Generic “bands that have supported Tool” update

I’ve noticed a few interesting happenings in regards to bands that have supported Tool over the years, and today I shall compile them into one handy post for you all to enjoy.

Firstly, not only are the Melvins touring with Unsane, but it appears they are recording something.  A new album I guess.  Seems not all that long ago they released the last one, but I always welcome a new Melvins album!

Someone was bugging me about the Mastodon/Opeth tour the other day, and yes, they are touring together in the US.  Here are some dates:

  • 04/04 – Portland, ME – State Theater (M)
  • 04/05 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theater (O)
  • 04/06 – Montreal, QC – Metropolis (O)
  • 04/07 – Toronto, ON – Sony Centre (O)
  • 04/09 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory(M)
  • 04/10 – Wallingford, CT – The Dome (M)
  • 04/11 – New York, NY – Roseland Ballroom (M)
  • 04/13 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre(M)
  • 04/14 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection (M)
  • 04/15 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE (M)
  • 04/16 – Knoxville, TN – TN Theater (O)
  • 04/18 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom (M)
  • 04/19 – Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom (O)
  • 04/20 – San Antonio, TX – Back Stage Live (O)
  • 04/21 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street (O)
  • 04/23 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium (O)
  • 04/25 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues (M)
  • 04/26 – Los Angeles, CA – Gibson Amphitheatre (O)
  • 04/27 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theatre (O)
  • 04/28 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort (M)
  • 04/30 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount (O)
  • 05/01 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum Theatre (O)
  • 05/03 – Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Events Center (O)
  • 05/04 – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall (M)
  • 05/05 – Saskatoon, SK – The Odeon (O)
  • 05/06 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre (O)
  • 05/09 – Washington, DC – The Fillmore (O)
  • 05/10 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore (M)
  • 05/11 – Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues (M)
  • 05/12 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Music Park (M)

They will be sharing the headlining slot, and the little O’s and M’s can help you determine who will be headlining on what night.  Aussies can look forward to some Mastodon shows later this month!

I did a quick Google search on some other support acts for you, and came up with the following:

  • Tweak Bird & Dalek don’t seem to be doing much.
  • Jakob have been recording (with Aaron Harris of ISIS I believe) and hope to have something out in April.
  • Speaking of ISIS, they may or may not have broken up, who really knows!  All I know is I accidentally trolled Aaron’s Facebook page thinking it was someone else!
  • As previously noted Meshuggah are doing a few tours, and are also putting an album out shorty.
  • Tomahawk are supposedly recording very soon (February is what I heard).

And that’s about all I could come up with.  Enjoy your weekend!

Update: Since you can’t keep a good thread down:

  • Wovenhand don’t seem to be doing much, but have a date in Denver in March
  • Melt Banana seems to be playing some shows in Japan, having toured the US last year.

Mastodon & Meshuggah join Soundwave 2012

Tool touring buddies Mastodon and Meshuggah have both been confirmed as part of the 2012 Soundwave Festival down here in Australia.  The festival, which also includes headline acts System of a Down (which may well feature our buddy Junior on lights) and Slipknot, tours around Australia in February and March.  Here’s the dates:

  • Saturday 25 RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane
  • SUNDAY 26 SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK
  • FRIDAY 2 MELBOURNE SHOWGROUNDS
  • SATURDAY 3 ADELAIDE BONYTHON PARK
  • MONDAY 5 PERTH CLAREMONT SHOWGROUNDS

Tickets go on sale on the 20th of October.  The full lineup for the event is:

SYSTEM OF A DOWN
SLIPKNOT
LIMP BIZKIT * MARILYN MANSON
HOLE * A DAY TO REMEMBER * MACHINE HEAD
LAMB OF GOD * TRIVIUM * ALTER BRIDGE
LOSTPROPHETS * ANGELS & AIRWAVES * COBRA STARSHIP
THE USED * YOU ME AT SIX * DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT
UNWRITTEN LAW * COAL CHAMBER * DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL
THURSDAY * FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS * RAISED FIST
DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN * ZAKK WYLDE’S BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
MASTODON * UNDEROATH * SAVES THE DAY * CIRCA SURVIVE
STEEL PANTHER * JACK’S MANNEQUIN * MESHUGGAH * ZEBRAHEAD
THE SISTERS OF MERCY * ENTER SHIKARI * FOUR YEAR STRONG
BLACK VEIL BRIDES * MADINA LAKE * HATEBREED * BIOHAZARD
TIMES OF GRACE * CKY * STREET DOGS * DRAGONFORCE
GOJIRA * KVELERTAK * LETLIVE * HELLYEAH * CRO-MAGS
THE CAB * RELIENT K * VERSA EMERGE * HEROES FOR HIRE
KILL HANNAH * CHIMAIRA * THE DANGEROUS SUMMER
FRAMING HANLEY * WATAIN * ROYAL REPUBLIC
I AM THE AVALANCHE * TURISAS
RIVER CITY EXTENSION

Personally while not many of the big names interest me, I’m keen on seeing Meshuggah (we may well be the first to hear tracks off their new album), Mastodon, System of a Down, Machine Head, Dillinger Escape Plan, Steel Panther, Hatebreed, Biohazard, Gojira, Kvelertak and Hellyeah.

The Book of Douche Bag. Vol 4. vs The Hunter

Things are pretty quiet in the Tool world at the moment, so in order to keep you clicking on my ads informed here’s the latest in the Book of Douche Bag series of videos from Puscifer:

I’m still surprised we don’t have Puscifer dates for the tour yet.  Hopefully soon!

Just in case that Puscifer video doesn’t do much for you, perhaps you’ll find the new Mastodon album The Hunter more to your liking:

Tool touring buddies update!

Seems as though it’s been a while since we updated the various goings on of some former Tool touring mates, so here goes!

Bong smoking pals Mastodon are currently recording their new album The Hunter, which is expected to be released later this year.  it has some pretty awesome artwork for the cover:

Expect a world-wife tour to follow.  The ‘Don are rumoured to be playing Soundwave in 2012, which is good news, however they really should do their own tour for a change…

Math-metal buddies Meshuggah are currently playing some gigs in Europe, however have been working on their followup to obZen.  In a recent interview with Marten by Studio Rock, he revealed the record company plans to release the album in March 2012, and the band will complete the recording once they finish their current tour.

Long haired chums The Melvins have just finished a short tour with Trevor Dunn on bass, and will be heading over to Europe later this year for some shows:

  • October 4, 2011 – Rome, Italy – Circolo degli Artisti
  • October 6, 2011 – Mezzago, Italy – Bloom
  • October 7, 2011 – Geneva, Switzerland – KAB Usine
  • October 8, 2011 – Zürich, Switzerland – Rote Fabrik
  • October 9, 2011 – Munich, Germany – Hansa 39
  • October 10, 2011 – Vienna, Austria – Arena
  • October 11, 2011 – Ljubljana, Croatia – Cvetlicarna Mediapark
  • October 12, 2011 – Zagreb, Croatia – Tvornica Kulture
  • October 13, 2011 – Prague, Czech Republic – Lucerna Music Bar
  • October 14, 2011 – Erfurt, Germany – Stadtgarten
  • October 15, 2011 – Wroclaw, Poland – Firlej
  • October 16, 2011 – Berlin, Germany – Volksbühne
  • October 17, 2011 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Lille Vega
  • October 18, 2011 – Grünerløkka, Oslo, Norway – Blå
  • October 23, 2011 – Stockholm, Sweden – Hornstull Strand Etablissement
  • October 24, 2011 – Malmo, Sweden – Debaser
  • October 26, 2011 – Haarlem, The Netherlands – Patronaat
  • October 27, 2011 – Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Kulturfabrik
  • October 28, 2011 – Schorndorf, Germany – Manufaktur
  • October 29, 2011 – Köln/Cologne, Germany – Gebäude 9 (Onkel’s Minifestival) (Date TBC)
  • October 30, 2011 – Kortrijk, Belgium – De Kreun (Sonic City Festival) (Date TBC)
  • October 31, 2011 – Paris, France – Glazart

The Melvins promised to return to Australia later this year also, but who knows if that will actually happen.  Buzz you’re breaking my heart!

In other no less important news:

  • Jakob are recording with Aaron Harris pretty soon
  • Volto! are playing two sets at the Baked Potato on Saturday night

Danny Carey and Brann Dailor Drum-off

Some footage from Artisan News Service/Youtube has been released which shows some of the drum off between Danny and Brann from Mastodon with backing band VOLTO! at the recent Guitar Centre Drum Off:

Anyone who has some better footage/lengthier of this event should let me know!  Thanks to Brian for the tip!

Mastodon Announce Big Day Out Sideshows

Mastodon, who are touring Australia and New Zealand as part of the Big Day Out festival have announced a couple of sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne:

SYDNEY – Thursday 21 January – THE ROUNDHOUSE, UNIVERSITY OF NSW
Presented by triple j & FasterLouder – Tickets: Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au

MELBOURNE – Thursday 28 January – THE PALACE
Presented by triple j & FasterLouder – Tickets: Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100

Personally, I’d love to see them, but won’t be attending the BDO due to it being sold out, and the rest of the lineup being generally pretty crappy. 

To Mastodon – please consider doing your own tour next time around.  I’d really like to check you out but won’t spend $150 to do so, nor will I go and see you if you’re the support act of another band I’m not so interested in seeing.

Danny Collaborates with Brann Dailor

Mattia emailed me to let me know about the Guitar Center Drum Off Finals 2010, which will feature a collaboration between Danny and Mastodon’s Brann Dailor:

Guitar Center announced today that Tommy Lee and the Street Drum Corps’ Frank Zummo will present “Bezerk” – an exclusive project commissioned by Guitar Center, featuring some of today’s top drummers and artists – as part of the upcoming Drum-Off Grand Finals, taking place January 8, 2010 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. Artists performing in “Bezerk” include Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Matt Sorum (Guns ‘N Roses, Velvet Revolver), José Pasillas (Incubus), DJ Aero, Sully Erna (Godsmack), Jay Weinberg, BANG! and others to be announced. Hosted by Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), this historic evening will also include a very special tribute to John Bonham by Jason Bonham, along with an exclusive collaborative performance by Danny Carey (Tool) and Brann Dailor (Mastodon).

These all-star drummers will all come together on one stage to celebrate the night’s main event: performances by the top five undiscovered drummers in the nation, who will compete in front of a capacity crowd and a panel of celebrity judges to see who will win a prize package worth more than $40,000 and the title of “Guitar Center Drum-Off Champion” – the nation’s top undiscovered drummer. Guitar Center will also induct drum icons Billy Cobham and John Bonham into Guitar Center’s Drum Legends as part of the evening’s festivities.

Tickets for the show are only $10, and are on sale now at LiveNation.com.

Find out more details Here!

Sounds like a fun night!

Rolling Stone Top 100, Mastodon Live

A couple of quick ones today.  Blair has advised us via Toolband/Army that Vicarious took the 100th spot in Rolling Stones recent Top 100 Guitar Songs list.  Why Vicarious beat a whole shitload of other Tool songs is bound to be a source of debate.

Also, Blabbermouth are reporting that Fuse will be broadcasting Mastodon‘s set from Bonnaroo live on the web on Sunday evening US time (Monday morning for us).  They will also be showing the Metallica performance from the same festival for those that would like to see these ageing metal giants.  Hopefully Lars will bring a proper drumkit along rather than a set of paint tins.

Tool – Special Guests Compilation

Scarletletterman from Toolarmy has put together a compilation ove live bootlegs with many of the guest musicians that have played with Tool over the years.  It seems pretty comprehensive to me, so grab a copy from Megaupload.  Big thumbs up!

Here’s a list of the tracks:

  1. Holiday in Cambodia – with Jello Biafra ex-The Dead Kennedys- 12.11.07
  2. Sober with Serj Tankian of System of A Down- 01.19.07
  3. Lateralus with Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine- Bonnaroo 2007
  4. Stranglehold with King Buzzo of the Melvins
  5. Sober with Kirk Hammett of Metallica- 08.18.06
  6. You Lied with King Buzzo
  7. Stinkfist with King Buzzo 08.26.98
  8. Demon Cleaner with Scott Reeder of Kyuss
  9. Third Eye with Vince DeFranco – 8.13.02
  10. 46 & 2 with Masa - 02.10.07
  11. Pushit with Aloke Dutta
  12. Spasm with King Buzzo 10-10-1999
  13. Opiate with Al-Sayed - 06.28.06
  14. Opiate with Layne Staley – Bremerton – 05.28.94
  15. Opiate with Layne Staley – Hawaii – 08.15.93
  16. Opiate with Tricky
  17. Opiate with Human Beat Box performers – 02.10.07
  18. Lateralus with Trey & Pat of King Crimson – 12.04.07
  19. Lateralus with Sebastian Thomson of Trans Am – 11.29.07
  20. Lateralus with Brann Dailor of Mastodon – 06.04.07
  21. Lateralus with Kinski - 05.26.07
  22. Lateralus with Melt Banana – 06.09.07
  23. Lateralus with Herman Lee of Dragonforce – 08.22.07
  24. Lateralus with Trey and Pat of King Crimson – 05.21.07
  25. Lateralus with Coady Willis of Big Business – 07.16.07
  26. Lateralus with Sebastian from Trans Am and Tim Alexander of Primus- 12.11.07
  27. Triad with John Stanier of Tomahawk/Battles/The Mark Of Cain 07.19.02
  28. Triad with Dave Lombardo of Fantômas/Slayer
  29. Triad with Tomas Haake of Meshuggah 11.16.02
  30. Triad with Mike Bordin of Faith No More- 05.25.02
  31. Bottom with Al-Sayed 07.21.94
  32. Bottom with Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine- 08.07.93

Poll Results: Who could replace Danny?

Last weeks poll was a litle controversial, in that several people couldn’t stomach the though of having anyone else other than Danny drumming to Tool. I’m somewhat in the same boat in that I believe he couldn’t be replaced, but these polls are about “what if” type situations, so I ask for your opinion on who could replace him, not whether or not he could be replaced.

Personally, I’m a little surprised that for once the pick I made finished last. Personally I think Igor Cavalera is one of the best drummers around, and I reckon he’d do a great job with Tool. Tim Alexander would probably be my second choice. Out of all the drummer their I think that he would cope best with the various time changes.

It looks like Josh Freese was the overall winner. I think he’s a great drummer, but I don’t really think he would be suitable.

A couple of other suggestions were Dave Grohl and Virgil Donati. Another couple of good choices, though Dave would probably struggle with some of the more complex stuff. Either way we’re debating something here that will most likely never happen. I think all drummers here a good in their own way, and would add an aspect different aspect to Tool.

  1. Josh Freese 139 Votes
  2. Neil Peart of Rush 92 Votes
  3. Tomas Haake of Meshuggah 80 Votes
  4. Tim Alexander of Primus 60 Votes
  5. Terry Bozzio 40 Votes
  6. Brann Dailor of Mastodon 32 Votes
  7. Dave Lombardo of Slayer 26 Votes
  8. Roland 20 Votes
  9. Igor Cavalera of Sepultura 11 Votes

Oh, and for those of you who didn’t get the joke, Roland is the drummer from Big Black, who was in fact a Drum Machine.