In a newly published full interview with Metal Hammer, Adam Jones, guitarist for the enduring alternative metal icons Tool, further explained the inner workings of the band’s approach to touring and more. In an advance excerpt from that conversation, Jones recently laid out how he and his bandmates diplomatically go about picking openers for their tours.
In this full conversation, he spoke of how the multi-platinum outfit go about assembling a setlist, stating:
“Well, you always want to do something you haven’t done in a long time. You always want to break the routine, make it more interesting for yourself, and there is a lot of negotiating that goes into it, but it ultimately comes down to Maynard [James Keenan, vocalist.]
If I’m sick and have a 100-degree fever, I’m nauseous, I have the flu, I can still play, but for Maynard he wouldn’t be able to sing. So, we give him the last word to make sure he can do the show if he’s not feeling well. But the set this time is pretty incredibly, we’re doing some old school stuff and we’re really happy about it, some old and some new. It should be good.”
When asked about why the group continue to enforce a no filming policy at their shows, he responded:
“…I mean, for us, we’ve actually seen it changing and more and more big acts are asking their fans respectfully to enjoy the show, rather than looking at their camera the whole time. I think one of the problems is you get a lot of lights because people don’t know how to use their cameras correctly, which makes it very blinding onstage. It’s just…it’s that connection. You lose something without that connection, and you just want people to be in their own world rather than getting the whole show on their phone and then never looking at it again.
It’s a big distraction. Have you ever been to a concert and you can’t see the show because the person in front of you is holding their phone up in front of the stage? It’s just kind of obnoxious. Just keep your phone in your pocket, enjoy the show and we’ll see you after and you can get back on it! (laughs) People need a break. I feel like [phones have] become an appendage, like part of our anatomy, you know?”
He continued:
“…Look, I get it: I go to shows sometimes and I want to capture a little something, your blood is pumping and you want to capture it, you want to capture that feeling. But it’s like a drug, you get that feeling and then you come back down to Earth, it’s no big deal. You look at it once maybe and that’s it, unless you’re a blogger or something. I get it, but we spend a lot of money on the show, we spend a lot of money on getting the best people on the video and the laser show. We have this three-dimensional curtain effect, which is incredible.
I just think, once you pull your phone out, you’re not connecting, you’re not at the show, you’re more about capturing it from your phone, watching it from your phone. Okay, then just go on YouTube. Why bother? You’ve paid the money to immerse yourself in this, we’re taking you by the hand and trying to take you on a little journey and do our magic for you. Which is something that requires your attention and your eye contact. It’s a different world, it’s a request and it’s respectful, and I think our fans seem absolutely fine with it.”
You can find a lot more from Jones over at Metal Hammer. Currently the outfit are out on a European/UK tour with Brass Against opening, here’s where you can catch them:
04/29 Frankfurt, GER – Festhalle
05/02 Manchester, UK – AO Arena Manchester
05/04 Birmingham, UK – Resorts World Arena
05/06 Dublin, IRE – 3Arena
05/09 London, UK – The O2 Arena
05/10 London, UK – The O2 Arena
05/12 Paris, FRA – AccorHotels Arena
05/13 Antwerp, BEL – Sportpaleis
05/15 Berlin, GER – Mercedes-Benz Arena
05/17 Cologne, GER – Lanxess Arena
05/19 Amsterdam, NET – Ziggo Dome
05/21 Krakow, POL – Tauron Arena
05/23 Prague, CZE – O2 Arena
05/24 Budapest, HUN – SportAréna
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