Maynard for President
Interview with Maynard James Keenan: Power, Politics, and Paris (Hilton, that is)-(aperfectcircle.org; 10/2004)
By: Daniel P. Borbolla (webmaster@aperfectcircle.org)
I recently had the chance to corner the ever-elusive A Perfect Circle/Tool front man, Maynard James Keenan, and present him with a series of questions I had burning in my mind…no cameras, no censoring (well, except for my grammar/spelling nazism), no sycophantic radio disc jockeys, and no annoying commercial breaks. The following is the result of our verbal exchange:
DOTORG: First off, on behalf of all the fans out there, I'd like to personally thank you and the band for making such unique and inspirational music. We truly hope you guys keep making music together for as long as possible. Now, on with the questions…
Most of us know you come from a military background having attended West Point Prep. earlier in your youth. How has that experience, or series of experiences, affected you? How has it changed your outlook on the military?
MJK: Those were invaluable experiences. I wouldn’t trade them for anything short of a date with J-Lo, a trip to Disneyland with the Olson twins, and a lifetime supply of red wines and vodka.
Honestly, I learned quite a bit about human nature while attending West Point Prep. and serving time as an enlisted soldier. I definitely witnessed the best and the worst in human behavior. I was exposed to multiple points of view, from enlisted men of the lower ranks to the officers at the highest levels.
As an enlisted soldier, I received the distinguished graduate award for my performance during basic training, a distinguished graduate award for advanced training, and then was singled out to apply for an appointment to the U.S. military academy. Of course there were many hurdles to overcome before that eventual appointment, but I somehow managed to negotiate all of them. Hip-hip-hooray for me.
But there was no way in Jersey I was going to sneak through the halls of West Point undetected. I’m an artist with a point of view and a desire to share experiences and report my truth, however wrong it may be. The “agents” are everywhere. Much to my family’s disappointment, and the disappointment of my hometown, I declined the offer and went on to pursue a path for which I had more of an aptitude. I’m glad I chose that path. Otherwise I would have been a “butter bar” lieutenant in the Gulf War, shopping for a thyroid disorder, and “Opiate” would have never been released.
DOTORG: We know you’re a big supporter of Michael Moore and his latest film– “Fahrenheit 9/11.” Was there anything in the film that you had not known previously that totally caught you by surprise? What emotions were running through you by the end of the film?
MJK: I feel that Michael Moore takes more than a few artistic liberties when presenting his case. But in light of the news presented on network television, I think “fair and balanced” is a relative term. “Out Foxed” is a very relevant documentary and I would encourage everyone to check out. As far as “Fahrenheit 9/11” goes, the two biggest surprises for me were the egging of George W. Bush’s limousine on the way to the white house, and the endless parade of Florida voters who were attempting to be heard. There was an excellent article in Vanity Fair (w/ Jude Law on the cover) regarding the 2000 Florida election. It is very informative.
DOTORG: I’ve received many an email from people who are quite annoyed/disappointed that A Perfect Circle has decided to take a more politically active role with their upcoming album of covers – eMOTIVe. Some have even jokingly referred to you guys as “A Political Circle.” What would you like to express to the fans out there that aren’t happy with the recent direction the band has taken? Is this something we’re going to see more of in the future?
MJK: Fuck ‘em. Just kidding.
Well, first of all, our disdain for this particular administration should come as no surprise for anyone who has been listening to me for the last fourteen years. We (Tool) were very vocal about George Bush Sr. back when he was buying and selling bombs and oil. Anyone who bothered to listen to the Bill Hicks CD’s would know this. I’ve been very clear about this and have been since before most of you could even reach the keyboard to type your complaints about “direction.”
Artists everywhere are up against a brick wall when it comes to speaking their minds. After the World Trade Center disaster, I made a point to encourage everyone at our shows to investigate on their own. Ask questions. Don’t rely on the media (especially Fox News) to fill in the blanks for you. For this simple position, the position of a free thinker and a responsible citizen, I was silenced. Radio stations throughout the Midwest labeled me anti-American, which I find amusing.
The censorship continued. Almost every interview I’ve done in the last four years was censored. I’ve been more active in encouraging our fan base to register to vote ever since 9/11. I’ve been very vocal about my positions regarding our rights as citizens to ask questions of those people whom we’ve chosen to represent us. And yet most of these topics never made it into print. All the newspapers and press wanted was gossip and road stories. Even pre-taped radio interviews were hacked to pieces.
I’ve been touring all over the world for almost 13 years. Since the birth of A Perfect Circle, it’s been almost 5-straight years with few breaks. The fear and absurdity I’ve witnessed across this country post 9/11 breaks my heart. I have stories so ridiculous, you would belly laugh ‘til you shit yourself.
Look, clearly I’m supporting anyone but Bush in this upcoming election, but I’m not telling anyone who to vote for with this new album. I’m still just trying to encourage people to think for themselves…to stop buying into this absurdity and rampant fear. But even that message has been somehow edited over the last four fucking years and it pisses me off. How can simple message of “get off your ass and educate yourself” be turned into a reason to dismiss our efforts? We’re speaking our minds. We’re following our hearts.
And by the way, the original versions of these songs are beautiful and passionate pieces of music so lighten up and just give them a listen.
Now here’s the statement that gets all the feathers ruffled:
I hope I’m wrong. I’d rather address it and be wrong than be right and have to visit all you clowns in a fox hole. DRAFT. Kerry mentioned that we are in the process of building 4 military bases in Iraq. I hope its bullshit. It’s already been stated as a matter of record that we are under-manned. This administration (and keep in mind this is just my opinion) has no intention of sharing the spoils of war with ANYONE. Calling for assistance from other countries would mean less back end. So the only way to secure and stabilize this chaos is to send my fans to war. Let the bitching begin. “Nuh uh, Maynard. Our government said no way were they gonna draft us.” Yes, of course. And as we all know, we should trust everything our government tells us. It’s been that way from the beginning of civilization. Always trust those in power. “Oh look! A simple life is on. Gotta run.”
DOTORG: Speaking of eMOTIVe, you guys picked out quite a diverse selection of music. How did you guys go about selecting which songs to cover? Were there any other songs you considered? If so, why were they not selected?
MJK: Uh-huh. Oooh. I think she’s lost weight.
DOTORG: Is the band planning to do any shows in support of the new album/DVD?
MJK: Shhhhh. Paris is buying a new hat.
DOTORG: We know how much you hate talking about DVDs, but screw it, we’ll go ahead and ask you anyways: What could you tell us about the upcoming aMOTION DVD other than what we’ve heard so far?
MJK: Ok, it’s a commercial. What were you asking? Oh, right. The DVD. It contains all of our videos, plus a few that you haven’t seen. And it includes all of our remixes on one CD.
DOTORG: In closing, what would you like to tell those who have taken the apathetic route and feel that their vote doesn’t amount to much? For those who are too young to vote, how would you recommend them getting involved politically?
MJK: This last tour, A Perfect Circle played to an average of 4,000 people a night in Florida. If every one of those people from just one of those shows voted in the 2000 election, there would have been no question regarding the outcome and the vote count…just one show. So, yes, your vote counts.
Read. Turn off the television and read. There are some great websites out there. You just need to expose yourself to as much info as you can. Right, left, up, down, missionary, etc., then make your own decision. Personally, I prefer spooning.
Goodnight.
P.S. (Reading and Film list)
Books...
"Worse than Watergate" - by John W. Dean, former counsel to President Nixon; "American Dynasty" by Kevin Phillips; "Hegemony or Survival" by Noam Chomsky; "The Onion.com" - For the truth, the real truth, and nothing but the truth.
Films...
"Out Foxed" - Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism; "Team America: World Police" from the South Park gents. No one is safe from their attacks. Great film. Bring the kids.
and for some comic relief...
"Red Dawn." Pretend the Soviets are us, and the "farmers" are "someone else."
A Perfect Circle's "eMOTIVe" will be released on Election Day (November 2nd) and "aMOTION" will subsequently be released on November 16th. For more information on both eMOTIVE and aMOTION, be sure to read this press release from Virgin Records.
By: Daniel P. Borbolla (webmaster@aperfectcircle.org)
I recently had the chance to corner the ever-elusive A Perfect Circle/Tool front man, Maynard James Keenan, and present him with a series of questions I had burning in my mind…no cameras, no censoring (well, except for my grammar/spelling nazism), no sycophantic radio disc jockeys, and no annoying commercial breaks. The following is the result of our verbal exchange:
DOTORG: First off, on behalf of all the fans out there, I'd like to personally thank you and the band for making such unique and inspirational music. We truly hope you guys keep making music together for as long as possible. Now, on with the questions…
Most of us know you come from a military background having attended West Point Prep. earlier in your youth. How has that experience, or series of experiences, affected you? How has it changed your outlook on the military?
MJK: Those were invaluable experiences. I wouldn’t trade them for anything short of a date with J-Lo, a trip to Disneyland with the Olson twins, and a lifetime supply of red wines and vodka.
Honestly, I learned quite a bit about human nature while attending West Point Prep. and serving time as an enlisted soldier. I definitely witnessed the best and the worst in human behavior. I was exposed to multiple points of view, from enlisted men of the lower ranks to the officers at the highest levels.
As an enlisted soldier, I received the distinguished graduate award for my performance during basic training, a distinguished graduate award for advanced training, and then was singled out to apply for an appointment to the U.S. military academy. Of course there were many hurdles to overcome before that eventual appointment, but I somehow managed to negotiate all of them. Hip-hip-hooray for me.
But there was no way in Jersey I was going to sneak through the halls of West Point undetected. I’m an artist with a point of view and a desire to share experiences and report my truth, however wrong it may be. The “agents” are everywhere. Much to my family’s disappointment, and the disappointment of my hometown, I declined the offer and went on to pursue a path for which I had more of an aptitude. I’m glad I chose that path. Otherwise I would have been a “butter bar” lieutenant in the Gulf War, shopping for a thyroid disorder, and “Opiate” would have never been released.
DOTORG: We know you’re a big supporter of Michael Moore and his latest film– “Fahrenheit 9/11.” Was there anything in the film that you had not known previously that totally caught you by surprise? What emotions were running through you by the end of the film?
MJK: I feel that Michael Moore takes more than a few artistic liberties when presenting his case. But in light of the news presented on network television, I think “fair and balanced” is a relative term. “Out Foxed” is a very relevant documentary and I would encourage everyone to check out. As far as “Fahrenheit 9/11” goes, the two biggest surprises for me were the egging of George W. Bush’s limousine on the way to the white house, and the endless parade of Florida voters who were attempting to be heard. There was an excellent article in Vanity Fair (w/ Jude Law on the cover) regarding the 2000 Florida election. It is very informative.
DOTORG: I’ve received many an email from people who are quite annoyed/disappointed that A Perfect Circle has decided to take a more politically active role with their upcoming album of covers – eMOTIVe. Some have even jokingly referred to you guys as “A Political Circle.” What would you like to express to the fans out there that aren’t happy with the recent direction the band has taken? Is this something we’re going to see more of in the future?
MJK: Fuck ‘em. Just kidding.
Well, first of all, our disdain for this particular administration should come as no surprise for anyone who has been listening to me for the last fourteen years. We (Tool) were very vocal about George Bush Sr. back when he was buying and selling bombs and oil. Anyone who bothered to listen to the Bill Hicks CD’s would know this. I’ve been very clear about this and have been since before most of you could even reach the keyboard to type your complaints about “direction.”
Artists everywhere are up against a brick wall when it comes to speaking their minds. After the World Trade Center disaster, I made a point to encourage everyone at our shows to investigate on their own. Ask questions. Don’t rely on the media (especially Fox News) to fill in the blanks for you. For this simple position, the position of a free thinker and a responsible citizen, I was silenced. Radio stations throughout the Midwest labeled me anti-American, which I find amusing.
The censorship continued. Almost every interview I’ve done in the last four years was censored. I’ve been more active in encouraging our fan base to register to vote ever since 9/11. I’ve been very vocal about my positions regarding our rights as citizens to ask questions of those people whom we’ve chosen to represent us. And yet most of these topics never made it into print. All the newspapers and press wanted was gossip and road stories. Even pre-taped radio interviews were hacked to pieces.
I’ve been touring all over the world for almost 13 years. Since the birth of A Perfect Circle, it’s been almost 5-straight years with few breaks. The fear and absurdity I’ve witnessed across this country post 9/11 breaks my heart. I have stories so ridiculous, you would belly laugh ‘til you shit yourself.
Look, clearly I’m supporting anyone but Bush in this upcoming election, but I’m not telling anyone who to vote for with this new album. I’m still just trying to encourage people to think for themselves…to stop buying into this absurdity and rampant fear. But even that message has been somehow edited over the last four fucking years and it pisses me off. How can simple message of “get off your ass and educate yourself” be turned into a reason to dismiss our efforts? We’re speaking our minds. We’re following our hearts.
And by the way, the original versions of these songs are beautiful and passionate pieces of music so lighten up and just give them a listen.
Now here’s the statement that gets all the feathers ruffled:
I hope I’m wrong. I’d rather address it and be wrong than be right and have to visit all you clowns in a fox hole. DRAFT. Kerry mentioned that we are in the process of building 4 military bases in Iraq. I hope its bullshit. It’s already been stated as a matter of record that we are under-manned. This administration (and keep in mind this is just my opinion) has no intention of sharing the spoils of war with ANYONE. Calling for assistance from other countries would mean less back end. So the only way to secure and stabilize this chaos is to send my fans to war. Let the bitching begin. “Nuh uh, Maynard. Our government said no way were they gonna draft us.” Yes, of course. And as we all know, we should trust everything our government tells us. It’s been that way from the beginning of civilization. Always trust those in power. “Oh look! A simple life is on. Gotta run.”
DOTORG: Speaking of eMOTIVe, you guys picked out quite a diverse selection of music. How did you guys go about selecting which songs to cover? Were there any other songs you considered? If so, why were they not selected?
MJK: Uh-huh. Oooh. I think she’s lost weight.
DOTORG: Is the band planning to do any shows in support of the new album/DVD?
MJK: Shhhhh. Paris is buying a new hat.
DOTORG: We know how much you hate talking about DVDs, but screw it, we’ll go ahead and ask you anyways: What could you tell us about the upcoming aMOTION DVD other than what we’ve heard so far?
MJK: Ok, it’s a commercial. What were you asking? Oh, right. The DVD. It contains all of our videos, plus a few that you haven’t seen. And it includes all of our remixes on one CD.
DOTORG: In closing, what would you like to tell those who have taken the apathetic route and feel that their vote doesn’t amount to much? For those who are too young to vote, how would you recommend them getting involved politically?
MJK: This last tour, A Perfect Circle played to an average of 4,000 people a night in Florida. If every one of those people from just one of those shows voted in the 2000 election, there would have been no question regarding the outcome and the vote count…just one show. So, yes, your vote counts.
Read. Turn off the television and read. There are some great websites out there. You just need to expose yourself to as much info as you can. Right, left, up, down, missionary, etc., then make your own decision. Personally, I prefer spooning.
Goodnight.
P.S. (Reading and Film list)
Books...
"Worse than Watergate" - by John W. Dean, former counsel to President Nixon; "American Dynasty" by Kevin Phillips; "Hegemony or Survival" by Noam Chomsky; "The Onion.com" - For the truth, the real truth, and nothing but the truth.
Films...
"Out Foxed" - Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism; "Team America: World Police" from the South Park gents. No one is safe from their attacks. Great film. Bring the kids.
and for some comic relief...
"Red Dawn." Pretend the Soviets are us, and the "farmers" are "someone else."
A Perfect Circle's "eMOTIVe" will be released on Election Day (November 2nd) and "aMOTION" will subsequently be released on November 16th. For more information on both eMOTIVE and aMOTION, be sure to read this press release from Virgin Records.
posted by -tim- at 9:13 AM
1 Comments:
He has my vote.
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