Maynard James Keenan Didn’t Mean ALL Tool Fans are “Insufferable” or “Retards”

Yesterday, shit hit the fan when Maynard James Keenan was quoted in an interview as calling Tool fans “insufferable” and “retards.” And not to pat myself on the back or nothing, but here’s what I had to say about that:

I also don’t think Keenan meant that ALL Tool fans are “insufferable” and/or “retards.” I think he was referring to the fans who don’t see the humor in Tool — the people who need to “lighten up,” as he says. He probably could have made that clearer in his statement, but still, I don’t think anyone should go toss their copy of Ænima into a fire just yet.

And guess what? I was right!

@nathan_felts Our core fanbase aren't fanatics. They're music lovers & artists & good people. Its the fanatics that are insufferable.

— Maynard J Keenan (@mjkeenan) October 28, 2015

True story: the word “fan” is, in fact, short for — you guessed it — “fanatic.” Still, I think we all get Maynard’s point. So now you can rest easy and go back to enjoying Undertow without feeling betrayed. YAY!

[via The PRP]