Fourth Eye

A new Youtube video has been posted, and according to the blurb it is some “making of” footage of the Dozo video thrown together by Meats Meier. There’s nothing particularly exciting or new, just really a collection of animations from the video.

Puscifer “Dozo” Making of sorta.

According to a recent article on Side-Line, Danny has recorded several tracks for Collide’s new album Two Headed Monster:

Tool drummer Danny Carey has lent his drumming skills to several of the new Collide tracks which will end up on the band’s newest album “Two Headed Monster”. It’s not the first time the band has worked with Carey as he also played on one of the songs on the “Some Kind of Strange” album. For Carey it has been his first drumming session since he was stung by a sea-urchin. After surgery and several months of recovery, he was finally able to play on “Two Headed Monster”. The band is hoping for an early September release. More news at www.collide.net

Not the prominent Aussie asshole Alan Jones, but the brother of Adam; Alan Jones happens to be Tool’s attorney. You can read about his work and how he is related to Tool on his website, but recently Redzorg of Toolarmy posted this snippet on one of the boards there:

Tools’ attorney is adams brother alan. and he is the one fighting to get the dvd released in the way in which the band wants it released. meaning, no stupid edits made by the record company in regards to certain band members views on the beneficial use of psychedelic drugs.

as you all know TOOL doesnt give a shit when their material is released, all they care about is their artistic vision being completely intact.
thats why this dvd is taking so long to come out.

Not sure of the legitimacy of this information, but it seems like a reasonably explanation as to why there has been no release so far, and also why Adam described the DVD as a “sore point” several months ago.

Thanks to Vuduchild for the tip.

There seems to be a bit of a divide amongst readers, some of whom think including Tool tracks in video games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band is selling out, while others (like me) think it’s a great idea.  New poll has been made to determine this once and for all!

Mike D pointed out an article on Gamernode.com which talks about Guitar Hero 4, and has what appears to be an official blurb for the game taken from an online survey site:

Guitar Hero

In this new Guitar Hero game, join up with your
bandmates to form the ultimate super group and rock your way to the
top. Shred on lead, rhythm, or bass guitar (three options on one guitar
controller), rip on drums, or belt it out on the mic as you rock
together on the greatest classic, modern, alternative, pop, and metal
hits. 85 songs by artists including Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Foo
Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, System of a Down, Ozzy Osbourne,
Interpol, Muse, Tool (at least three songs and a dedicated venue), and
dozens more come together to form the coolest set list ever. You can
even play as your favorite rock star, choosing from characters like
Sting, Ozzy Osbourne, Ted Nugent, Billy Corgan, Jimi Hendrix, Travis
Barker, Hayley Williams, and Zak Wylde. If none of these are your
style, then you can create your own character, including character
construction, instrument creation, band logos, and album covers. Then
take it to a whole new level by jumping into a fully-integrated
recording studio to lay down, upload, and share custom tracks online -
for virtually unlimited rock. This game features the most authentic
instrument peripherals on the market including an all-new wireless
guitar controller with the first-ever touch-sensitive neck slide,
dedicated Star Power button, and ability to palm-mute. Also, the new
killer wireless drums have ultra-quiet pressure-sensitive pads, raised
cymbals, and are easy to set up and take down. Or, use the microphone
to become the ultimate frontman. This new Guitar Hero game lets you
rock together and rock for all.

Expected Rating: T-Teen - Suitable for those ages 13 and over

No virtual Adam Jones to pick as you avater it would seem.

As promised, Blair released the June 2008 newsletter, and this time it contains some “details” of what’s up in the Tool world. Head over to Toolband/Army to read it, but here’s my summary.

Adam is:

• working on some undisclosed entertainment industry related project? Guitar Hero perhaps?
• also involved in the construction of some future band-related endeavor. Building a recording studio perhaps?
• Spending time playing Halo 3 and watching Baseball games with Buzz

Danny is:

• spending lots of time in his loft studio gearing up for some music-related enterprise. Writing new material? Pigmy Love Circus record?
• performing with Volto!
• writing a book with Blair
• other stuff including driving his lamborghini, painting his house, etc.

Justin is:

• building a new house
• working on new Tool riffs
• possibly working on another musical project
• revamping Lobal Orning at some point

Maynard is:

• working on wine and Puscifer as outlined on his Myspace site
• hopefully looking after his vocal chords

Tool are:

• working to complete a couple of new projects
• one of these is very close to becoming a reality

So there you have it. No detail really, but we didn’t expect that.

A new post on Toolband/Army shows off Justin’s nephew Charlie, who has just entered the world. The accompanying picture which I’ve included below shows Charlie, and possibly Justin, though without the beard I can’t tell!
Also noted in the post is that Justin’s store Lobal Orning has shut down, though the do plan on revamping the website with lots of “cool stuff” in August.

Blair has posted the May 2008 Newsletter on Toolband/Army. It continues the May 2007 Newsletter regarding a trip to Mexico with Blair, Danny, Adam and a whole menagarie of the usual culprits. An interesting read, but don’t expect any Tool news or insight.

According to a recent post by Blair on Toolband/Army, Danny’s hand is more or less healed and he will be playing with Volto! in July. Even better news is that “he’s that much closer to getting back to jamming with his day-job band”.

Blair made a post on Toolarmy over the weekend that I missed, where he briefly mentions a bit of an update on where Tool are at right now:

(in regards to Tool) I still haven’t heard of any new developments with regards to last
month’s meeting with the band members, their lawyers, and management. I
believe this to be good news. Ditto with regards to the other band
project in the works, although with this one it’s just a matter of time
and not a question as to whether or not they will agree to do it. I
apologize for being a bit nebulous but I am currently not at liberty to
disclose any more information pertaining to these matters and I don’t
want anyone to think that every new post on the site is “the big thing
we’re waiting for” as some believe (especially the May newsletter). The
“big things” will be obvious once posted.

That’s an interesting statement regarding the band meeting. Does this mean it;s good news because it hasn’t happened yet, or because it’s progressing quietly without problem? Most likely the latter I’d guess.

He also mention’s that a new release of his book IJYNX is for sale, and that he’s working on another few book projects including one with Danny.

Thanks to the Tool Hotline for pointing me in the right direction.