4/20 OK. let the weed smoking references begin! If you are curious, like me, of where the whole 4/20 thing came from, start here. You’re welcome!
Tool: Maynard Keenan, Danny Carey, Justin Chancellor, Adam Jones
The Pulse Of Radio reports on Tool! The band’s webmaster has shed more light on the creative process behind the band’s long-awaited new studio album, its first in what will eventually be more than a decade. The webmaster, Blair McKenzie Blake, is close to the band and has been allowed to hear some of the music the group is working on. Asked how much he has heard, Blake responded, “Over the years I have mostly heard sections of what I believe will be the longest track on the album . . . I would say that I’ve heard about 30 minutes of music altogether.“
Although he could hear more, Blake said, “I would actually prefer to wait until the vocals are added because, for me, at least, that’s when everything really comes together. As I’ve said many times, the individual contributions of each band member is essential to creating the distinctive Tool sound.”
As for the amount of time it’s taken for Tool to begin work on a new record, Blake said, “If it were just about money, it would be easy for Tool to crank out a mediocre album . . . I would like to think that — even if they don’t have as much energy as they did when they were much younger (?) — they are trying their hardest to outdo themselves, wanting each new album to be better than the last one.” He added that the instrumental members of the band “sit for hours in soul-crushing L.A. traffic four days a week in order to get to the loft where they work tirelessly writing/arranging new music.”
In an interview late last year, guitarist Adam Jones gave an update on the album, saying, “Things are really flowing and going really well, and I’m just blown away at the stuff that’s coming together.” But more recently, singer Maynard James Keenan said about the project, “We’ve found a common ground. We just can’t seem to move forward.” May 2nd will mark the 10th anniversary of the arrival of the last Tool album, 10,000 Days.
Meanwhile, Maynard is currently touring with his other band, Puscifer. Find the dates on our Road Rage page.
The hardDrive Live Tour is less than 24 hours away from kicking off in San Antonio (actually it’s a radio festival there)!!! Sick Puppies, Red Sun Rising, Stitched Up Heart and HUDSON are all stoked to get this train a rollin’ and play for you guys! Be sure to listen to the stations in the tour markets for ticket giveaways and contests that include meet and greets! This is the first time you will see Sick Puppies with their new lead singer and guitarist, Bryan Scott. Houston is home for him, so I know Friday’s show is going to be a big homecoming! Poor Houston! We certainly hope the flooding there subsides for all those folks who have been impacted with thousands of flooded homes, business, farms and billions in damages! Come on Mother Nature, give them a break!
Muse;s Chris Wolstenholme, unidentifed O2 person, Dominic Howard, another unidentified O2 person and Matt Bellamy
Gigwise is reporting Muse has set a new record, playing to the largest crowd that the O2 arena in London has ever seen as part of the trio’s current Dronesworld tour. Thanks to the seating capacity and the band’s “in the round” staging, they were able to play on Friday, April 15th to a crowd of 21,000 — the largest single night audience in the venue’s history. Not bad considering the previous night’s show saw a drone crash into the audience.
OK, now I know what I can go as this Halloween! A Nameless Ghoul from Ghost! Or maybe even Papa Emeritus III! They ain’t cheap, but they look pretty cool. Check ’em out here.
There’s been a little forum starting on the hardDriveRadio APP about Axl Rose, AC/DC and Brian Johnson. If you want to weigh in on your thoughts on the whole thing, feel free to vent! Download the app for free on Google Play or iTunes and hit the Interact Live section. Post away! Lou Brutus just may read your comments on hardDrive XL!