For years, Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan has embraced a spread of flamboyant seems to be throughout his reside performances, from painted blue our bodies and prosthetic enhancements to riot gear and punk-inspired mohawks.
His shut pal and Primus bassist/vocalist Les Claypool has equally made a reputation for himself with elaborate masks and theatrical costumes, such because the pig masks within the “Mr. Krinkle” video and the numerous different headpieces he is donned over time.
Whereas it’d look like these outfits are merely a part of the present, the fact behind them is extra private. Throughout a current joint interview on Kyle Meredith…, Keenan and Claypool opened up about how costumes and masks had been initially born out of a have to ease their very own insecurities about performing in entrance of a crowd.
Claypool mirrored on his early profession, saying (through ThePRP), “For me, my entire singing profession began as — and for a few years — it was me doing nothing however enjoying characters. As a result of I used to be so not assured in my vocals, that I’d simply tackle all these characters; faux I used to be Mel Blanc, for lack of higher rationalization.”
He defined that solely within the early 2000s did he start to really feel snug along with his personal voice, significantly after working with Sean Lennon. Nevertheless, he nonetheless finds moving into a personality offers him an edge throughout performances. “I nonetheless take pleasure in moving into characters. It simply makes it simpler for me. And I believe it is a greater efficiency. And I’ve at all times been drawn to, like, plenty of nation music, and plenty of people music, that tells some type of story. You realize, whether or not it is ‘John Henry’ or ‘Amos Moses’. These songs made me pay attention a bit of more durable. And so I wrote these songs with these characters, and subsequently grew to become the characters as a result of I did not know…”
Claypool additionally added that seeing audiences have interaction with costumes (just like the current pattern of followers dressed as bananas) evokes him to convey extra power to the stage: “The masks have simply change into such a staple through the years. It is simply, it is like anything, that is the beauty of with the ability to go do any exhibits. Whether or not it is Sessanta or Primus exhibits, or Frog Brigade exhibits, is, to me, it is like, I get to have Halloween a number of days a 12 months. Whether or not it is me placing on one thing or seeing individuals within the viewers. You realize, recently, we have had all these bananas within the viewers. I adore it. You realize? We have all these bananas working across the viewers. And I simply suppose it is the best. It makes me completely happy and evokes me to do… to step it up a notch on stage.”
Keenan, too, shared how his experimentation with wigs, make-up, and costumes — particularly distinguished in his Puscifer mission — allowed him to navigate his personal self-doubt. “It is a completely different voice, nevertheless it’s additionally — you already know, as Les had mentioned — it stems initially from an insecurity of simply with the ability to specific your self and having some type of a one thing to cover behind a bit of bit when you’re making an attempt to determine who the f*ck you’re on that stage. So, you already know, then it simply type of turns into a factor you do, as a result of you find yourself discovering that… We’re making an attempt to work some shit out as musicians or artists, however we’re additionally up there to entertain. So I believe it helps to place the costume on to remind myself I am there to entertain and never simply work by means of some bizarre daddy points.”
Nevertheless, in terms of performing with Tool, Keenan‘s stage presence contrasts his flamboyant look. Slightly than taking heart stage, he usually stays on the again, perched on a riser. He clarified the selection by pointing to technical causes: “With Puscifer, I am at all times down in entrance. And plenty of that’s simply that’s simply logistics for sound, like, having all these amps and Danny‘s octopus drums and, you already know, Justin‘s huge bass. To be down in entrance of the combo for the entrance of the home is sort of unimaginable. So being up close to the drums, and behind the guitar amps, really finally ends up serving to, simply from a technical standpoint, to separate sound. And you already know, it is such a giant present, like, I am solely… We’re solely speaking about one other an additional six or eight ft so I am unsure what the massive deal is.”
Each Keenan and Claypool will hit the highway once more subsequent 12 months for one more leg of the Sessanta tour, that includes A Perfect Circle, Primus, and Puscifer performing collectively. Although there isn’t any phrase but on whether or not they’ll report one other collaborative EP, followers are undoubtedly wanting to see what new characters and appears they will unveil subsequent. Tickets are available here.
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