For years, Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan has embraced a variety of flamboyant seems throughout his reside performances, from painted blue our bodies and prosthetic enhancements to riot gear and punk-inspired mohawks.
His shut buddy 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 various different headpieces he is donned over time.
Whereas it’d appear to be these outfits are merely a part of the present, the truth behind them is extra private. Throughout a latest 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 (by way of ThePRP), “For me, my entire singing profession began as — and for a few years — it was me doing nothing however taking part in characters. As a result of I used to be so not assured in my vocals, that I might simply tackle all these characters; fake I used to be Mel Blanc, for lack of higher clarification.”
He defined that solely within the early 2000s did he start to really feel snug together with his personal voice, notably after working with Sean Lennon. Nonetheless, he nonetheless finds getting into a personality provides him an edge throughout performances. “I nonetheless take pleasure in getting into characters. It simply makes it simpler for me. And I believe it is a greater efficiency. And I’ve all the time been drawn to, like, quite a lot of nation music, and quite a lot of folks music, that tells some kind of story. , whether or not it is ‘John Henry’ or ‘Amos Moses’. These songs made me hear slightly 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 latest development of followers dressed as bananas) evokes him to deliver extra vitality to the stage: “The masks have simply change into such a staple through the years. It is simply, it is like the rest, that is the beauty of having the ability to go do any reveals. Whether or not it is Sessanta or Primus reveals, or Frog Brigade reveals, 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 folks within the viewers. , currently, we have had all these bananas within the viewers. I adore it. ? We have got all these bananas operating across the viewers. And I simply assume it is the best. It makes me blissful 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 venture — allowed him to navigate his personal self-doubt. “It is a totally different voice, nevertheless it’s additionally — you recognize, as Les had mentioned — it stems initially from an insecurity of simply having the ability to categorical your self and having some type of a one thing to cover behind slightly bit whilst you’re attempting to determine who the f*ck you’re on that stage. So, you recognize, then it simply type of turns into a factor you do, as a result of you find yourself discovering that… We’re attempting 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 way of some bizarre daddy points.”
Nonetheless, relating to performing with Tool, Keenan‘s stage presence contrasts his flamboyant look. Reasonably than taking heart stage, he typically stays on the again, perched on a riser. He clarified the selection by pointing to technical causes: “With Puscifer, I am all the time down in entrance. And quite a lot of that’s simply that’s simply logistics for sound, like, having all these amps and Danny‘s octopus drums and, you recognize, Justin‘s large bass. To be down in entrance of the combo for the entrance of the home is nearly unattainable. 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 recognize, 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 undecided what the large deal is.”
Each Keenan and Claypool will hit the street 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 is no phrase but on whether or not they’ll report one other collaborative EP, followers are undoubtedly desirous to see what new characters and appears they’re going to unveil subsequent. Tickets are available here.
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