Tool’s Maynard James Keenan and Adam Jones recently shared insights into the band’s potential new material.
In an appearance on the Loudwire Nights podcast, the duo touched on a variety of topics, including their admiration for Black Sabbath and future plans for Tool.
When questioned about their goals for the upcoming year, Keenan remarked, “I guess we’ll be writing. Adam, are you busy?”
Jones confirmed, stating, “We want to release another record and get back to performing. The three of us have been jamming together. It’s a continuous process, even if it doesn’t officially feel like it’s begun. While we’re prepping for tours or other activities, someone usually brings up a new idea, and soon we’ll dig in deeper.”
He recounted a moment when he played a riff, and Keenan noted it had a Black Sabbath vibe. Jones added, “I’ll probably nudge the guys again about turning that into a future Tool song. I have plenty of riffs; we just need to assemble them, break them down, and craft something we all resonate with.”
During the podcast, they also reflected on the passing of Ozzy Osbourne.
“It was truly devastating,” Jones expressed. He recalled fond memories of older kids blasting Black Sabbath tunes while skateboarding, and how surreal it felt when he got the chance to perform at OzzFest and meet the Osbourne family.
In July, Tool participated in Black Sabbath’s ‘Back To The Beginning’ concert in Birmingham, where they performed a rendition of the classic 1970 track ‘Hand of Doom’ from the album Paranoid.
Additionally, Tool’s drummer Danny Carey took part in a drum circle alongside musicians from bands like Mastodon and Gojira, showcasing a collaborative spirit during Mastodon’s cover of ‘Supernaut’. Carey and Jones also formed a supergroup with Billy Corgan, Tom Morello, K.K. Downing, and Rudy Sarzo during the event.
Reflecting on their cover of ‘Hand Of Doom,’ Keenan said, “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. It took Ozzy almost passing for me to convince the guys to go through with it.”
In a previous interview, Tool’s Justin Chancellor discussed the band’s relationship with their fans and whether new music might come in the form of single releases or intimate club shows.
When asked if the band feels pressured to create new material, he responded, “We absolutely do it on our own terms. The pressure usually comes when we announce we’re working on something new, at which point we make predictions on release dates, and we worry about disappointing people if we can’t meet those timelines.”
He added, “It’s encouraging that fans are eager for new music, but they need to understand that creating art isn’t always straightforward or timely. Each piece has its own rhythm and schedule.”
Chancellor expressed the band’s desire to evolve, noting, “We’re aware that staying together for this long is rare, which adds to our motivation to progress and create something fresh. Whether we’ll achieve that remains uncertain, but we’re confident we can. Tool’s approach has always been experimental, so the final outcome is never guaranteed.”
