Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
I saw this mentioned in the Dirk Howat thread and wanted to comment.
Tool is by far my favorite band, has been since the first time I heard their music. Speaking of that first time, here is how it happened.
I was in High School. I was a runner, this was cross country season. I was getting a ride from a teammate my sophomore year, this was fall 1993, and he had a tape playing. Although i didn't know what it was at the time, I was listening to Prison Sex, by Tool, on their first LP Undertow. I asked him what it was and he showed me the tape case. It was a cool all black cover with a red sculpture on it. Turns out that sculpture was made by their guitarist, Adam Jones, who is also the bands art director.
I went out that day an bought Undertow. I've listening to Tool more then any other band, and I have seen them live more then any other band. I have seen them 13 times. I have seen the side projects a few times as well. A Perfect Circle being the one who has found the most commercial success. Maynard James Keenen is an awesome tenor with a timber to his voice that is unmatched. Is delicate, yes intense.
Danny Carey the drummer. Was trained in percussion in college, is an awesome musician. Plays in a side band called Pigmy Love Circus, a band he was actually in briefly before Tool. The music isn't as intricate or complex like Tool, but the songs are built to showcase Danny's skill on drums.
Just Chancellor, the current bassist. He wasn't the original one that wrote the bass line to Sober. He joined the band after Aenema was written but before they released it. He has been a good fit for the band and responsible for some of the new direction the band has taken muscially.
Tool is considered Metal and Progressive rock. Progressive rock is kind of a catch all for any band that makes songs over 8 minutes long with long periods with no vocals. Other progressive bands are Rush, Mogwai, and The Mars Volta. Tool appeals to metal fans, but also the prog rock crowd as well. Their most successful album only sold around 2 million copies, yet their shows consistently sell out and are a favorite among scalpers.
Their live show is un matched. Those of you who have seen it know, those of you who haven't, make it a point to see one of their shows in your lifetime, it is worth it. I am not a religious person, but I imagine their shows are the closest thing to a religious experience that I will have.
My favorite album is still the first, Underdow (note: they had an EP released in 1992 called opiate but two tracks are live and is generally not very well produced). Undertow is raw and powerful. It gives you a feel of where Tool started. Their music now is much more refined. Still powerful, but not as raw.
Favorite songs are Prison Sex and Stinkfist. Many of their songs have homosexual references, but the singer uses that as a metaphor. Those who don't dig deeper can take the lyrics at face value, but there is almost always a deeper meaning.
Tool has helped many artists come prominent. One of them is Cam DeLeon. www.happypencil.com He is the close friend of Adam Jones the guitarist. Adam Jones, by the way, was a hollywood special effects guy before playing in Tool. He did makeup for Predator 2 and many other movies.
Another excellent artist is Alex Grey www.alexgrey.com Those of you who live in new york should do yourself a favor and check out the chapel of sacred mirrors www.cosm.org it could change your life.
I could keep going, but you'd be best served by just listening to some of their music. It speaks far louder then I ever could.
Tool is by far my favorite band, has been since the first time I heard their music. Speaking of that first time, here is how it happened.
I was in High School. I was a runner, this was cross country season. I was getting a ride from a teammate my sophomore year, this was fall 1993, and he had a tape playing. Although i didn't know what it was at the time, I was listening to Prison Sex, by Tool, on their first LP Undertow. I asked him what it was and he showed me the tape case. It was a cool all black cover with a red sculpture on it. Turns out that sculpture was made by their guitarist, Adam Jones, who is also the bands art director.
I went out that day an bought Undertow. I've listening to Tool more then any other band, and I have seen them live more then any other band. I have seen them 13 times. I have seen the side projects a few times as well. A Perfect Circle being the one who has found the most commercial success. Maynard James Keenen is an awesome tenor with a timber to his voice that is unmatched. Is delicate, yes intense.
Danny Carey the drummer. Was trained in percussion in college, is an awesome musician. Plays in a side band called Pigmy Love Circus, a band he was actually in briefly before Tool. The music isn't as intricate or complex like Tool, but the songs are built to showcase Danny's skill on drums.
Just Chancellor, the current bassist. He wasn't the original one that wrote the bass line to Sober. He joined the band after Aenema was written but before they released it. He has been a good fit for the band and responsible for some of the new direction the band has taken muscially.
Tool is considered Metal and Progressive rock. Progressive rock is kind of a catch all for any band that makes songs over 8 minutes long with long periods with no vocals. Other progressive bands are Rush, Mogwai, and The Mars Volta. Tool appeals to metal fans, but also the prog rock crowd as well. Their most successful album only sold around 2 million copies, yet their shows consistently sell out and are a favorite among scalpers.
Their live show is un matched. Those of you who have seen it know, those of you who haven't, make it a point to see one of their shows in your lifetime, it is worth it. I am not a religious person, but I imagine their shows are the closest thing to a religious experience that I will have.
My favorite album is still the first, Underdow (note: they had an EP released in 1992 called opiate but two tracks are live and is generally not very well produced). Undertow is raw and powerful. It gives you a feel of where Tool started. Their music now is much more refined. Still powerful, but not as raw.
Favorite songs are Prison Sex and Stinkfist. Many of their songs have homosexual references, but the singer uses that as a metaphor. Those who don't dig deeper can take the lyrics at face value, but there is almost always a deeper meaning.
Tool has helped many artists come prominent. One of them is Cam DeLeon. www.happypencil.com He is the close friend of Adam Jones the guitarist. Adam Jones, by the way, was a hollywood special effects guy before playing in Tool. He did makeup for Predator 2 and many other movies.
Another excellent artist is Alex Grey www.alexgrey.com Those of you who live in new york should do yourself a favor and check out the chapel of sacred mirrors www.cosm.org it could change your life.
I could keep going, but you'd be best served by just listening to some of their music. It speaks far louder then I ever could.
