Maynard James Keenan

Maynard James Keenan (born April 17, 1964 as James Herbert Keenan) is an American rock singer. He has been a member of the bands Tool since 1990 and A Perfect Circle since 1999.

Biography

Keenan was born to a Southern Baptist family in Ravenna, Ohio on April 17, 1964. After joining the Army in 1982, he attended the United States Military Academy from 1983 to 1984. However, he eventually left the military to study art, which eventually landed him a job in Los Angeles "applying spatial design concepts." Before his years with Tool, Keenan sang for Children of the Anachronistic Dynasty and TexAns.

Related Topics:
Southern Baptist - Ravenna, Ohio - 1964 - 1982 - United States Military Academy - 1983 - 1984 - Tool - Children of the Anachronistic Dynasty - TexAns

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In the 1980s Keenan moved to Los Angeles, apparently to work in interior design. He formed a band with guitarist Adam Jones and bassist Paul d'Amour (later replaced by Justin Chancellor). The lineup was not completed until Keenan's neighbor, drummer Danny Carey agreed to join. They called the band Tool. Keenan wanted to name it "The Flaming Turds" but was shot down.

Related Topics:
1980 - Los Angeles - Guitarist - Adam Jones - Bassist - Paul d'Amour - Justin Chancellor - Drummer - Danny Carey - Tool

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Tool released the Opiate EP in 1992 and toured in support of Fishbone. On tour, Keenan met Billy Howerdel, a guitar tech for Fishbone. In 1996, during the recording of Ænima, Howerdel played Keenan some of his songs, and Keenan was impressed. However, they did not have a chance to begin collaboration until 1999, when they would work together to form A Perfect Circle.

Related Topics:
Opiate EP - Fishbone - Billy Howerdel - 1996 - Ænima - 1999 - A Perfect Circle

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Tool's 1993 release of their debut full-length album, Undertow, launched the band and Keenan into stardom. Keenan was immediately recognized as a singer and lyricist in the tradition of Ian Curtis and Robert Smith. His lyrics and vocals were melodic, grim, and angst-ridden. However, as Keenan continued to record with Tool, his lyrics evolved into increasingly introspective and spiritual pieces of art that focused not only on anger but on the positive benefits of transcending it.

Related Topics:
1993 - Undertow - Ian Curtis - Robert Smith

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Later, after a prolonged legal battle with their label Volcano Records (formerly Zoo Records), the members of Tool decided to take some time off. Keenan found time to work with Howerdel. The band they formed, A Perfect Circle, began performing in 1999 and released its first album in 2000. As of 2005, Keenan remains the lead singer of both APC and Tool.

Related Topics:
Volcano Records - Zoo Records - A Perfect Circle - 1999 - 2005 - Tool

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In February, 2005, Keenan appeared as a surprise vocalist at a Seattle benefit concert for victims of the recent tsunami in southern Asia, performing with the partly reformed Alice in Chains in place of the deceased vocalist Layne Staley on the songs "Them Bones", "Man in the Box" and "Rooster".

Related Topics:
February - 2005 - Seattle - Tsunami - Asia - Alice in Chains - Layne Staley

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Keenan is unmarried and has one son named Devo (born August 5, 1995). He was engaged to Jennifer Brena Ferguson, but they broke up before marrying. Which the song by A Perfect Circle uses her middle name in "Brena". His beloved mother, Judith, passed away in 2003 and her life was the inspiration for the APC song that borrows her name.

Related Topics:
August 5 - 1995 - A Perfect Circle - 2003

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