Maynard James Keenan has been keeping busy for many years in the industry. For the singer, time off is also the time to record and release Puscifer’s 2020 full-length studio album, ‘Existential Reckoning.’ Besides an album, the singer also self-financed and filmed two pay-per-view specials, ‘Live at Acrosanti,’ and ‘Billy D and The Hall of Feathered Serpents.’
Considering Keenan likes to keep busy and create even in his free time, when Esquire proposed the idea of running for office to the singer in a 2021 interview, he replied:
“F*ck no! No, I bowl with the mayor. He has to play the middle, nod, and figure out what’s best for the community as a whole—listening and separating the squawks from the actual criticisms and compliments. I couldn’t do that.”
He revealed that he has strong ‘visions’ for himself and the community by adding:
“I have a vision, and I do what I want to do. I would not be good in that position (chuckles). Off with their heads!!”
For instance, recent anti-drag legislations sparked a lot of controversy in several states. Governors have introduced bills prohibiting minors from attending drag shows, restricting personal pronoun discussions in schools, and getting in the way of gender-affirming care for minors.
According to Maynard’s stance on this issue, if he was going to run for office, he couldn’t stay in the middle. Because the Tool frontman showed clearly where he stands against Florida’s recently implemented anti-drug laws during the band’s performance at the Welcome To Rock Festival in Daytona Beach this past May.
James took the stage wearing a blonde wig, red lipstick, and artificial breasts to mock and protest the Florida governor’s recent legislations. When Keenan’s protest at the festival made headlines with conflicting views, the singer opened up to The Messenger what he thought of the drag community. He expressed:
“Solidarity with people who are not afraid to express themselves? Absolutely. People that want to express themselves in whatever f*king way they want to express themselves, as long as they’re not physically directly hurting someone? Yeah, go for it. I’m all for ya. If there’s any takeaway, it’s be yourself. Don’t be afraid to be yourself.”
You can read Maynard James Keenan’s 2021 interview with Esquire here.
