While their catalog might not be as prolific as fans would like, Tool have still experienced countless highs and lows along their storied journey through the music industry meatgrinder. Complications arose early on for the alternative metal juggernauts, as they found themselves involved in a protracted legal battle with their label that began in the mid 90s. That wasn’t the only legal setback the band endured though, as other legal matters also impeded their career.
Even so, most bands would kill to be in the position that Tool are in, even with the public missteps Tool have made. Be it their notoriously glacial creative process, or their aversion to embracing digital formats, Tool have had an ingrained air of obstinance around them at times which hasn’t done them any favors.
In fact, Tool were one of the few high-profile holdouts when it came to releasing their music on digital formats, opting to remain off digital service providers until the summer of 2019. That aversion to adapt to industry consumption trends was likely a costly decision for the band, and one that vocalist Maynard James Keenan has publicly lamented.
Thus, with a rather unique perspective on the music industry and how it has adapted over the years, it’s interesting to hear Keenan‘s perspective on the changes that have hit the industry and the challenges artists currently face that his generation didn’t.
Speaking recently with Double J ahead of the band’s upcoming Australian shows, Keenan was asked by a fan about how the music industry has shifted over the years since Tool‘s inception. Keenan‘s response read as follows [transcribed by theprp.com]:
“I mean everything [has changed.] Quite a bit’s changed. There used to be record labels. Now there’s like 2 left out of 500. People were willing to buy music. And there a sense, when you’re living in a small town — like I was — that there’s this work being done at the abandoned warehouse, where you’re plugging in, and almost electrocuting yourself because the wiring was faulty, and there’s rats everywhere, and like you’re in there gonna just truck, you just needed to make music.
And you’re kind of developing this thing, and play small clubs, and eventually you put together a vinyl and people pay for it… It was a long game, now it’s so immediate, and people are so used to getting free shipping on your Amazon packages and it comes… You order it today, but it came yesterday. That’s how fast people want it. So it’s hard. I think it’s changed to the point where people aren’t really valuing the work that goes into putting together an actual collection of songs on an album.
They cut corners. Touring is more difficult, because things are expensive. So it’s hard for a young band to crack that nut, to really get out there and have people learn about them, because that’s the best way to do it, is in front of people, right? And that’s, that’s how you make your living is touring now. It’s not the album sales, those are gone.”
True to his word, Tool will be back out on the road later this year, having just newly added a New Zealand stop to their schedule. Here’s what they have booked:
11/21 Auckland, NZ – Spark Arena
12/05 Melbourne, AUS – Flemington Racecourse (‘Good Things Festival‘)
12/06 Sydney, AUS – Sydney Showground (‘Good Things Festival‘)
12/07 Brisbane, AUS – Brisbane Showgrounds (‘Good Things Festival‘)
12/11 Yokohama, JPN – K-Arena Yokohama
12/13 Kobe, JPN – Glion Arena
12/19 Honolulu, HI – Blaisdell Arena
12/20 Honolulu, HI – Blaisdell Arena
