Tool, etc. frontman Maynard James Keenan has now revealed that his decision to perform with prosthetic breasts, lipstick and a wig during the multi-platinum alternative metal band’s headlining set at this last week’s ‘Welcome To Rockville‘ festival in Daytona Beach, FL “had nothing to do with Florida.”
Keenan‘s move was widely seen to be a direct response to the recent anti-drag/trans legislation signed into power last week in Florida by Governor Ron DeSantis. A part of that bill defined that adult live performances that allowed minors in attendance could face repercussions should the show feature nudity, sexual conduct, etc. including lewd conduct or the exposure of prosthetic breasts & genitals.
Given that the bill was signed into law days before Keenan‘s performance, the timing certainly seemed like a statement. But not so, according to Keenan himself, who previously donned similar attire at live shows in the late 90s.
In a newly published interview with The Messenger, Keenan offered:
“It’s pretty crazy the technology and the prosthetics nowadays, how they’ve come along, and I just was considering bringing the look back. And that’s really all there is to it. I’m not a political fella — had nothing to do with Florida. It’s amazing to me how every single thing you say or do is twisted and conformed into some fundamentalist far-right or far-left agenda.”
In light of the various reporting on the matter yesterday, May 22nd, Keenan offered: “I’ve been cross-dressing since long before these clickbait-junkie dupes were out of diapers.”
When pressed for his opinion on the bill in question, Keenan told the aforementioned publication: “I think limiting people’s access to anything is absurd. Good parenting allows you to teach your kids how to be reasonable and reason and puzzle things out and decide for themselves what the fuck they wanna see or not wanna see.”
When asked if he faced any legal repercussions for his performance at the aforementioned festival, which was an all-ages event, Keenan responded, “Nobody’s enforcing it. They just do that and they throw it out there to shore up their base for an election year.”
Keenan was also asked if he considers himself a part of the drag community, to which he offered:
“On occasion, I am a drag queen; I’ve been a drag queen. I’m casual, so the hardcore people are going to dismiss me as being a tourist. Let’s be honest, I’m 59. So last night’s performance looked more like Brienne of Tarth on her worst day.”
Speaking further on his views on drag as self-expression and if he shares a solidarity with the community, Keenan stated:
“Solidarity with people who are not afraid to express themselves? Absolutely. People that want to express themselves in whatever fucking way they want to express themselves, as long as they’re not physically directly hurting someone? Yeah, go for it. I’m all for ya. If there’s any takeaway, it’s be yourself. Don’t be afraid to be yourself.”
Keenan‘s decision to once again don prosthetic breasts wasn’t exactly a surprise. Earlier this year he revealed that he had been planning to do so, stating at at the time “…With everything going on right now, I was like ‘I gotta bring back the tits.'”
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