Blair has published the February 2013 Tool Newsletter, and it contains an interview with Opiate reissue artist Adi Granov. Here’s a snippet:
Q: First off, how did you get involved with the cover artwork for the 21st anniversary release of Opiate?
A: Adam and I met last year, and he was already familiar with my work, so we started talking about collaborating on various things. At some point some artwork for Tool came up and Adam asked me if I’d be interested in doing the art for the Opiate anniversary. I was very happy to do it!
Q: Prior to meeting Adam, were you a fan of Tool’s music, and/or their artwork? If so, what were your first impressions of seeing the original cover art of Opiate?
A: I discovered Tool at a pretty significant point in my life, as a war refugee in former Yugoslavia. It was a desperate time, so the music was a significant means of escape. Tool’s music really impacted me and I have been a fan ever since.
I’ve lived with the music for a while before, upon moving to the US, seeing the album art. I don’t remember if I connected the meaning immediately, but I do remember the intensity of the image. It was intense and creepy, kind of terrifying. It was a while before I realised that the figure was a sculpture rather than makeup on a model.
Quite an interesting interview, especially where it talks about how he’s reworked the original Priest figure from Opiate. Looking forward to the other interviews Blair has promised.
