New Tool Backdrop For Sale

Posted on by

According to a recent email from the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, the new Tool backdrop, entitled “Original Face” can be purchased from their online store for US$300:

Our favorite band, Tool, is on a fourteen city tour and their backdrop for these shows is an unusual work of art by Alex Grey, entitled “Original Face.” Grey’s painting shows fountains of neon spirit illuminating the void, and life as a ripple in the stream of Eternal Light.

Now this artwork can be yours by purchasing a limited edition canvas print, size 12 x 42 inches, stretched and ready for hanging. Hand signed and numbered in an edition of 250, yours for $300.

I haven’t posted a picture of it to avoid spoiling it for those that are yet to see Tool live, but it can be viewed here (and on Toolband).

19 thoughts on “New Tool Backdrop For Sale”

  1. I’m getting sick of all this art for money stuff. I understand that artists should get paid for their work, but there is so much out there that people make that is awesome that other people might like, but everything always seems to find its way away from free to being for sale. T-shirts, mp3 downloads, memorabilia on ebay, etc.. the list can go for a while. Look at the Puscifier myspace page. It almost disgusts me the way amazing artists like Maynard have stooped to a level where they find many seemingly pathetic avenues for profit. Again, I understand it’s their job, but something about it bothers me.

    These feelings I am having are kind of stemming from the fact that a favorite artist and friend of mind just changed how he shares his music. For ten years he had all his music up on a side for free download, but now as he is getting more well know, he has removed those mp3′s to “protect his assets.” I can understand this to a degree because I am also an artist, and I am somewhat protective of my own music. But on the other hand, what is the whole point of this huge economy with all the various aspects of business and ways of making money.

    I think the main reason that I am mad is that I know that everything in this life is basically an illusion, and one of the few things that makes me feel good and happy is art in all its forms. To see art become yet another too for profit just depresses me and turns me off.

    I have mixed feelings now. I partly feel like I dont even care about listening to Tool anymore, or any music, or looking at any of Alex Grey’s art… its all for sale now so if you have enough money, you can buy what you want, or even go meet the artists themselves! If you dont have money and you are unimportant, then too bad for you. You will have to get by with what art you can afford.

    snakes.

  2. [quote comment=""]I’m getting sick of all this art for money stuff. I understand that artists should get paid for their work, but there is so much out there that people make that is awesome that other people might like, but everything always seems to find its way away from free to being for sale. T-shirts, mp3 downloads, memorabilia on ebay, etc.. the list can go for a while. Look at the Puscifier myspace page. It almost disgusts me the way amazing artists like Maynard have stooped to a level where they find many seemingly pathetic avenues for profit. Again, I understand it’s their job, but something about it bothers me.

    These feelings I am having are kind of stemming from the fact that a favorite artist and friend of mind just changed how he shares his music. For ten years he had all his music up on a side for free download, but now as he is getting more well know, he has removed those mp3′s to “protect his assets.” I can understand this to a degree because I am also an artist, and I am somewhat protective of my own music. But on the other hand, what is the whole point of this huge economy with all the various aspects of business and ways of making money.

    I think the main reason that I am mad is that I know that everything in this life is basically an illusion, and one of the few things that makes me feel good and happy is art in all its forms. To see art become yet another too for profit just depresses me and turns me off.

    I have mixed feelings now. I partly feel like I dont even care about listening to Tool anymore, or any music, or looking at any of Alex Grey’s art… its all for sale now so if you have enough money, you can buy what you want, or even go meet the artists themselves! If you dont have money and you are unimportant, then too bad for you. You will have to get by with what art you can afford.

    snakes.[/quote]

    Be carefull the only posts smiled apon here are positive reviews of the same setlist.

  3. Slave I

    [quote comment=""]Be carefull the only posts smiled apon here are positive reviews of the same setlist.[/quote]
    However no posts are safe from dan’s quick wit!

  4. Slave I

    I have no problem with bands making money of their art. It makes no difference to me if the music they make was made using bronze plated drum kits or trash cans from Sunset Boulevard. The end result is all that matters.

    Does it bother me that I can’t afford to buy artworks that were never made available to me in the past? No.

    Were posters, merchandise, music, etc ever free in the first place? No – so what’s changed?

    Distribution is what’s changed. If it weren’t for the internet, the bands wouldn’t have these financial opportunities – indeed the internet effective removes their main source of income (royalties). To judge them on taking opportunities that weren’t offered to them in the past is a bit harsh in my opinion.

    While I don’t necessarily agree with the level of merchandising that has been made available by Puscifer, I don’t have a problem with an artist attempting to do so. If anything can be said in the defense of Tool, it’s that at least the merchandise they offer (signed posters etc.) has more meaning to a Tool fan than a pair of embroidered Puscifer underpants.

  5. [quote comment=""]I have no problem with bands making money of their art. It makes no difference to me if the music they make was made using bronze plated drum kits or trash cans from Sunset Boulevard. The end result is all that matters.

    Does it bother me that I can’t afford to buy artworks that were never made available to me in the past? No.

    Were posters, merchandise, music, etc ever free in the first place? No – so what’s changed?

    Distribution is what’s changed. If it weren’t for the internet, the bands wouldn’t have these financial opportunities – indeed the internet effective removes their main source of income (royalties). To judge them on taking opportunities that weren’t offered to them in the past is a bit harsh in my opinion.

    While I don’t necessarily agree with the level of merchandising that has been made available by Puscifer, I don’t have a problem with an artist attempting to do so. If anything can be said in the defense of Tool, it’s that at least the merchandise they offer (signed posters etc.) has more meaning to a Tool fan than a pair of embroidered Puscifer underpants.[/quote]

    If people are not free to discuss and sometimes critique the band then go ahead and delete my account because I can’t figure out how to do it. Thanks

  6. ^ are you really that dense? when did he ever claim you were not free to discuss/critique?

  7. [quote comment=""]^ are you really that dense? when did he ever claim you were not free to discuss/critique?[/quote]

    Yeah…delete his shit. I’m over reading his crap on here anyway.

  8. Money is gained by being recognized by an authority of some sort, be it a boss or company, for your ability to preform a useful task. It is a validation of your purpose in a society. It is tangible proof that someone gives a damn about what you can do as an individual. The money they pay you with they gain by preforming a service or function that others respect and value, and those others gain it the same way. To give someone money for something is to take the tangible “success,” that progress you’ve made and recognition you’ve gained and trade it for someone else’s. To simply say you “love” something is easy. Anyone can do it. And however heartfelt the sentiment is, if you aren’t willing to give what you have worked for to attain it, it’s meaningless.

    Paying for art is the highest form of respect you can give it, because you are not only saying you’re willing to forgo attaining food, water, shelter or anything else so you can have something beautiful to look at or listen to, you are giving that artist the ability to make -more- of that art. To give that art for free to anyone that will accept it? To demand someone give you the part of their heart and soul that went into making it for nothing at all? -That- is disgusting.

  9. I agree with Daniel 100% (no we are not the same person). I have no problem with Tool (not so much Puscifer) cashing in since they earnt that right. They have cemented their place in rock history, although time will tell about their later legacy. I have a problem with people like Alex Grey who milk Tool for all its worth. Grey doesn’t have a direct relationship with TOOL (no influence on the music). He is trying to rip off naive Tool fans off their well earned money for some artsy wank project just because Tool used his art for their cover. Honestly I much prefered Cam De Leon’s contribution to TOol than Grey’s. Grey’s work is simply boring….add a few psychadelic rainbows and chakra skulls.

  10. Congratulations to Merkavah on post of the century. Seriously Hellboy, save that shit in some sub-section of this website so you can just direct people to it when necessary. I might just print and frame.

  11. Slave I

    [quote comment="35308"]If people are not free to discuss and sometimes critique the band then go ahead and delete my account because I can’t figure out how to do it. Thanks[/quote]
    What gives you the impression I don’t allow people to discuss it? I give my opinion – nothing more.

    At no stage have I ever censored or deleted any readers opinion on Tool or related acts. I may disagree with some peoples views, and am happy to express those views, but I have as much right to do so as any other commenter on this site.

  12. [quote comment=""][quote comment="35308"]If people are not free to discuss and sometimes critique the band then go ahead and delete my account because I can’t figure out how to do it. Thanks[/quote]
    What gives you the impression I don’t allow people to discuss it? I give my opinion – nothing more.

    At no stage have I ever censored or deleted any readers opinion on Tool or related acts. I may disagree with some peoples views, and am happy to express those views, but I have as much right to do so as any other commenter on this site.[/quote]

    yea you show them
    people take life seriously and then they get pissed…

    “46&2 ,wish it was 48 “

  13. [quote post="2132"]Money is gained by being recognized by an authority of some sort, be it a boss or company, for your ability to preform a useful task. It is a validation of your purpose in a society. It is tangible proof that someone gives a damn about what you can do as an individual. The money they pay you with they gain by preforming a service or function that others respect and value, and those others gain it the same way. To give someone money for something is to take the tangible “success,” that progress you’ve made and recognition you’ve gained and trade it for someone else’s. To simply say you “love” something is easy. Anyone can do it. And however heartfelt the sentiment is, if you aren’t willing to give what you have worked for to attain it, it’s meaningless.

    Paying for art is the highest form of respect you can give it, because you are not only saying you’re willing to forgo attaining food, water, shelter or anything else so you can have something beautiful to look at or listen to, you are giving that artist the ability to make -more- of that art. To give that art for free to anyone that will accept it? To demand someone give you the part of their heart and soul that went into making it for nothing at all? -That- is disgusting.[/quote]

    AWESOME quote! You said exactly what I would have said, had you not said it first. :)

    Have you ever read Atlas Shrugged? Just curious.

  14. “”" I have a problem with people like Alex Grey who milk Tool for all its worth. Grey doesn’t have a direct relationship with TOOL (no influence on the music). He is trying to rip off naive Tool fans off their well earned money for some artsy wank project just because Tool used his art for their cover. Honestly I much prefered Cam De Leon’s contribution to TOol than Grey’s. Grey’s work is simply boring….add a few psychadelic rainbows and chakra skulls.”"”

    Alex grey has been doing his art for over 30 years. He is close personal friends with TOOL. The band has picked up a lot of Alex grey philosophies of life and trasnfered them to their music as has Alex used TOOL’s music for inspiration for some of his work. Lateralus as a whole was a collaboration of sorts between Alex and the band when it came to visualizing the music.

    The entire reason that TOOL is involved with Alex has everything to do with a mutual understanding and belief of the life cycles that we humans face and nothing to do with money. TOOL and Alex both have the same vision of creating a place where artist can go to learn and to teach one another. A sanctuary where one can go to meditate and to see this philosophy brought to life in music and in art form. Alex and Adam work hand in hand with the music videos and art work displayed at the shows. Alex does not just say, here, use this piece for you shows. Adam actually consults Alex on the how, why, where, and when they use his stuff.
    Alex doesnt just paint a pretty picture, just like TOOL doesnt create just another song. There is something behind the art as is behind the songs.

    If it were just about money, do you think Alex would be building a TOOL shrine in honor of the TOOL fans that helped build the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors? Show me ANY artist that keeps the names of the people that has given anything to achieve the vision of said artist. I can think of only one – Alex Grey. I can go to his site and find my name on the TOOL shrine that will be built in my honor, as the thousands of other fans.

    ‘read between the lines’

    your missing the big picture if it’s just about money to you.

  16. alex grey does not milk tool at all adam jones and the rest of tool love his work and always ask him to work with them. Puscifer is nothing to do with tool if maynard want to show a different part of him self that is fine. If they want to sell things that is fine to.

  19. Sounds like Alex Grey wants to start his own religion, what a wanker! The vid up on the T0ol site is probably the most pretentious thing I have ever seen in my life.

Leave a Reply