Introduction

Maynard James Keenan is the singer known from the bands Tool and A Perfect

Circle as well as from his recent side project . Beginning in 1990, Tool have become highly influential for several music movements, produced multi-platinum selling records topping the charts in several countries, and won three Grammy Awards, yet due to their intense and multi-layered music, they have remained an alternative act;

A Perfect Circle met with similar response. Unlike most of music bands, Tool are a democratic group in the sense that no “spokesman” for the band exists and A Perfect

Circle was started by its guitarist Billy Howerdell; however, Keenan’s lyrics are important, for they provide a context for the music. He approaches many issues in his songs, such as personal feelings, manipulation, social criticism, hypocrisy, religion or censorship. Nevertheless, there is one theme underlying his lyrics: evolution.

In my thesis, I will discuss the theme of evolution appearing in Maynard James

Keenan’s lyrics. While this theme may not be unique in contemporary lyrics, Keenan addresses it from a different, matchless perspective in effort to broaden horizons of his listeners. The thesis will also show that while Keenan’s lyrics are often considered dark, they are, in fact, positive and optimistic.

The work is divided into three parts. The first part deals with Keenan’s life as well as his work. This part will portray Keenan’s biographical background, which is important for his lyrics, as well as point out his current cultural status. The second chapter discusses Keenan’s evolution lyrics. I have divided Keenan’s evolution lyrics into three different categories. And the last chapter of the thesis deals with Keenan’s religious music, which form substantial segment of his work. Although often perceived

1 as opposed to faith, the thesis will show that the singer is only critical of some tendencies of organized religion.

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1. ’s Life and Works

1.1 Background

Maynard James Keenan, born James Herbert Keenan, was born in Ravenna,

Ohio to a Baptist family (Mahaffey), which had large impact on his future career

(Wilding). During his youth he moved very often, living in Ohio, Michigan, New

Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas (Mahaffey). In 1982 he entered the army, attending the United States Military Academy Preparatory School’s class of 1984

(“Tool – the Band”). Along being a member of the wrestling and cross country teams, he also joined the Glee Club 1 and the Knight Crier 2. Keenan claims that his army experience taught him “a lot about the lowest common denominator for human behavior when trapped in closed quarters” (Schalin). “You’d think that integration would end up breaking down barriers,” Keenan continues, “but all it does is strengthen them.”

Although receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy (Akhtar, 2), he chose to study art at Kendall College of Art and Design in Michigan, one of the best in that area (Schalin). In fact, the Army College Fund allowed Keenan to go to art school (Keenan and Patton). His studies led to a work in L.A. where he applied Feng

Shui spatial design concepts to pet stores (Mahaffey), after that he worked in set design for the film industry. He was a member of several bands during 1980s: he played the bass in the band TexA.N.S. (Tex & the Anti Nazi Squad) and then he formed

Children of the Anachronistic Dynasty.

Tool was formed in the year 1990. Keenan, while collaborating with comedy heavy metal band Green Jellÿ (Keenan made an cameo appearance on their 1992 song

“Three Little Pigs”), met guitarist Adam Jones, a graduate of the Hollywood Makeup

1 West Point Prep’s official choral music ambassadors.

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