with Adam Jones and original bass player Paul d’Amour when reportedly Carey felt sorry for them as no one else would turn up to play. The band would go on to record their first official release the ‘Opiate’ EP, which was released in 1992 which is now at Platinum status. The release would receive widespread acclaim and the band would go on to record a video for ‘Hush’ which received very little airplay due to its content.

Having achieved cult status and a keen fan base, Tool were very quick to release their first album ‘Undertow’ in 1993 which spawned the singles ‘Sober’ and ‘Prison Sex’. Both singles would attract widespread acclaim and ‘Prison Sex’ would signify Jones’s talent for stop motion animation as the video featured Claymation characters. ‘Sober’ would be the only Tool video not directed by Adam Jones.

Shortly after the recording of Aenima commenced, d’Amour would leave the band to be replaced by Justin Chancellor of English Rock band ‘Peach’ whom Tool had previously toured with. Chancellor would prove to be a credit to the band as his playing would enhance the Tool Aesthetic of dark and unpredictable. Aenima would signify the band’s inception into mainstream popularity. First single ‘Stinkfist’ would cause some controversy due to its lyrics and the content of the video. A huge fan response would see the video played in its entirety uncut on many channels. Aenima would win Tool their first Grammy award for ‘Best Metal Performance’.

A year after tool released Aenima in 1996, Volcano records would sue Tool for alleged contract violations, as the band had allegedly viewed contracts from other labels, Tool filed a counter suit the two parties settled out of court, but it was a long time before Tool would release any new material, as the court battle would take a toll on the band.
As break up rumours surfaced the box set ‘Salival’ was released to quell these rumours, consisting of music videos, live tracks and an unreleased recording.

After a five year hiatus whilst band-mates pursued their side projects, the critically acclaimed and instantly successful ‘Lateralus’ was released in 2001. ‘Lateralus’ went straight to number 1 in its debut week and saw the band receive their second Grammy for ‘Best Metal Performance’ for ‘Schism’. Tool were now a worldwide phenomenon as all albums had achieved at least platinum with ‘Aenima’ at 3xPlatinum.

Enter 2006 and the release of ’10,000 Days’ on May 1, with ‘Vicarious’ as the first single to be lifted from the album.

Discography :

Opiate – 1992 (Capitol)
Undertow – 1993 (Musicfornations)
Aenima – 1996 (BMG)
Salival – 2000 (BMG)
Lateralus – 2001 (BMG)
10,000 Days – 2006 (BMG)