Tool guitarist Adam Jones recently discussed the band’s missed opportunity to open the Sphere venue in Las Vegas. He revealed how they lost the inaugural gig to U2 in an interview with 99.7 The Blitz.
Jones explained the circumstances behind Tool’s absence from the Sphere’s opening. He also shared details about the band’s ongoing discussions for future performances at the venue.
“We were supposed to open that place. We were asked, and because of ‘Game Of Thrones’ band politics, we just couldn’t make it work,” Jones said. “And then they ended up using U2, which I think we probably would’ve gotten bumped anyway.”
Despite missing the opening opportunity, Jones indicated that Tool remains in talks with the venue for potential future shows.
“But they have been really enthusiastic about us playing there, so we’ve been talking to them since it opened about doing some kind of residency there,” he continued. “And there’s just a lot of production details and budgeting and money and timing. So it’s complicated. But I think we will do it at some point.”
The Sphere has become one of the most coveted performance venues since its opening. Major acts are seeking to utilize its cutting-edge technology and immersive capabilities.
MusicRadar reported that Tool drummer Danny Carey has confirmed that the band is actively exploring a 2027 residency at the Sphere. The timing would coincide with the band’s plans to release new material. Carey revealed that Tool hopes to drop a new album around the same timeframe.
The venue has established itself as a premier destination for rock residencies. U2 has performed over 40 shows there since the opening. JamBase noted that other major acts including Dead And Company and The Eagles have also secured successful residencies at the innovative Las Vegas venue.
“I think we’re the perfect band for that. We’ve been talking to those guys,” Carey stated in a recent interview. He expressed confidence about Tool’s suitability for the Sphere’s immersive environment.
The comments from both Jones and Carey suggest that while Tool may have missed their chance to be the inaugural act at the Sphere, their future involvement with the venue appears increasingly likely. The band’s visual-heavy performances and progressive rock sound could prove to be an ideal match for the Sphere’s advanced audiovisual capabilities.
