Maynard James Keenan

Lore & Background

Keenan's journey began in an 'intolerant and unworldly household' in Ravenna, Ohio, following his parents' 1968 divorce. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a forward observer. He eventually moved to Los Angeles in 1988, working in set construction after being fired from a pet store interior design role. During the 1980s, he played bass for TexA.N.S. and sang for Children of the Anachronistic Dynasty, writing an early version of 'Sober.' He also performed with Green Jellÿ between 1990 and 1993, playing guitar and providing backup vocals as a pig on their hit 'Three Little Pigs.'

Reader's Guide

In 2002, he recorded 'Fallen' with Thirty Seconds to Mars. During Tool's post-'Ænima' hiatus, he formed A Perfect Circle with Billy Howerdel in 1999, releasing 'Mer de Noms' in 2000 and the successful follow-up 'Thirteenth Step' in 2003. Keenan also co-founded Puscifer. His relationship with technology is complex; in a 2000 interview with NY Rock, he stated that file sharing hurts artists more than companies: 'I think there are a lot of other industries out there that might deserve being destroyed.'

Despite his recluse reputation, he remains active, stating in a 2007 Spin interview regarding Tool's future: 'We'll make music together until one of us is dead.' His early friendship with Tom Morello led to jamming sessions where Morello credited Keenan with introducing him to Drop D tuning. Morello and Brad Wilk even considered Keenan as a vocalist candidate for Rage Against the Machine before choosing Zack de la Rocha.

Did You Know?

• In 1997, Keenan collaborated under the alias 'Gaylord C.' for a track on the drumming compilation 'Flying Traps'.
• The album '10,000 Days' references the approximate number of days (27 years) his mother suffered from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm before her death in 2003.