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Tool February 2016 Newsletter

The February 2016 Tool newsletter is out, and it briefly discusses progress on the seemingly never-ending songwriting saga. Ultimately there isn’t much to report, but I’m sure there’s a few tidbits here and there for peopel to dig into. Also, there is a cool bug mask based on the posters from the recent tour:

While Adam’s latest bleeding bugs didn’t go unnoticed by me, a recent photo taken at the Tool loft that was accidently sent to me really got me to thinking. As seen below, the photo shows one of the band members wearing a fantastic bug headpiece that includes an appendage contrivance. (Note: Based on the shirt and other features, I believe this to be Danny, but all that really matters is that it is one of the band members.) Granted that the bug get-up could be merely an art project gift created by a fan and worn by a band member simply for the purpose of amusement, I have a different take on the matter, which I will now share with you, even though, with all the secrecy surrounding the new album, and that the loft photo was never intended to be seen by me, I would be better advised not to do so.

Danny in his bug mask

There are also mentions of Rance Q. Spartley, which has often been a metaphor for upcoming tours. I doubt one is around the corner, but you never know…

Sorry about the lack of posts of late – my work conditions have changed recently, and I’m now in a role that gives me much less flexibility to post in a timely manner. I’ll still get the news to you as fast as I can, but please be patient over the coming months!

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limeygringo
limeygringo
8 years ago

New video character perhaps?

budsyralli
budsyralli
Member
8 years ago

prop for the four dimensional movie?

Undertowjones
Undertowjones
8 years ago

The whiteboard!!!

elusivEuphoria
elusivEuphoria
Reply to  Undertowjones
8 years ago

Image is too low res to make out anything of substance.

sudnshok
sudnshok
Reply to  Undertowjones
8 years ago

I can make out the whiteboard. It is a list of items with checkboxes:

[√] Finish 10000 Days
[√] tour
[√] take break
[ ] write some music for next album
[√] go on vacation
[√] draw aliens on paper
[√] go to wrestlemania
[√] make puppets
[√] procrastinate
[√] take break
[√] take another break
[√] procrastinate some more
[√] draw some more aliens
[√] go to summerslam
[√] take another break
[√] cash low, do mini tour
[√] take another break
[√] start 3 more projects that’ll never get finished
[√] take another break

smithersSOCAL
smithersSOCAL
Reply to  sudnshok
8 years ago

you forgot one…

[*]. blame lawsuit for lack of ideas….

and another

[*] pull out MS click art file for greatest hits tour.

bob
bob
8 years ago

i figured it was a prop from the apparent video for Opiate. whatever. dont care about secracy or any other hint about anything. its old. get over it.

DRURY
DRURY
8 years ago

The whole cryptic thing isn’t working anymore. TOOL still think it’s the 90’s where you could act mysterious and kids would be impressed.

budsyralli
budsyralli
Member
8 years ago

^^^ because kids these days need handouts…..and ipads.

I can handle the sticks and rocks outside myself…….so yes TOOL , keep doing your thing.

elusivEuphoria
elusivEuphoria
8 years ago

Are we thinking Tool intends to satisfy the needs of “kids these days” when it comes to marketing themselves?

It’s probably a fair assumption to say that 90% of Tool’s fanbase are over the age of 25. If they need to change anything about transparency for their fanbase, it’s because the old folks have lots their patience.

I can’t decide which I’d rather have; know that not too much is going on because the show us, or endlessly speculate because they give us table scraps.

:/

elusivEuphoria
elusivEuphoria
Reply to  elusivEuphoria
8 years ago

LOST, not lots.

DRURY
DRURY
8 years ago

Just observing how cool it is when bands that have been around a long time become more transparent and bring their listeners in on the process to some degree and communicate in a non-snarky or non-cryptic manner.

elusivEuphoria
elusivEuphoria
Reply to  DRURY
8 years ago

Don’t get me wrong, I get that. I honestly was thinking about it the other day while at a loss for things to keep me occupied on youtube, i was listening to a snippet of the QnA from adam about progress on the new album (from more than a year ago now). I thought to myself, if I had the money to go well out of my way for a show, plus plunk down the extra dough for VIP tickets; What question would I try to ask? It would have been, “Is there any hope of Tool shedding more light… Read more »

Maynerd
Maynerd
Reply to  elusivEuphoria
8 years ago

They have been completely honest. “Still writing music”.
Which part of that statement confuses you?

lucidcandle
lucidcandle
Reply to  Maynerd
8 years ago

exactly

elusivEuphoria
elusivEuphoria
Reply to  Maynerd
8 years ago

I don’t think you understood what I was getting at.

lucidcandle
lucidcandle
Reply to  elusivEuphoria
8 years ago

i just meant in response to the general conversation of them being cryptic. i would love to see the kind of thing you were referring to. that undertow footage is classic.

limeygringo
limeygringo
Reply to  elusivEuphoria
8 years ago

There’s a fairly new documentary about The Residents called Theory Of Obscurity. They chose the title because they claimed the best art is made in obscurity.

Shama
Shama
8 years ago

Could Rance be a producer, director, or other film-y collaborator? If so, it would follow that the newsletter plainly says that these bugs are for a new video project (I’m expecting more than a traditional music video or two), and they’re still writing some cool sounding music for the new album.

Also, I was at the NOLA show and it seemed like something that looked like that bug was at least a small part of the new stage show. Did anyone else happen to catch that?

fraz
8 years ago

From what has been posted on this site, I get the impression Adam answers questions at these VIP things fairly honestly; so someone should just ask him who Rance really is.

and while there also ask whether that opiate video project might be more than just a video DVD.

bob
bob
8 years ago

Hitting 40 this coming june i wasnt thinking of secracy – ”for the kids’ its totally about loosing interest in cryptic b.s things. i dont mind if they dont say much but when adam posts a blurry pic of something that doesnt matter, it doesnt matter 😉 cryptic newsletter that dont mean much and the rest of that def does get old. a little here and there i guess i find appealing if im not lying. but really year after year it does loose its luster. im fine with no album either cause its just how it is but i… Read more »

bob
bob
8 years ago

and more importantly, if it wasnt for LIVE RECORDINGS i probably wouldnt even be listening to much of tool anymore. LIVE audience recordings has kept my interest in this band in more current times.

ChrisC
ChrisC
8 years ago

I’m just curious:
Is anyone interested in a new music video for a 20years+ old song?

whjeffs
whjeffs
Reply to  ChrisC
8 years ago

I’m more excited about it being a new studio recording of the extended version. I’ve always thought the sound of the Opiate album is way too thin and tinny. I’d just be happy to hear some new life breathed into the song.

DRURY
DRURY
8 years ago

The most interesting thing from Tool in 10 years came in the form of that leaked VIP session.

Adam’s explanation of his guitar technique and the enthusiasm he had for the whole songwriting process was great to hear.

Wierd that it was never meant for anyone that didn’t pay an extra $500 for the privilege.

They don’t have to film every moment of practic. That would be awful. It is just surprising that they don’t WANT to share more when obviously they are very into the craft of what they do.

aenimal
aenimal
8 years ago

My interpretation of this newsletter is that they’re making a song that’s either completely acoustic or completely electronic. Also, if you read the newsletter in the actual ‘newsletter’ section, Blair added a line at the end about hiding a bug in the loft…not that it necessarily means anything, just found it interesting.

lucidcandle
lucidcandle
8 years ago

i was thinking maybe they were sampling insect sounds for synths

Stinkfist
Stinkfist
8 years ago

Some of the better, more thought out replies in the comments of this post.

I just hit 40 myself and definitely can relate to some of the points made.

Only if, of course, I understood what you were gettin at.

@ out…
Stinkfist

McBurney
McBurney
8 years ago

Hellboy asking tool fans to be patient.. lol

leenyb
8 years ago

Apparently Chris Pittman tweeted that he was in the studio collaborating with Tool on their new album. So they’re in the studio?

budsyralli
budsyralli
Member
8 years ago

just going to leave this here :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjLiWy2nT7U

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