Not sure how long it’s been on the site, but the January Tool Newsletter is now available on Toolband and Toolarmy. It’s really just a bit of a recap of Tool-related news over the last couple of months, confirming that Tool aren’t doing much at the moment, and that Danny, Adam and Justin are all abroad (or have been) and that Maynard is busy with Puscifer and Caduceus stuff.
Hopefully this year is more fruitful than the last! Happy Birthday from everyone at Fourtheye!
Sad news from Blair this morning is that Adam and Camella’s beloved great dane Diablo passed away last night:
I just received the sad news from Camella that great dane DIABLO passed away last night (peacefully after fighting bronchitis). Most people should have the adventures that Diablo had during his lifetime. The big fellow will surely be missed on this plane of existence.
The Melvins are doing a few shows in Europe late this year with Big Business and Porn. Check them out if they’re in your neck of the woods:
November 24, 2009 Madrid, Spain – Penélope w/ Big Business, Porn
November 25, 2009 Barcelona, Spain – La[2] w/ Big Business, Porn
November 27, 2009 Conegliano, Italy – Zion Rock Club w/ Big Business, Porn
November 29, 2009 Athens, Greece – Unknown Palace w/ Big Business, Porn
December 1, 2009 Bologna, Italy – Estragon w/ Big Business, Porn
December 2, 2009 Segrate, Milan, Italy – Circolo Magnolia w/ Big Business, Porn
December 4, 2009 Munich, Germany – Feierwerk / Hansa 39 w/ Big Business, Porn
December 5, 2009 Schorndorf, Germany – Manufaktur w/ Big Business, Porn
December 6, 2009 Berlin, Germany – Maria am Ostbahnhof w/ Big Business, Porn
December 8, 2009 London, United Kingdom – Garage w/ Witch, Big Business, Porn
December 10, 2009 Kortrijk, Belgium – De Kreun w/ Big Business, Porn
December 11, 2009 – Minehead, United Kingdom – Butlins Holiday Resort – TEN YEARS OF ATP
In other Melvins stuff, King Buzzo has list of his favourite 10 albums, and why he likes them on theskinny.co.uk.
Finally, the remix version of Lustmord’s [O T H E R] album has been released. Titled [O T H E R D U B] it features Adam Jones both on album playing guitar, and his art work graces the cover. The album can be purchased here.
Technical Note: Mentioning “Porn” in a comment will see you getting sent to my spam/moderation list. I’ll approve them as they come in, but don’t get all flustered if your comment doesn’t appear straight away.
I’ve got a few minor snippets of info collecting in my inbox, not quite worth of their own stories, but have finally reached a point where I want to clear it out! Anyway, here goes…
The Puscifer blog on Myspace has revealed some information regarding the support acts for the upcoming tour:
Depending on the city, Support for the upcoming Fall Run will be… SWEETHEAD, Uncle Scratches Gospel Revival, and Neil Hamburger.
Jack emailed me a link to a short Youtube video, presumable from some kin of Jurassic Park Making Of… which features a shot of Adam working on a dinosaur.
Finally, there’s a book of Tool lyrical interpretations that has been compiled by Steven Caddy, and it seems as though the original location of this hosted file has been closed. So for prosterity I’ve added the book to Fourtheye and you can download it here.
dustinspoly from Toolarmy also headed along to the recent Doctors Without Borders fundraiser, and he took the opportunity to as Adam a couple of questions we’re all dieing to know the answer to:
Why don’t they do H, 3rd Eye, Prison Sex or Hooker with a Penis live anymore?
AJ: Because Maynard picks the set list he feels comfortable with singing.
What music video they’re working on?
AJ: I am working on a new music video for Tool. No more CGI it was a pain in the ass.
What was your favorite video out of all the Tool videos you created?
AJ: I like them all.
My favorite was Parabola
AJ: I love that one too it was a challenge to build the forest that Tricky was walking through.
What song is the new video going to be for?
AJ: I wish I could say but I am sworn to keep it on the hush until it’s done. But you will love it… I am doing some amazing special effect work on it.
Anything interesting he mention about the live shows?
AJ: A couple new visuals added for the mini tour…
Are the future projects Tool related or Adam solo projects?
AJ: We are in the finishing aspects of the writing process for the new album.
Will this be your last tour?
AJ: No way we love touring.
Thanks to Bellami for letting me know about the post on Toolarmy.
According to a recent post by Blair on Toolband:
Here’s some info: “BLOODY PULP BOOKS: NOW WITH SOUND! THE ‘Y’ INCISION” to include musical effects? Bloody Pulp Books announces a Limited Edition Package to coincide with its First Publication Release of, CAL MCDONALD DETECTIVE TALES: THE ‘Y’ INCISION Featuring musical elements from band members of TOOL and The MELVINS!
ADAM JONES of Tool is on board to compose and produce while King Buzz of The Melvins and Fantomas performing musical elements to enhance readers experience. Limited Boxed Editions are set to include the exclusive CD along with signatures, limited print, and the Kelley Jones illustrated Cal McDonald short: The ‘Y’ Incision book. Original design artwork provided by Alex Lodermeier (1974design) and other swag essentials we can’t yet divulge… Want more info? Stay tuned as details unfold!”
Sounds interesting!
ebackwardse from Toolarmy emailed me today (he also posted it on the Toolarmy boards) to tell me about his meetup with Adam at the recent Doctors Without Borders fundraiser. Sounds like it was a good event for a worthwhile cause:
Location could not of been better!!! The restaurant was very small, but not at all crowded. As we walked in we were standing right next to the brother from Everybody Loves Raymond, who is a tall motherfucker btw! As we were quite hungry, we quickly found a spread of food set up just to the left and a nice lady filling out the name tags (even Adam was wearing one). My fiance and I each gave $40 cash (for the charity) and my friend gave some too, but there was no pressure at all, and the food was free. Adam was talking to some folks inside the bar that didn’t necessarily look like TOOL fans OR doctors, but who am I to judge. As we moved quickly to get the food and name tags we all brushed up against Adam, who had his back to us. Again, it was not crowded at all, there was no security, and anyone could just walk up and talk to him at any time. It was wide open and extremely laid back. There were plenty of people there for dinner that did not know what was going on and I guarantee you they had no idea some of us were meeting our hero. Nobody was gawking or making a fan-idiot out of themselves.
Blair was sitting at the bar with a quite beautiful woman whom I think is his girlfriend. I had stood right next to him to order a couple of beers for me and my friend and a water for my lady and we made small talk. He seemed very nice and sweet and I really felt like apologizing for all the whining that goes on here, but refrained. At this point I was really nervous. It’s funny, but I ended up being less nervous talking to Adam than I was talking to Blair!
By this time Adam had went outside to take a short phone call and a few (obvious) TOOL fans started showing up and chatting with him outside, taking pictures, and having him sign things. My friend had brought his Lateralus vinyl, which he (oddly enough) received with Maynard, Justin, and Danny’s signature, but not Adams. He ran to the car to grab it and Adam signed it for him.
Adam was making his way through the patio back inside when I was about to walk up and introduce myself. Another fan came over before I had my chance, but I wasn’t worried at all since it was so casual and there were very few people there. This guy was going on and on about how Adam influenced him and he moved here to do film editing, but switched to music, had friends in bands who opened for TOOL in ’92, can I give you my number and share my music with you, etc. He was basically trying to say everything to Adam that could of taken up a novel in the span of about 45 seconds. He was very nervous and you could tell Adam was getting a little uncomfortable with it, so when he tried to hand him his number, Adam politely pushed his hand back and said, “Honestly, I will just throw it out; please just send me the info on Myspace.” Now, I realize this could sound like he was being a jerk, but he wasn’t – not at all. Having some small experience with these things I can tell you that the reason famous people will turn you down 9 times out of 10 when you ask to exchange info like that, is because this guy could claim that the next TOOL record has three of his songs on it and he can prove it because he has pictures of himself with Adam in Malibu and anyway, I am sure the guy meant well, but…
This is getting way too long so I will cut to the chase. I introduced myself and asked if my fiance could take a picture. He was amazingly nice and totally down for it. I then explained to him that I had spoken with his brother Al about some products that I developed for Belkin. Before I could even explain that I sent them to Al to pass on to him, he lit up and said, “THAT WAS YOU!?!” Even my fiance said this was the most animated he was the entire night. Being a geek myself, I completely understood the way to his heart was through his gadgets! He immediately thanked me for the cooling stand I sent him for his Macbook with a built-in fan.
I had also sent him a 4-track mixer recorder for iPod and another battery powered, handheld 2-track unit. We chatted for a minute about the stuff and he said that he gave the 4-track recorder to a friend of his to figure it out so he could show him how to use it.
Then, to my eternal happiness, he said, “Oh yeah, I’m taking the little one on tour with me.” I almost shit myself! To think that something I helped develop may possibly be used by Adam to capture inspiration is the true honor of my life. This is sure to keep me inspired on the job for years to come!!!
And here’s a pic!
Adam & Jeff
Nice work Jeff!
According to a recent post by Blair, Adam will be a greeter at an upcoming Docters Without Borders function in Malibu:
Next week “Malibu Global Awareness” will be holding a series of fundraising events in support of “DOCTOR’S WITHOUT BORDERS.” ADAM will be a ‘greeter” at one of these “MID SUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM” events – helping with what is certainly a worthy cause on TUESDAY, JULY 14 at TAVERNA TONY (a Greek restaurant in the heart of Malibu). ALL… Once again… ALL HAPPY HOUR PROFITS on that day will be DONATED DIRECTLY to “DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS.” For additional information about the participating restaurants and the gala finale, please visit http://malibuglobalawarness.org and http://doctorswithoutborders.org .
TUESDAY, JULY 14
TAVERNA TONY (HAPPY HOUR 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
23410 CIVIC CENTER WAY
MALIBU, CA. 90265
Sounds like a fun night if you’re in the area. If anyone goes along, ask him if those 10,000 Days vinyl are official, like a “source” of mine has suggested…
isdfx from Toolarmy pointed me towards an interesting interview with Lustmord on All Things That Rock. Here’s an excerpt:
(Lustmord) Adam Jones is another good example of not so much the instruments he plays, but the person himself and the attitude and the aesthetic he brings to it.
We had talked about him maybe not using a guitar because he makes great electronic music and really interesting experimental work outside of what he’s known for. We’re both big Kraftwerk fans and we share interests in things like Aphex Twin, Autechre etc. so it didn’t have to be him playing guitar.
There’s also the fact that he’s the guitarist from Tool and anything he plays is going to have that Tool sound. We didn’t want it to sound like that. Not that there’s anything wrong with sounding like Tool, he does that really well, but if you’re collaborating with people you try to do something different.
Of course, the obvious thing would have been to make it sound exactly like Tool and sell a shit load of records. But Tool already exists and it’s more interesting to try something different.
Very interesting article about Lustmord and his work.