C10. There are a lot of army references on "Undertow" - how come?

Maynard was at West Point Prep School / United States Military Academy Prep School for a time, hence references to the Honor Code ("I will not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do"), to the term for first-year cadets (4 degrees) and to the term for brownnoser (tool).

The answer here is by no means definitive; this information has been collated from various magazines as well as observant people, may not be complete, and is quite subject to change. Special thanks to Greg Pepin (gpepin@fsc.edu).

Adam uses Gibson Les Pauls, 3 Different Stacks (a Marshall bass head, a Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier, a Dieselhead amp), Seymour Duncan pickups. Ernie Ball, Slinky strings. Effects (mostly Boss pedals): Delay, Flange, Chorus, EQ, a channel switcher for clean/distortion, a wah pedal, and an Epilady occasionally (!).

Adam has 2 rare 1979 Les Paul Customs with Green and Silver metallic bursts. They were discontinued by Gibson because of complaints that the metallic paints was giving the guitar an odd tone. He also uses a Natural finished LP Custom when playing "Prison Sex" live.

Justin uses Wal basses (which he fell for while recording "Ænima"), cabinets by Mesa/Boogie (8 inch speakers), pre-amp by Demeter. Effects: Boss Delay, Chorus, Flanger, and Distortion pedals, and a DigiTech Bass Whammy pedal, used occasionally (for example, at the beginnings of "Third Eye" and "Eulogy".)

This list of Danny's equipment comes from Modern Drummer Magazine (2/97):

Drumset: Sonor Designer Series      8x14 bronze snare
         14x14 floor tom            18x16 floor tom
         18x24 bass drum            18x22 bass drum
         8x8 tom       10x10 tom    14" RotoTom

Electronics: Simmons SDX pads       Hardware: Sonor

Heads: Remo Emperor + Ambassador    Pedals: Axis

Cymbals: 14" Paiste Dry Crisp hi-hats  22" Novo China
         12" S.F. Flanger Bell         13" Sound Formula Mega Cup Chime
         8" Paiste splash              18" Sound Formula Thin crash
         18" Paiste Full crash         22" Paiste Dry Heavy ride
         20 & 22" Paiste Thin China    20" Paiste Power crash
	 6" + 8" Signature Splash      14" Signature Sound Edge Hi Hat
         18" Signature Mellow Crash, Power Crash
	 20" Signature Full Crash, Thin China
         5" Bell Chime on top of an 8" 3000 Bell

Sticks:  Trueline 5A, 5B, Signature.  Vic Firth Buddy Rich + SD9.

Some of them have definitely dabbled in drugs in the past; however, specifics on who is into what (if anything) are not available.

Only the flutist.

+-----------------------+
| D. Brief Release Info |
+-----------------------+

D1. What CD's have they put out?

The band has released an EP "Opiate" and two full-length albums, "Undertow" and "Ænima." There have also been various import singles released for "Sober" and "Prison Sex", all of which are listed in the discography. The singles can be obtained either at your local import CD store, or maybe at www.gemm.com, www.cdnow.com, or www.cdeurope.com. (This is not an endorsement, btw). Various audio bootlegs exist, which can also be found in the discography. As far as where to find those bootlegs, the only recommendations are: used CD stores, and maybe online traders. Call around!

"Sweat" (a track from "Opiate") has been released on the "Escape From L.A." soundtrack, as well.

There have been five official videos released: "Hush", "Sober", and "Prison Sex", "Stinkfist", and "Ænema." "Hush" was directed by Ken Andrews of Failure, the next two were Adam with Fred Stuhr, and the latter two were directed by Adam. He built the guy in the "Sober" video, and also the so-called "meat tunnel." The rest of the band did the video editing and production.

The "Sober" video won these Billboard Video Awards: "Best New Artist" and "Best Hard Rock / Metal Clip." Other videos have also been nominated for several awards. The "Stinkfist" video was renamed "Track #1" by MTV because the title was deemed to be offensive. Go figure.

If you are interested in seeing films which undoubtedly inspired Tool's videos, check out some work by the Brothers Quay.

You heard right. In fact, the one you heard about should have been out in 1994; it even had itself a catalog number and everything. When asked about it back then, the band had said that there wouldn't be a video "anytime soon." Seems that the record company got all excited about the idea of a video and got a bit ahead of themselves. But it may happen ... someday.

A promo-only white-label video containing the four latter videos in their radio-edit versions was released in New Zealand last year. Though it was intended to be sold with "Ænima," some were put up for sale.

Tool seems big into the concept of "All Indians, No Chiefs", as it says on the shirt: the idea that there are lots of sheep, lots of people who are unable to speak for themselves. (Basically, those who follow blindly). Seems a bit ironic that you bought the shirt, hm?

The other quote in question is the "Novus Opiate Seclorum" on the back. Here's an insight by Mike `Shmoo' Smuland (jsmuland@osf1.gmu.edu):

"Novus ordo seclorum" ("a new order of the ages") is the motto on the great seal of the USA. Get it? But opiate is not a generic term for drug:

Opiate: 1. a drug that contains opium and so dulls pain or brings sleep.
2. anything that quiets: opiates to grief.

Throw the two together. A new opiate of the ages.

Take that in context of the answer to Question E1, and you have your answer.

Some Tool concert tickets from early 1997 were printed with this quote. Jodi Clancy (jclancy@magna.com.au) offers us this insight:

There are two paintings from the Baroque period (1630) by Poussin called "Et In Arcadia Ego;" translation, 'I too, in Arcadia' or 'Even in Arcadia I (am present). The theme is "as three shepherds living in the idyllic land of Arcadia spell out an enigmatic inscription upon a tomb, a stately female figure quietly places her hand upon the shoulder of one of them. She may be the spirit of death, reminding these mortals, as does the inscription, that death is found even in Arcadia, where perfect happiness is supposed to reign.

Tool does do a cover of this Led Zeppelin song. The original appears on the 1973 album "Houses of the Holy," and runs 7 minutes. Tool's version, played live and recorded in-studio (but not released) runs roughly 12 minutes. Apparently the label gave a go-ahead for its inclusion on Howard Stern's Private Parts soundtrack, but the band wasn't up for it, and said no. Bad blood galore.

At Lollapalooza 1997, lounge versions of "Hooker with a Penis" and "Third Eye" were heard over the PA between sets. Also, a Skinny Puppy remix of "Stinkfist" was apparently commissioned and made it out to an Arizona radio station, although it was not supposed to ever be released. Copies of it are likely floating around somewhere.

+-------------+
| E. "Opiate" |
+-------------+

E1. Snappy title. Where'd they get it?

The accepted notion follows: It relates to Marx's statement that "religion is the opiate of the masses." People relied on the church for direction in their lives, and carried on with their lives. Marx felt that the church kept people from "waking up and smelling the coffee." This is one of the themes of the CD: the band makes fun of the way people let others think for them. That is, it's one thing to have religious beliefs, but it's another thing to let someone else interpret those beliefs and force them on you.

Yeah, the band does this a whole lot, filling in the beginning of a track with some form of ear candy.

This makes sense since the song and the video both seem to deal with censorship of music.

The voice before "Part of Me" can be clearly heard as Maynard saying "Yeah. Ready. I was having fun sitting down having a cup of coffee but now I have to sing."

If you're wondering about "Cold and Ugly": the original theory was that during this live recording, some guy with dreadlocks kept blowing an air horn, forcing the band to start over. Newer info suggests that it may have been Maynard kidding around with a singer from another band.

Nothing; the band's just tooling around with you.

This is one of those untitled extra tracks bands throw onto albums. Well, it's not untitled; they claim it's actually called "The Gaping Lotus Experience." This "song" starts during Track 6, at 6 minutes and 6 seconds. Get it - 666? (If it starts a few seconds off on your CD player, that's to be expected; all CD players track times a little differently).

Some pressings of this album are missing this song; there's no good way to tell just by looking if a given copy is without, though it seems that copies marked "(P) 1997" may be the offensive batch. This mess is probably due to a machine screwing up somewhere. See Question E10.

Here's some starting points to picking it all apart. There are four pictures in each corner; with the dogtag and $5 bill segment on the bottom, they are:

        _Maynard_|__Danny__
        __Adam___|__Paul___

The corpse is definitely not real. It is likely a photo of Adam's pal Kevin messing around in Stan Winston's studio. This makes sense since they thank "friends at Stan Winston's studio" (Stan Winston the special effects artist (Predator, T2, etc.)), since Adam worked on effects for those movies, and since the letters "K E V" are written on the edge of that photo.

Also, that dogtag belongs to Maynard. He was in the army for three years after high school. See Question C10 for more info.

Good call. Here's what Adam had to say (from the LA Times; 4/93): "When we did our first [record], we picked our heaviest songs. People went, 'Oh, you're a metal band,' and I thought that was kind of way: "On [Opiate] we were more slam and bang. Now we're using more melody."

Many CD stores don't carry "Opiate" in stock. Of course, you can always just ask them to order it for you, as well you should. The catalog number is Volcano 31027.

Indeed -- recent pressings of the CD (since Zoo Records became Volcano Entertainment) have featured the large red text on the back in a different, more Gothic font. The band didn't know about it until someone mentioned it to them, that's for sure.

+---------------+
| F. "Undertow" |
+---------------+

* F1. Hmmm.. what's that on the cover?

Depends on where you bought your CD. If you bought it at Wal-Mart, it's a giant barcode. The gods of censorship have spoken. (You used to be able to get a real cover by writing in to an address printed in the liner notes; this offer does not appear to be valid anymore). Otherwise, it is a photo of a scuplture done by Adam, of a rib cage. And hey, did you know that if you hold the cover up to the light the ribcage encircles the fat lady on the inside?! (Little bonus trivia tidbit ... coincidence?)

Just a bunch of happy people! No, seriously, it has been suggested that it represents various things, like being controlled by someone/something. It has even been interpreted to be a visualization of the "my fear is naked" from "Bottom" (though that's pushing it). The spine of the CD has another picture of the woman: she is the little symbol on the rightmost end of the spine. There are also pictures of a cow licking itself, and an X-ray graphic resembling someone using a "rear-entry" vibrator.

Go ahead, pop off the black tray that holds the CD. There ya go!

Welcome to further confusion. Recent pressings of Undertow have varied slightly from the original version. These are some of the slight modifications across different (both domestic and foreign) versions:

- A clear CD tray; the cow picture is visible immediately.
- The cow picture in the booklet; no picture behind the CD.
- "Disgustipated" is track 10, 30 or 39, not 69.
- The cover has the words "Tool / Undertow" written across the top. (The original has no words.)
- The CD was originally black with the fork + pig, some are grey with the same graphic.
- The CD simply has Tool: Undertow written in silver on black.

F5. So which one of those guys is who?

                          __Paul__|__Maynard__
                            Danny |   Adam

Membranophones = Danny (drums, obviously)
Bottom Feeder = Paul (bass = low end)
Bastardometer = Adam (guess he's a bastard, hm?)
Mostresticator = Maynard (he probably gets the "most rest")

Yep, they are pieces of songs on the CD.

It is originally from Maynard's spoken word in "Bottom" ... when Henry Rollins performed it, he edited out that part. (see question F20).

Various ideas abound: either it is a massive bong hit, or it is a motorboat / outboard engine (the latter goes along better with the water theme of the whole album). Aaron Solomon (peschek@mail.nwlink.com) offers this explanation:

"I had the immediate and distinct impression that is was the sound of a guy drowning, specifically someone hooked up to oxygen equipment, such as a scuba diver, having their oxygen run out or cut off, and helplessly suffocating. IMHO, this is closer than a motorboat or bong hit. In fact, in this context is incredibly ominous, and makes the listener literally feel like he/she is suffocating. I think it's one of the most disturbing parts of the album."

At least in its most up-front interpretation, child abuse. In early interviews, Maynard apparently was quite vocal about his dislike for his stepfather, and the video supports this theory quite well. However, the autobiographical nature of this song is purely speculative. When discussing the release of "Prison Sex" as a single, Danny had this to say: "It will annoy a lot of people ... which is half the fun."

To get the sound like that for the intro to Prison Sex--if you have or know anyone who has a guitar--the sound can almost be reproduced. First off, you need to tune down the guitar to B, then hold down the tremolo bar so that the string is loose. If you strike it, it should sound like its just flopping there. The next thing you need to do is run your pick over the string to get that scratching sound (you should still be holding the tremolo down). Finally, hit the string one final time and slowly release the tremolo bar (if you do it right, it should sound like it is speeding up). A delay pedal may help as well.

-- thanks to len@utxsvs.cc.utexas.edu

Yes, the edited version has him saying "blood on my hands", not "shit, blood and cum on my hands."

To be sure, after playing a song a million times, you'd want to spruce it up a little. Whether it will ever be released as a live track remains to be seen. This is the new verse (inserted before the "temporary sanity" line), first heard in late 1995 and still being performed:

"got me treading water" OR "show me something" (4x)
thought i could make it end
thought i could wash the stains away
thought i could break the circle if i
slipped right into your skin
so sweet was your surrender
we have become one
i have become my terror
and you my precious lamb and martyr."

-- thanks to Justin McKinlay

F14. (reserved for future use)

F15. What's "Sober" about?

Adam has said "the song and video are based on a guy we know who is at his a artistic best when he's loaded. A lot of people give him shit for that .... You can do what you want, but you have to take responsibility for what happens. If you become addicted and a junkie, well, that's your fault. " (from Guitar World; 3/94).

Yes, there is. While it was thought to be a production error for some time, it turns out that it's Maynard saying "Turn that shit down." If you had it up loud enough, you know, you might think it was a parent or the neighbors.

It occurs midway through the song: "...trust me, trust me; why can't (*) we not (*) be sober..." , where the *'s are.

Yet again, an edited version. It has him saying something that is NOT "Jesus ... fucking whistle" ; it's "Jesus won't you try and whistle".

Ahhh... the former six million dollar question. The official lyric sheet says: "Jesus won't you fucking whistle / something but the past and done." As in, "christ almighty, can't we talk about something NEW?"

A popular alternative:

"Cheeses: don't chew.  Duck: no gristle /
                           Some tea: pour, and pass the scone."
                                              (thanks Arsenio!)

In a 1994 interview in BAM magazine, Maynard had this to say. It sums the whole thing up pretty well:

BAM: What's wrong with that little man?

MJK: What's wrong with him?

BAM: Yeah. What's he looking for?

MJK: That...place, I guess.

BAM: Will he ever find that place?

[Silence]

BAM: Maybe yes? Maybe no? Crapshoot?

MJK: Crapshoot.

Yep, that's Hank himself, doing a guest appearance. He's doing a spoken word bit that Maynard wrote and performs live, with some slight changes that he made. Rollins offered Tool an opening spot way back, so that's where the association comes from.

This is the Rollins version, featured on "Undertow":

If I let you, you would make me destroy myself. In order to survive you, I must first survive myself. I can sink no further, and I cannot forgive you. There's no choice but to confront you, to engage you, to erase you. I've gone to great lengths to expand my threshold of pain. I will use my mistakes against you. There is no other choice. Shameless now. Nameless now. Nothing now. No one now. But my soul must be iron, 'cause my fear is naked. I'm naked and fearless, and my fear is naked.

And, for the curious, this is the MJK-version; he still sings this:

You've left me no choice but to go inside and rebuild what's broken. Too much, too far, too late to lie down now. I must arm myself to fight you by making weapons out of my imperfections. It's all I have left. There's no other choice. I'm shameless, nameless, nothing, and no one now. But my soul must be iron for my fear is naked. I'm naked and fearless. But I'm dead inside. You see... shit adds up, now I'm dead inside. Hatred, weakness, and guilt keep me alive at the bottom.

F22. So what's that sound right before "Crawl Away" ?

Well, while it has been described as traditional Andean mountain music, someone has identified it as (possibly) a song called "Oruro Tierra De Ensuenos".

Though it's missing from the official sheet, here's what he's saying:
"got you in a stranglehold, baby. get up, get up, get up now."
And yes, that is the chorus from a Ted Nugent song: "Stranglehold". Call it an influence, I guess.

There is at least one out there which is different, on the Sober '93 bootleg; the lyrical change does change / add to the feel of the song somewhat. Steve Reed (steve@failure.org) had this to say about it...

"Instead of saying 'No one told you to come,' he says, 'Spread your wings and fly away.' It fits like this:

                 No     one  told  you     to come.
                 Spread your wings and fly away.

While this answer by Steve Reed (steve@failure.org) is purely speculative, it is a very good one.

"Undertow is a song about repeated drug use. The voice that he hears is some sort of craving for this drug (or something), it suggests nice things to him, and beckons him. When it surrounds and drowns and wipes him away, he is obviously succumbing to this drug. Then, he regains his senses and asks 'How could I let this bring me back to my knees?' realizing that this thing isn't good for him ... The undertow represents the state of being under the influence, euphoria has it's obvious meaning."

F28. 4 Degrees... why four? Fahrenheit? Celsius? Is it an angle?

The theories abound like rabbits multiplying; someone asked Maynard about it and got this reply:

"Apparently the anal cavity has 8 more working muscles and is 4 degrees warmer than the vagina. This, however, is NOT a song about violation. It is a song about opening up, completely, without reservation."

F29. What is Maynard moaning in the beginning of "Flood" ?

Listen carefully; he's saying "here comes the water..."

Most likely =) . Here's an interpretation by shade@paradoxnw.com:

"'Ground breaks down right under me, cleanse and purge me in the water' sort of implies that although the world is breaking apart around him, there is some sort of purification happening to him also, as if he were better off now then he was with his false beliefs ('all i knew, all i believed, crumbling images, no longer comfort me')."

No. It is track 69 on most domestic pressings. It may be track 10, 30 or 39, though. (See Question F4). And yes, there is a little story told after roughly 7 minutes of crickets chirping.

Notice how it sounds like someone leaving a message on an answering machine? Seems Maynard's landlord called and left that message. Hence the liner notes' credit: "phone message: bill the landlord."

Here's a clip from M.E.A.T Magazine (5/94): "Paul explains it as 'getting together three pianos and shotguns smashed with sledgehammers and recorded to a six beat.' Funny how an ode to carrots could become so damn disturbing and guilt-laden." Entertainingly, Chris Haskett of Rollins Band gets a "sledge hammer" credit in the liner notes.

In BAM Magazine (11/94), the creation of the song is explained: "In May 1993, Tool performed at Scientology's Celebrity's Centre, apparently not knowing that this was the home of the cult. Once they found out, they were not taking it nicely. Between songs, Keenan, staring first at the lush grounds paid for by devoted L. Ron followers and then into the eyes of his own audience, bayed into the mic like a sheep looking for his shepherd's gate. "Baaaaa! Baaaaa!" the singer bleated."

+------------+
| G. "Ænima" |
+------------+

G1. "Ænima?" What's that all about?

The Tool tradition of mystery continues with the title for their latest album. The title is reported to be a mix of the words "Anima" (a Jungian term) and "Enema" (you know). It also perhaps pays homage to a book recommended on the band's snail-mail-list called "Ægypt."

As they do with good music, DJs across the country are butchering the pronunciation of this not-quite-a-word. Some of the band have been heard saying "enema"; though I'm told it is pronounced "ON-ima", giving a nod to the two words which comprise this title. This despite the fact that most words beginning "Æn--" should be pronounced "Een--", but they made up the word, so they can have their cake and eat it too, I suppose.

To represent that dipthong in HTML, you need to type an "&" sign, followed by "AElig;". So, to type the album title, enter:

& AElig;nima ...without that space after the &.

Mac users, type option-', or option-shift-'.
PC users, type ALT-1-4-5 or ALT-1-4-6, or ALT-0-1-9-8.

Depends. The LP and cassette cover are just that white-splashy-square image, properly known as the "Smokebox." That image did appear on video screens during the 1996-7 tour, in its animated form. The CD has a lenticular case, so the images appear animated. (Haha, ænimated). The CD cover has the Smokebox amidst a moving field of green eyes. That image was created by Adam and Cam de Leon.

Outside the US, the animated CD came in limited quantities. The new cover is the static Smokebox image with the words Tool and Ænima; the inside is a list of "Other Albums by Tool", complete with 16 bogus covers for these albums. These albums are, for the curious:

Gay Rodeo		Bethlehem Abortion Clinic
Bad Breath		The Other White Meat
Two Weiners For Daddy	Three Fat Brown Fingers
Mungey the Clown	I Smell Urine
The Christmas Album	Iced Pee
Spring Boner		Tetanus for Breakfast

Crapsteaks Smothered in Dictators
Nurse Ketimella's Kit'chen
Just Up That Dirt Road: Tool Live! at the Acropolis
Brown Magic and Big Appetites: Music from
      the Movie Soundtrack Jelly Donut

Here's some trivia about the back cover image. Mike (lindylou@teleport.com) shares this info on the green eye:

"The eye is very unhealthy acording to the study of iridology. The lighter area around the pupil is a sign of dropped transverse colon. The darker green areas in the iris are a sign of drug use or chemicals in the body. The dark green circles are tiny deposits of the substance. The texture of the iris, the harsh waves in the background of the iris, are a sign a body of low resistance and poor inherent ability to overcome difficulties. The starting of the second iris is screwed up too, but I don't think that iridology has anything to do with that."

Yep. Here's a list of the artwork in Ænima:

                              Vinyl          Cassette           CD

White square                    x               x
White square *                                                  x
Calif. falling into ocean *                                     x
Naked band pic *                                                x
Naked contortionist                             x               x
Bill Hicks painting             x                               x
Double-green-eye                x                               x
Double-green-eye *                                              x
Double-green-eye                                x
   (4 frames of *)
Blue man w/scalpel              x                               x
1 angel  w/green monster                        x               x
2 angels w/green monster                                        x
4 angels w/green monster        x                
"Contact Sheet" band pix        x

* = the animated / lenticular version.

The cassette also has two other paintings by Ramiro Rodriguez, described here by Eddie Bitetti (edbite@buttercup.cybernex.net):

"A painting of a man waist deep in water. You can't make out his face because it is very dark, but his stomach muscles are very defined. His head is back with his face up towards the sky with his arms back half covered by the water. It looks like if you were standing up and trying to get some sun, or like if you took a deep breath and throw your head and arms back. You can see his reflection in the water and there is a bluish-black colored backround. Overlapping the whole picture is sort of a spiral spiro-graph-ish drawing.

The other one has what looks like the bottom half of a woman's body. In front of her is a man in the fetal position. They are both nude. He seems to be floating there right in front of her, and she has her left hand on his back and her right hand goes down behind him and out of view. This also has that spiral thing overlapping it. This backround is black. I can't tell if this is the same man as the top picture, but you can see the side profile of his face and see that he has black hair."

Well, the animated images wouldn't have worked in the vinyl, that's for sure. A concrete answer not yet available.

In the second to last row on the 'contact sheet', in the second frame, is a tapestry with some arcane symbols; there are also such symbols on the center labels of each record. Someone asked around, and found this out:

The seven pointed star is the symbol for the goddess Babalon, an Egypitan goddess similar to Aphrodite. She symbolizes love and sexuality (that's one of the meanings, anyway), and the symbol is familiar to practicioners of ritual magik. The pentagram in the middle, where ritual magik is concerned, represents air, water, fire, body, and spirit. Each point of the star symbolizes one of these.

Whether this (in conjunction with the essay on Ritual Magik in the liner notes) represents something meaningful to the band, or just another well-fabricated fib, nobody can say.

Understandable. On the sofa, first of all, left to right, are Danny, Justin, Adam, Maynard. As to the contortionist's gender, well, Alana Cain is credited for this in the liner notes, so there you go. And in case you were wondering about the item on the floor; it seems that Maynard stands up to offer "the entertainer" a flower; notice that as he stands up, he throws it to the ground. Whew.

Matt Trainor (mtrainor@juno.com) did some homework and found this: "It is definitely referring to Ketamine (Vitamin K), a veterinary anesthetic noted by psychonauts and trippers as being HIGHLY dissociative (removal of self from body). It's used on cats and to restrain apes and monkies, just like the notes say. Apparently it also can cause something remarkably like the "near-death" experience experienced by those have been, well, near death. The out of body trip is supposed to be one of the most helpful/effective for self-development due to the completely objective view one gets of himself. This of course is highly relevent to the whole theme of the album in general."

It has turned out to be a direct quote from literature accompanying the drug.

A comedian, well-liked by the band. He passed away a few years ago. Notice he is listed in the liner notes for "Undertow" as well. And no, he didn't paint that painting, it was done by Kevin Willis (see Question E7). He has four CDs released on Rykodisc last spring; one of them is entitled "Arizona Bay."

Hicks had a strong influence on the band's work, which becomes clear after giving his CDs a listen. On a related note, Jordan Geiger (wngeiger@vax1.rainis.net) suggests another place you might want to check for insights into "Ænima" (such as LA falling, "Third Eye", "Forty-Six & 2", the artwork): "Nothing In This Book Is True But It Is Exactly How It Happened" by Bob Frisell (one of the many books on Tool's suggested reading list). More on Hicks as we go on...

Formerly called the "purple man" by this FAQ, it's a sculpture by Adam; the man has used that scalpel to open his "third eye" ("bright, blue, shimmering"). The face is based on a mold of Adam's face.

Say it one syllable at a time. Slowly. Over and over. To somebody else. If you really aren't up to the mental challenge, try this: "C ...".

True. Surprising, considering he was with them when they wrote "Pushit," "Stinkfist," "Eulogy," and "Ænema." (Paul's omission makes me feel better that I wasn't listed either... hehe.)

Part of that is info about this particular cult. Additionally, you may recall that this summer, an article was circulated claiming that the band did in fact sacrifice teenagers and drink their blood. Suffice it to say that the article was a perfect example of Tool's message that you can't always believe what you read, no matter who says it. (Unless it's in this FAQ, of course).

They likely just wanted a change.

Good ol' Maynard sent the lyrics in to http://toolshed.down.net, so they are all there, and for the most part, they are not discussed here.

The best answer anyone has come up with is that "lyrics will be available one way or another online; better that people read / quote / interpret the real thing than just guesses."

Sure is. Entertainingly, seems that for the entire first month that Ænima was out, only one person (Two2067@aol.com) noticed that the Texas-Oklahoma border is WRONG, and had this to say:

"Is Tool making some other statement; i.e. 'Oklahoma doesn't deserve such a long panhandle' or 'there should be two sets of 'four corners' in the US. ' =) "

No word yet on how this happened.

Flock has been described as "a fuzzy type of material, reminiscent of the furry stuff on tennis balls. It's just little fuzz that you can magnetically attatch to anything really." The Undertow ribs are flocked red, for example.

* G21. "Stinkfist" is great, but I don't see quite what it's about.

On the one hand, it could be taken literally, to be about fisting (hence all the penetration). It could also be taken more as a song about penetrating on another level, about one letting another in.

Jody Westmoreland (Jode8u@aol.com) offered his take on the song: "It is using a fist up the ass metaphor for the desensitizing of the public. Saying that when (in the 50's for example) there was nothing shocking, in order for the public to be shocked / stimulated, they had to see something new. It was uncomfortable at first but soon we grew used to it. The process continues so that now it takes the whole damn arm for us to feel / be stimulated by something. The speaker would have it 'no other way' ...stressing that we must be stimulated...never allowing the mind to rest."

It likely ties in to the "knuckle / finger / elbow / shoulder getting deeper within the borderline" theme. Interesting side note: there is a 1986 Clint Ruin (Jim Thirlwell) / Lydia Lunch song by the same name.

Someone who is not Tool censored out the words "knuckle, finger, elbow" from the MTV and (presumably) radio edits. Why? Because the powers that be think it's more offensive than the rest of the stuff you hear on the radio about sex, drugs, and violence.

* G25. "Stinkfist" was the first single off this album, but what came next?

Promo singles for "H." were issued; if that constitutes a single, then we have an answer. No "H." video is planned, though. An "Ænema" promo single came out, as did a video. A "Forty-Six & 2" promo single was also issued, no word on a video, though.

A number of people have submitted this as their answer: "Chupa minha pica pichu ; Chupa minha pica pinto." In the interest of not giving away too much too soon, the research is left to you.

As with most Tool songs, the song is vague enough that can be interpreted to be anyone / anything. The song is primarily about the death of something which most probably turned out to be a fake. Regarding the rumor that the band is no longer on good terms with Henry Rollins; he has recently been heard talking positively about Tool, saying he was unaware of any bad blood. One way or another, though, the song has a message that can stand apart from any specific target; the interpretation is left to you, and the specifics aren't too important.

Try "You - could be - the one - who saves - me from - my own - existence."

-- thanks to Dave Conklin (conklin@bobafet.nrl.navy.mil)

What he's saying later on, we don't know yet.

G30. OK, they have a song called "H." What's it stand for?

The working / early title for this song was "Half Empty." The H likely stands for that (or "Half Full"). It may represent the old "half-empty is interchangeable with half-full" notion. Of course, it could also stand for anything else. It's a safe bet that it does not stand for Heroin.

When introducing this song live in 1996, Maynard touched on the idea of having an angel sitting on one shoulder and a devil sitting on the other. In at least one interpretation, the song is about being very close to someone who is tearing you apart, someone you can't bring yourself to leave, but someone who will destroy you because you can't leave them. It is the price you pay for being close to them; they aren't doing it on purpose: "considerately."

G34. What's "Useful Idiot" supposed to mean?

This "segue" is simply the sound of a record reaching the end of a side. On vinyl versions of this album, this track appears right at the end of the first side. If you didn't know any better, you might think that "H." had ended, and that this song was missing.

Clearer info on what the title means is not yet available.

While there is still no definitive word on this, Sam Rowe (riddley@geocities.com) has proposed this as a possible answer:

"Join in my / Join in my child (and)
Listen ... / Digging through / My old numb shadow"

You could write a whole FAQ for this one question alone; the major underlying principles relate to chromosomes and Jungian theory. Some of the ideas behind this song are based on the teachings of Drunvalo Melchizadek. Here's a snip of an interview with him (Leading Edge, 12/95):

"There are three totally different kinds of humans on the Earth, meaning that they perceive the One reality in three different ways, interpreted differently. The first kind of human has a chromosome composition of 42+2. They comprise a unity consciousness that does not see anything outside themselves as being separate from themselves. To them, there is only one energy - one life, one beingness that moves everywhere. Anything happening anywhere is within them, as well. They are like cells in the body. They are all connected to a single consciousness that moves through all of them. These are the aboriginals in Australia. There might be a few African tribes left like this. Then, there is our level, comprising 44+2 chromosomes. We are a disharmonic level of consciousness that is used as a steppingstone from the 42+2 level to the next level, 46+2...These two additional chromosomes change everything."

Rachel Wells (eileen@loop.com) has written this moderately long, excellent summary of all the relevant Jungian concepts:

Anima / Animus (pronounced On-ee-mah):

In Jungian psychology, the anima refers to personality traits regarded as
feminine that are often repressed into the unconscious of males while the
animus refers to traits regarded as masculine that are often repressed
into the unconsciousness of females. 

Although suppressed from conscious awareness, the anima/animus influences
our behavior in powerful ways.  In most individuals,it is projected onto
people of the opposite sex and accounts for the experience of falling in
love with someone we hardly know. As the unconscious pole of the self, the
counter-ego represented by the anima/animus can also be a guide to one's
own unconscious realm.  It is often experienced as the guiding female (if
you're male) or male (if you're female) presence in dreams.

The Shadow:

In Carl Jung's personality theory, the ego represents the individual's
sense of personal self. The sense of personal identity is purchased,
however, at the expense of certain tendencies that are rejected as
'not-self'.  According to Jung, these rejected traits come together as a
kind of unconscious 'counter-ego' which he termed the shadow.

We may become unduly anxious or irritated when in an environment or around
a person that in some way reminds us of repressed aspects of our self. If
a person has rejected his or her own sex drive, for example, that person
may feel irrational fear or anger around an overtly sexual individual. 
The shadow may appear as a person im one's dreams, usually as an
individual of the same sex. 

Of all the archetypes, the shadow is the most powerful and potentially the
most dangerous. It represents everything about ourselves that we fear and
despise.

The meaning of 46 + 2:

According to Melchezedek, our planet is covered with geometrically
constructed 'morpho genetic grids'. These grids extend from about 60 feet
under the Earth's surface to about 60 miles above the Earth, arranged in
geometric patterns (see 'Sacred Geometry'). Each species has its own grid,
which supports life, and connects the consciousness of its particular
species. Before any species can come into existance or make an
evolutionary step, a new grid must be completed. When a species becomes
extinct, that particular species' grid dissoves. 

A new grid was completed in 1989 - the 'christ-consciousness' grid. This
grid will allow humans to evolve into our next version. We'll develop two
additional chromosomes (which are really 'geometrical images' designed to
resonate with our specific grid) for a total or 46 + 2.

The main change will be a shift to the "unity consciousness". Every cell
in your body has its own consciousness and memory. You, the higher being
that occupies your body, make the millions of different consciousnesses in
your body work together as one being. How does this relate to this grid?
Think of yourself as a cell and the grid as the higher being. We will
still have individual consciousness, but will be united in the form of a
higher being in order to work as one entity. 

Scientifically speaking, humans don't appear to be evolving new chromosomes (or much of anything else; thanks to technology). If you want to learn more, search the web or take a class!

G39. Is "Message to Harry Manback" an actual phone message?

Yep, someone left someone a threat. Yes, they actually meant it as a threat. So no, it wasn't concocted by the band. (Though the piano part was obviously added in to make it sound more like a love poem).

Danny had this to say about it in some interview:

"Message to Harry Manback is a recording of the words of an uninvited Italian guest who came to Maynard's house one day. A so-called friend of a friend of a friend of Harry's .... Before we finally managed to figure out that nobody really knew him, he had already emptied the fridge and run up a huge phone bill. He got kicked out of the house."

Harry Manback is a pseudonym for the real recipient of the message, presumably a past roommate of Maynard's: Hotsy Menshot of Green Jello.

G42. Is "Hooker with a Penis" directed at anyone in particular?

It seems to be aimed at folks who abuse / don't understand the concept of "selling out."

Some folks are aware that OG commonly means "original gangster". In the context of this song, OGT may well mean "Original gangster Tool"; that is, "Original Tool Fan" since '92 -- the first EP.

As usual, Maynard is just whispering away. Most notably, at 1:40 into the song, he says something which has so far only been deciphered as "consume (or consumer), be fruitful, and multiply." The term is actually a Bill Hicks quote. Other whispering, it has been suggested, is him reading a list of merchandise, though we don't know that for sure.

G46. "Intermission" sounds awfully familiar, doesn't it?

Yep, it's just a keyboard version of the main riff to "jimmy."

The singer is referring to himself at age eleven. Go listen to the song again, it will make a motherload more sense now.

All you get is a hint: he's listed in the liner notes. Read 'em slowly. Don't give up.

Yup, he spent some amount of his childhood there. At shows in Ohio, he mentioned a small town called Ravenna. Happy hunting.

(It really is, look closely). Because he's just a kid.

This "fact", reported in Rolling Stone magazine, was actually just a (big) mistake on their part; Maynard's mother is still alive.

The title means "The Eggs of Satan" (or "The Balls of Satan" = "Satan's Balls").

The secret is out now that everyone has translated it: it's a recipe for ... a certain kind of cookie. With no eggs. Complete lyrics are posted to http://toolshed.down.net's lyrics section.

"German" does not equal "Nazi."

It's yet another not-quite-a-word on this album. As Dr Teeth (Glyde@scc.net) suggested, long before we knew it was a one word title, the indeterminate "Push It on me" vs. "Shit on me" is resolved into "Pushit."

G57. I just don't understand "Cesaro Summability."

It seems that the baby crying is NOT Maynard's son Devo; it has been suggested that it is just a sample from Fried Green Tomatoes, or the show Absolutely Fabulous. The title is the name of a mathematical theorem describing a method of adding certain infinite series. As for what the segue means or why it's here, we may never find out.

In a nutshell, yep, it's about Los Angeles, California falling into the Pacific Ocean as a result of a big big big earthquake. If you take Maynard's advice and "don't just call him pessimist / try to read between the lines", you could probably take it to be about just generally cleansing and purging (hmm, that's the last line in "Flood.")

Gotta be one of those 'hand shaking smiley-faced' types. You know. Politicians.

Clearly, since "Ænema" the song title must have a different meaning than "Ænima" the album title; that whatever "Ænema" represents must not be representative of the whole album.

Right you are; that would be a typo. Want proof? Look VERY CLOSELY at the label on Side 3 of the vinyl, and you'll see the correct spelling.

Scott Cronshaw has this to say about the title: "They are supposed to be 'good' ions. They are found in high doses near waterfalls, streams, forests, etc. Negative ions have (reportedly) beneficial effects on humans ... increased metabolism, higher resistance to ailments and a generally more happy attitude. Positive ions, on the other hand, are 'bad' ... they can be found in mass quantities in cities, airports, garbage dumps, etc. Also, computer monitors output a large amount of positive ions. And, of course, positive ions are supposed to have the opposite effects on humans: depression, weight gain, sickness, etc."

-- thanks to scronsha@nh.ultranet.com

That would be the aforementioned Bill Hicks; those are snips of comedy routines of his, from "The War On Drugs" (off his CD "Dangerous") and "Drugs Have Done Good Things" (off "Relentless").

In fact, on his CD "Rant in E Minor," he refers to the power that heavy doses of hallucinogens have to "squeegee his third eye."

"Opened my eye (3x)
And there we were" -- repeat once. Simple.

Actually, there is a part of our brain called the pineal body (a tiny gland in the brain stem) which is nicknamed our "Third Eye", which is theorized to be extremely sensitive to light, and may be linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder. Neat.

+------------------------+
| X. Tool Side Projects. |
+------------------------+

Yup. Maynard sings a song called "Calling Dr. Love" on the Kiss tribute album "Kiss My Ass", along with bassist Billy Gould (Faith No More), guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk (both of Rage Against The Machine). They are collectively known as Shandi's Addiction.

He sings the "I've got no patience now / so sick of complacence now... " part in Rage Against the Machine's "Know Your Enemy."

He also sings the "not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin" part on Green Jelly's "3 Little Pigs." (Yes, Green Jelly as in originally Green Jello as in Jello Loft where the live tracks from "Opiate" were recorded).

He appears on the first Love Jones album, "Here's to the Losers", as well. He comes in during track 4 and sings for about 45 seconds.

On January 23, 1997, Maynard appeared onstage with Tori Amos, as she played a benefit show for her charity organization, RAINN. Together, they performed her song "Muhammad My Friend", and it was quite a duet.

He has been popping up doing cameo vocals at other recent live performances, including a Rage Against the Machine show.

He also sings a little on a song by Tim "Herb" Alexander/Mike Bordin on the album "Flyin' Traps," which features drummers. He's listed under a pseudonym of Gaylord C.

A long long time ago, he was in a band called C.A.D. No recordings of this band are available; demos of this group were almost offered for sale against the group's wishes.

See Question X5 for more details on side-project called "The Replicants."

Sure; he played drums on the western leg of the fall 1994 Pigface tour. He also used to play drums for Pygmy Love Circus, and has done percussion for Green Jelly and even for Carole King! He also plays drums for the band Zaum. He also played some drum clinics this past fall.

Well, we know that Adam worked on art / special effects for such movies as Jurassic Park and Terminator 2. He also played bass in a band in high school with Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine (the band name: Electric Sheep). And don't forget, he is largely responsible for their videos.

After leaving Tool, Paul practiced with Failure (a band who have opened for Tool) a few times, but did not join that band. He was working on his own project called Lusk, with Cris Pitman (from the Replicants and Zaum), and has an album out as of mid-April 1997. Lusk has reportedly broken up. See Question X5 for more details on "The Replicants."

On November 21, 1995, an album came out on Zoo Records (Tool's label) under the name "The Replicants." The album is a collection of eleven covers of old songs by Paul McCartney, Syd Barrett, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, the Cars, etc.

The Replicants themselves are Paul, Ken Andrews and Greg Edwards of Failure, and Cris Pitman of Zaum (a Danny side project). Maynard makes a guest appearance, singing McCartney's "Silly Love Songs".

More information is available via the discography (at the location listed in A3).

They had actually broken up shortly before Justin joined Tool. Note: this is not the same Peach with a few albums out on Caroline Records.

+---------------+
| Y. The Future |
+---------------+

There was a tour last fall and spring; they also headlined last summer's Lollapalooza. Busy busy busy. They may resume touring this spring. Check http://toolshed.down.net for further details.

With any luck, we'll get their cover of Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter" on CD sometime soon. Don't hold your breath for another album, reports from the Larrikin site that "they will start writing new songs as early as January" were contradicted by the Tool Newsletter in January, saying that no plans were in the works yet.

+-----------------------------+
| Z. Info about this Document |
+-----------------------------+

It was written by a Communications major at the University of Pennsylvania, who is now a Master's film student at the University of Miami. Why? Until 1994, there was no Tool FAQ. And the one question everyone wanted answered was "What's the line in the chorus of Sober?" And lots of people got sick of answering. But nobody could say "read the FAQ" since there wasn't one. And the rest is history. Thanks for reading it, by the way. Hope you learned something.

Z2. Who made that big ASCII thingy at the top?

It was dreamt up and submitted by Justin McKinlay (s338171@student.uq.edu.au).

* Z3. Who has helped out?

This FAQ would never have become what it is today without the help of LOTS of people; some of whom have pointed out typographical errors, some who have submitted answers. Here is a not-nearly-complete list of a whole slew of people who have helped out since the FAQ's inception in 1994:

gregt@fairlane.visix.com, azrael@grex.cyberspace.org, crowell@theochem.uwaterloo.ca, pier1@rpi.edu, ba560@freenet.carleton.ca, shane@globalx.net, deathro@PrimeNet.com, arsenio@wco.com, KDWST11@vms.cis.pitt.edu, Aspainhow@aol.com, vidariv@loke.hiof.no, 75377.22@compuserve.com, charris@i-max.co.nz, shade@paradoxnw.com, SDX@aol.com, opiate@megaweb.com, jolsen@mizar.usc.edu, mch20285@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu, fr4ulan@hugin.stud.hks.se, FearOfVir2@aol.com, boink@speednet.com.au, peschek@mail.nwlink.com, quinlans@forbairt.ie, freek@mindspring.com, eric@satanic.org, jvm113@psu.edu, jdwright@pomona.edu, beejay@hecubus.engr.sgi.com, elw01@gnofn.org, mtrainor@juno.com, kspaink@xs4all.nl, eeyore@getnet.com, flood777@juno.com, forrest@manawatu.gen.nz, aklink@engin.umich.edu, jkenny@MAILBOX.SLAC.Stanford.EDU, WigginsTT99.CS31.USAFA@usafa.af.mil, cactoid@kwest.com.au, mpage@nis.net, s328150@student.uq.edu.au, conklin@bobafet.nrl.navy.mil, pete_meincke@net.com, vaillancl@lces.scbe.on.ca, dbw3e@virginia.edu, brian@technonet.com, nshinbin@interlog.com, jcats@telis.org, dboyle@liquidaccess.net, thebadger@earthlink.net, swamp666@cris.com, Brian_Mafi@smtpgate.Mitchell.Com, moloch@benthos.cox.miami.edu, Shift619@aol.com, aksesper@iinet.net.au, barton-fink@juno.com, Manning.Cameron.CJ@bhp.com.au, ironic_chick@angry.org, pajamapeople@worldnet.att.net, brian@technonet.com, lgordon@vianet.net.au, GENOCIDEXX@aol.com, undertow01@geocities.com, brian@technonet.com, j.patton@bohm.anu.edu.au, mrperry@alpha.delta.edu, third-eye@juno.com, lee5@rohan.sdsu.edu, wgh@umich.edu, hpenguin@mindspring.com, and all the folks mentioned throughout the FAQ.

Thank you all, you've helped make this FAQ the best it can be. And of course, to Maynard for straightening out some of our unanswered questions.

Z4. Where can I get the most current version of the FAQ? Is this it?

You can always check http://toolshed.down.net for the most recent FAQ. For more info, see question A1.

* Z5. Can I copy bits of the FAQ? Can I put it on my home page? Can I send it to a friend of mine? Can I print it out? Can I quote it in a publication?

This document exists to answer people's questions; it wouldn't be very helpful if nobody could get to it. All I ask is that if you do copy any part of it, that you let me know. Private use (like printing it out / sharing it with someone) is of course, condoned. If you're going to quote it somewhere, again, just let me know, so I know. See also the next question.

Z6. Copyright and Distribution Information:

The Tool FAQ (list of Frequently Asked Questions) is (c) 1994 - 1997 Kabir Akhtar. This FAQ may not be reproduced in any form (in whole or in part) without permission. International copyright laws require that you obtain an author's permission to use any copywritten material.

Permission... if you want permission, all you have to do is ask. Unless you are planning on making millions without including me, I'll say "go for it." I'd just like to know to where the FAQ may find its way. Thanks in advance for taking the few seconds it takes to contact me.

* Z7. Has this FAQ made it out into the real world at all?

Various reporters for magazines have relied on it for interviews, as have radio DJs worldwide; check the note at the end of Question B. Others have even based parts of their FAQs on this one! If you do use this FAQ as a reference for some form of published material (online or print), please at least mention it, my name, or "toolshed.down.net." (Either way, it's only three words). While all the information here is free, it has taken a lot of work to publish it all here. You'd be amazed how many people have lifted paragraphs from here. Thanks!

Z8. How do you pronounce that damn K-name anyhow?

It's Kabir. Phonetically, it's "k'BEER." More info on Kabir is available at http://www.down.net. See you at a show.

End of FAQ. Dot your I's, cross your T's.