|
Maynard James Keenan (born April 17, 1964) is an American rock singer. He has played in Tool since 1990 and A Perfect Circle since 1999.
Biography
Keenan was born in Ravenna, Ohio on April 17, 1964. After joining the army in 1982, he attended the United States Military Academy from 1983 to 1984. However, he eventually left the military to attend Kendall College of Art and Design. Before his years with Tool, Keenan sang for Children of the Anachronistic Dynasty (CAD) and TexAns.
In the 1980s Keenan moved to Los Angeles, apparently to work in petshop store design. He formed a band with guitarist Adam Jones and bassist Paul d'Amour (later replaced by Justin Chancellor. The line-up was not completed until Keenan's neighbor, drummer Danny Carey agreed to join. They called the band Tool.
In 1992, Tool released their first EP, Opiate, and toured in support of Fishbone. On tour, Keenan met Billy Howerdel, a guitar tech for Fishbone. In 1996 during the recording of Ænima, Howerdel played Keenan some of his songs, and Keenan was impressed. However they did not have a chance to begin collaboration until 1999.
Tool's 1993 release of their debut full length album, Undertow launched the band and Keenan into stardom. Keenan was immediately recognized as a singer and lyricist in the tradition of Ian Curtis and Robert Smith. His lyrics and vocals were melodic, grim, and angst-ridden.
Later, after a prolonged legal battle with their former label Freeworld Entertainment, the members of Tool decided to take some time off. Keenan found time to work with Howerdel. The band they formed, A Perfect Circle, began performing in 1999, and released its first album in 2000. As of 2004, Keenan remains the lead singer of both bands.
Keenan is unmarried and has one son named Devo (born August 5, 1995).
He has a tattoo of a scorpion (though some think it's his spine) on his back, all done in blackwork.
Discography
Other appearances
- Performed on Rage Against the Machine song "Know Your Enemy," both on the studio version and live when the bands toured together.
- Dueted on The Deftones' album White Pony, in the song "Passenger."
- Contributed the line "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin" to the novelty song "Three Little Pigs" by Green Jellÿ (whose leader was Maynard James Keenan's roommate, and the receiver to the death threats in the segues "Message to Harry Manback" and its sequel)
- Together with his friend Tori Amos, performed the song "Muhammad My Friend" during a live concert. "Muhammad My Friend" is off Tori's record Boys for Pele.
- Appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Underworld in the songs "Bring Me the Disco King" and "REV 22:20" as well as remixes of "Judith" (Mer de Noms) and "Weak and Powerless" (Thirteenth Step).
- Collaborator for the now cancelled "Tapeworm" project (side project of Nine Inch Nails bass player Danny Lohner and vocalist Trent Reznor). "Vacant," the one track to come out of the project was performed live by A Perfect Circle on the Mer de Noms tour. "Vacant" was remixed as "Passive" on A Perfect Circle's 2004 release eMOTIVe.
- Has appeared on HBO's "Mr. Show with Bob and David."
- Also appeared on-screen in "Bikini Bandits" (2002) in the role of the devil. Later appeared in a film called "Sleeping Dogs Lie" as a cop.
- Although not an appearance, legendary Guitarist and Rock Icon, George Lynch cited Maynard as one of his ideal vocalists if he was creating a Supergroup.
|
