Tool, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Keenan has shared a new decision about his career following the recent deaths of several artists he admired. Keenan revealed he plans to keep touring and creating music across all three of his bands while he still can.
In his statement, Keenan reflected on the recent losses of a number of artists. He explained how those departures shaped his outlook on his work moving forward.
“The flood of recent unexpected departures of some of my favorite artists has been quite the gut punch,” Keenan said. “Dolly, Tim Curry, Jennifer Finch, Yayoi Kusama, Frank Beard to name a few.”
He went on to urge fans to embrace the same sense of urgency he says he has adopted.
“So allow me to remind you what you already know,” he continued. “Life is short. Create something with every breath you draw.”
Keenan also addressed newer fans, noting that his musical output extends beyond Tool. He confirmed his intention to bring all of his projects to audiences going forward.
“For those of you who are new here, Tool is not my only band,” he said. “There is also Puscifer and A Perfect Circle. And I am doing my best to share all three of these creative projects with you while I still can. Come see us. Don’t wait. Regret sucks. (Don’t fret, Canada. I didn’t forget about you.)”
The comments follow an earlier tribute Keenan paid to Dolly Parton, in which he reflected on one of her well-known sayings.
“Dolly Parton, the wisest of all the angels once said, and I quote, ‘The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.’ Now, I have reached a turning point in my life, a new level of acceptance, if you will, where I can freely admit that I do not have a f*ckin clue what she’s on about,” Keenan said. “And within that new moment of clarity, this acceptance of my chronic cluelessness, I had a bit of an unexpected epiphany. That no matter where I go, there I am. And usually the Where of the There is back in county for another round of repeat offender rehabilitation. I am the Physical Manifestation of Parole Violator. Now before my Chauffeurs arrive to Escort me to my inevitable Spa Appt, I will leave you with one more quote from that Angel of Wisdom. Dolly says, ‘I am not offended by all of the dumb blonde jokes because I know I am not dumb… and I also know that I am not blonde.’ Right? But here’s the thing. I, however, am both.”
Keenan’s words are more than just a statement of intent. The touring calendars for all three of his bands already reflect that promise, with a packed run of shows stretching well into next year.
Puscifer’s schedule alone currently lists more than 30 upcoming shows. The band is set to crisscross Europe in late October and early November, hitting cities including Oslo, Berlin, and Zurich as part of “The Normal Isn’t Tour.”
Keenan isn’t limiting that momentum to Puscifer. A Perfect Circle and Puscifer are set to join forces for a combined run through Australia and New Zealand in December, with stops in Auckland, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, and support from guitarist Dave Hill. The two bands are also lined up for a joint show in São Paulo, Brazil, in late November, giving South American fans a rare chance to see both projects on the same bill.
Tool, meanwhile, has kept a lighter footprint this year but is far from off the road. The band currently has three festival appearances on the books, with performances slated at Riot Fest on September 19, Louder Than Life on September 20, and Aftershock on October 4.
Taken together, the lineup of dates across Tool, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle shows Keenan following through on the philosophy he laid out in his tribute. Rather than slowing down in the wake of recent losses, he appears to be leaning further into the work, keeping all three of his projects active and visible for fans around the world.
