The November 2009 Tool Newsletter is out, though nothing is mentioned in the news about it. I’ve only vaguely read through it, but it seemed to suggest some things about the Toolarmy downtime, though in the usual Blair fashion rather than what most of you would want to read.

According to a recent post on Toolband, Danny has been holidaying in Bali, and girlfriend Rynne managed to take a snap of him playing a gamelan.  Blair also hints that its “perhaps a sign of things to come?”.  If I remember correctly, the gamelan was mentioned when 10,000 Days was in the wings as well…

Blair has released the October newsletter (written before the site maintenance so it says) and it contains ten frightening moments encountered while on tour with the band.  It’s actually an interesting read, so check it out on Toolband.

Blair has released the September 2010 newsletter, and it contains a mix of Tool and non-Tool news.  It largely talks about artists Richard S. Shaver and Stanislav Szukalski, and largely reads as an advertisement for an upcoming exhibition.  Adam and Danny are noted to be admirers and collectors of their work.

There is also a paragraph of Tool news, that appears to be obscured, perhaps by some kind of code:

As I’m sure most of you know, PUSCIFER will be touring this fall. But what you might not know is that some of the shows will be———- SPIDER, SPY from DER. An evil sounding name for an evil insect – a DER-SPY———- Besides the next Volto! show, Danny will be————- PENCIL: A PEN THAT SEES ILL IS A GOOD PEN TO WRITE WITH———– Adam also has a few things going on, but the one that will make fans of Tool———— T-STRONGLY INTEGRATIVE———- T-INTEGRATION. GROWTH———– Justin on the other hand————BALDERDASH————- a squib is a small firework———- (NOTE: using their mech, deros are tampering the content, deleting and changing everything that I type———— DEATH De an te h… the te force of the human obliterated by disintegrant energy (de)———- take precautions!—————————– DEIADE (God murder)———————–

If anyone has any insight into that then let me know.  I don’t see much interesting there.  Adam appears to be working on whatever the hell he’s been working on for a couple of years now it seems.  Danny is busy working with his side projects, and Justin appears to be doing nothing (though probably something), and we all know what Maynard is up to…

I’ve had it pointed out to me overnight, that November 12th in all likeliness won’t be any kind of announcement.  I was somewhat skeptical about the chances of anything happening that day, but Toolarmy member Corinthian pointed out to me a couple of interesting points contained in a few Tool Newsletters.

It turns out that November 12th is the day of the “San Antonio Curse” .  From the March 2007 Newsletter:

We’re still getting lots of messages from Tool enthusiasts who are concerned about the rescheduled tour dates. Many are wondering if the “10,000 Days” tour might in fact be cursed, especially those fans living in San Antonio who are writing to me about what they actually refer to as “the San Antonio curse.”

And

The San Antonio curse began on November 12, 2002 at Freeman Coliseum when a faulty drape fell off the wall in the band’s dressing room and caught on fire from some candles burning there. Noticing this, Maynard nonchalantly uttered “fire… fire… FIRE to anyone who would listen as he calmly walked down a hallway back stage. As an interesting side note, since, as I alluded to earlier, the potential solution to removing the curse involves aspects of time travel, I’m pretty sure that the date that Marty McFly returned to in the film “Back to the Future” and its sequel was November 12 (1955).

The flames were quickly extinguished with the only inconvenience being that a certain band member was deprived of a particular piece of fruit. However, the venue officials required the band to pay several thousand dollars in damage. This was the moment that the curse actually began! Those of you who have read my newsletter about the Coachella debacle – that involving a magically ‘unlawful’ pantacle (not pentacle) placed in the back of Danny’s beater pickup truck might find the following to be quite telling: According to the general manager of the Freeman Coliseum, the fire in the band’s dressing room caused only minor damage, “less than the amount of a used Chevy truck.” With his choice of words, there can be no question that this is evidence of a supernatural presence at work – a strange manifestation that exists outside of time, or is able to manipulate time in ways that modern science doesn’t understand. This presence that foresaw and/or was involved with the future imprecation placed on the truck with its K.C. plates is most certainly demonic in nature, and probably of the “Xaphan” pedigree. It would also appear that the swarming flies of misfortune have followed the band ever since that event of November 12th.

From that May 2008 Newsletter:

we might just be able to remove a curse that occurred in San Antonio’s Freeman Coliseum on November 12, 2002 after a fire in the band’s dressing room prompted venue officials to require the guys to pay several thousand dollars in damages.

In my opinion, what better way to help remove the curse than some positive news regarding Tool’s plan for the future!

Blair has released the August 2009 Tool newsletter.  He talks about several things, including him being sick, Danny hosting a BBQ for the stage crew, Puscifer tour dates, and a list of events coming up.  He also mentions that November 12th will be here soon (whatever that means).

He also talks about, and shows a picture of Danny’s new Gong.

Finally, he goes on to say “What do you think of that, Mr. Bottrill?”

Let the speculation commence!

News has come to hand in regards to the much speculated Tool cover that was supposed to be played on the recent tour.  Some readers let me know that On The Run by Pink Floyd was the cover played as a segue between songs.  Something I suspect Blair picked up on an encouraged in a recent newsletter.

However in a couple of new posts by Blair on the Toolarmy boards, it’s been confirmed that in fact no cover have been played, nor is it likely to be:

The band had planned on performing a new cover (as JUSTIN mentioned in an interview), even playing it at SOME of the rehearsals (which I mentioned), but then decided against it. Some band members wanted to play it, but one (maybe 2) didn’t (for personal reasons). Unless you’re stupid enough to think I decide the set list, what’s your problem? I simply posted what I was told: That there was going to be a new cover. They even rehearsed it, but when it came time for the tour, at least one band member had a change of heart (which, under the circumstances, I completely understand). Maybe they will perform it some day. Maybe not. Who knows?

Reading between the lines a little bit, it may seem as though certain members of the band rehearsed the cover, and then another member of the band vetoed it for one reason or another.

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!”

www.bloodypulpbooks.com

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!

Blair posted a Toolarmy Exclusive today where he talks about visiting Tool while they rehearse in LA this week.  A short but interesting article, where Blair mentions he didn’t hear the new cover he expects to be played (he didn’t mention what it might be).  He also mentions that there was a bit of new material played, however he doesn’t expect any of this will be played at the shows.

Anyone want to have a guess at what the cover may be?  A Michael Jackson song perhaps?