Speaking of Tool gigs, Kanaduh seems to think that Intronaut will be the support act for this tour, at least for the Toronto gig according to Ticketmaster, which sounds like a pretty good deal to me!

Here’s a track from Intronaut’s last album featuring Justin Chancellor:

Take a read and let us know what you think!

Apparently in the next newsletter there might be some news on the new Tool website.

Don’t forget that tonight Blair will be playing some tunes on Children of Saturn, and Puscifer will be appearing on David Letterman playing Conditions of My Parole.

The newsletter itself is the usual cryptic type, hinting at a lack of progress in the new Tool album (though there may be a hint of sarcasm there) as well as “Adam’s other Tool-related project (other than it is draining the very life out of him)” which I believe is the next video he’s working on.

(in regards to the new Tool album) Just when things were rolling along at the loft with the writing and arranging sessions (and what I’ve heard so far sounds truly great!)

And:

Also, things are looking good for the new Tool website… as soon as the new web-master returns from "Burning Man", which I fucking hope isn’t in ALASKA!..

So good news then.  My mail is that 6 songs are now pretty much ready, though I suspect that we won’t see Tool recording anything in 2011.

Assuming that you know all about the A PERFECT CIRCLE tour and new PUSCIFER TRACK ("MAN OVERBOARD"), other than another TOOL WEBSITE MEETING on Friday, DANNY being the guest drummer for the Monday Night Jammmz (JULY 25), and on-going TOOL WRITING SESSIONS at the loft, there’s not much news this month. Therefore, let’s answer some of the more relevant e-mail, shall we…

And:

Soon, ideas began to flow, and it wasn’t long before the rehearsal space was filled with heavy guitar riffs and drums, an arrangement with sublime resolution and transitions. In short, the sound of Tool… But, to answer the question: they haven’t started recording yet…

Quite an amusing newsletter this month and worth the read!

Blair fields a few questions I’m sure some of you will find interesting, including an update of sorts on the status of the Tool website:

Q: “Hey Blair, how are you? As you mentioned you keep getting mostly ‘when the f**k is the new album going to be done?!’ kinda’ questions, I thought i’d ask what we might expect from the ‘updating’ of the site? Will we see more Occult & Esoteric themes in the artwork & layout? All in all how’s it coming along? Waiting,.. patiently…”

A: Although I am very reluctant to comment on any progress being made on upgrading or, better yet, developing a brand new website, I am FINALLY fairly confident that the band has found the right person (and artists) for the job. I can’t say exactly when my – I mean the new TOOL site will be launched, but hopefully it will be in the next few months. Again, hopefully…

Great news!

Q: “Hey, Can you tell me what the new Tool album sounds like?”

A: Well, so far, it sounds like Stockhausen meets Jimmy Durante. No, actually I haven’t heard any of it yet. I did, however, see the dry erase board the other night, and even took a photo of the incomplete (Tool) arrangement on it, only to be later told by a band member not to post it. I don’t know why, though. It was ambiguous as ever. In fact, any musician would have an easier time deciphering the Voynich manuscript. Even so, I’ll go way out on a limb and predict that the new stuff sounds like… Tool. Or at least it WILL once Maynard adds everything that he does to the equation. For truly, that’s when all the colored scrawls of chord progressions, time signatures, and other abstruse musical notations on the board become the kind of Tool composition you’ve become familiar with.

For those of you without the patience to read Blair’s work, that’s about all you need to know (hidden codes aside).

In the spirit of this newsletter about Tool memorabilia, "Merch" is going to be putting some nice stuff in the store tomorrow (consider this a head’s up). These items will include vintage tee-shirts (those now out of circulation), tour posters (maybe even a couple of signed ones), and at least one real gem that will have some fans salivating. In the meantime, keep hunting for those Tool rarities. They would sure look good next to that souvenir tour poster that you purchased at the last show.

Well all love a bit of Tool merch, and I know many of you have been hitting up Toolarmy in readiness for this sale, however as I write this tomorrow has yet to arrive and there are no goodies on the site.  Perhaps tomorrow tomorrow… Looks like stuff is there – check the Collectibles section!

In other news, A Perfect Circle will be announcing on-sale details for their summer tour on the 4th of April.  Presumably this will be the times that tickets go on sale and at what outlets.  There doesn’t seem to be any sign of further dates, however there is plenty of speculation (and a gap in the schedule) suggesting that A Perfect Circle could be one of the acts on Lollapallooza this year.

Speaking of APC, drummer Josh Freese has released another range of unique purchase options for his latest EP My New Friends.  The $75k package which included a ride in Danny’s Lamborghini was offered, and as I write this appears to have finally sold to someone!  Presumably it was purchased for me as a gift for my birthday later this month – thanks in advance!

Tool merch is cool and all, but nothing would beat owning a genuine piece of Melvins history!  Point your credit cards at this Ebay auction and buy King Buzzo’s old Hiwatt Cabinet.  Current bidding puts it at US$405.  Bargain!