Tool’s Maynard James Keenan: “I’ve Got Some Good News, and I’ve Got Some Bad News”

So Vince and myself and Chino Wongeno caught Tool last night at the Governor’s Ball here in NYC, and I’m please to report that the band kick as much ass as they ever have, if not more. Really, there are no words to describe how incredible they were… suffice it to say, Vince was in a giggly, euphoric state after the show, which is probably the most heartfelt concert review one could offer.

As per usual, the mysterious Maynard kept between-song banter to a bare minimum… but he did, at one point, offer up this nugget of wisdom:

“I’ve got some good news and I’ve got some bad news. I’m just gonna tell you both of them at the same time: Fox News, Huffington Post, the left, the right, Trump, Breitbart, Facebook… none of these things are your enemy. Your enemy is ignorance, that’s the fight.”

Maynard then dedicated the band’s next song to anyone who might disagree with his assertion… the next song being, naturally, “Opiate,” the group’s notorious anti-religion anthem.

He then added this addendum in the middle of the song:

“Here’s the other part… the good news and the bad. It’s all gonna work out! Or not. Good luck.”

Was the revered vocalist being cynical and encouraging apathy by implying there isn’t really much we can do to influence the outcome of events, or was he simply being fatalistic and witty? When the band is THIS good, do you really care?

Watch video of the speech + “Opiate” performance below (courtesy of Noisecreep). Get all of Tool’s upcoming tour dates here.

https://youtu.be/lSuwdpEdaiY