A perfect union of contrary things d Continue Sprecher: Rufus Beck 5 out of 5 Stars Sprecher: Nina West 4.5 out of 5 Stars Sprecher: Hape Kerkeling 4.5 out of 5 Stars Sprecher: Mark-Uwe Kling 4.5 out of 5 Stars Spre Simon Jaeger 4.5 out of 5 Stars Sprecher: Catherine Frelich 4.5 of 5 Stars Maynard was always very private man, who shied away from the spotlight (literally-he sings in a dark corner at the back of the stage) so the fact that he agreed to tell his life story was to me both intrigued and doubtful. The memoirs follow his life from child, to student, to soldier, to rockstar, to vintner, but I have often had the feeling that the book has come up against the limits of what he is willing to share with the public. This is not your typical rock star (auto) biography. MJK just about Maynard has always been a very private person who shied away from the spotlight (literally-he sings in a dark corner at the back of the stage), so the fact that he agreed to tell his life story to me is both intrigued and doubtful. The memoirs follow his life from child, to student, to soldier, to rockstar, to vintner, but I have often had the feeling that the book has come up against the limits of what he is willing to share with the public. This is not your typical rock star (auto) biography. MJK provides only some quotes interspersed throughout, while the bulk of it is written in the third person by Sarah Jensen, whose writing style is very fluffy and floral-at the beginning I often had to remind myself that I read as it comes across almost like a fictional story. Writing is somewhat distant and careful (as I said, I think not all that much to say about things Maynard is willing to publish), but is often worshipped, which is where the fact that Sarah Jensen is an old and close friend shines through. Another caveat: If you approach this as a fan of Maynard musician, and only want tales of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll, you'll be disappointed-it's about Maynard's very introspective and sometimes struggling man, and the choices he made in the way of his life that ultimately led him, among other things, to be a member of several successful bands. It is about the things that shaped him as a man and then his art; but the tool isn't even mentioned until more than halfway, and if that's what you came in, you'll definitely be thrilled with the lack of (new) information. In the first part, we learn about his family's origins and childhood in the Midwest, his athletic accomplishments in high school, and his army service, where, given the opportunity to enroll in the Military Academy, he dropped out of art school instead. The second half of the book is more vivid and interesting, and concerns his fear of not fulfilling his potential as he dabbled in various jobs and hobbies, and finally his rise to the status of a musical legend (and Pretty rapid growth it was-Tool got a record deal after playing all four live shows) and a successful winemaker. If you don't go into expecting That Maynard's inner life and secrets are laid bare for your consumption (which if you know anything about the person you wouldn't), it will provide a pleasant insight into a life driven person with an insane amount of determination, passion, creativity, and above all, interests and talent. I learned some new things and it managed to increase my respect and understanding of his art.—————All my book reviews can be found here Buy on BookDepository... more Sarah Jensen, with Maynard James Keenan. Backbeat, the $29.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-4950-2442-9 Keenan, lead singer-songwriter for the Grammy Award-winning alternative metal band Tool, calls himself a world-class multitasking in its e-mail signature, and first-time author Jensen details all the various kinana-leading musical projects side-by-side Perfect Circle and Puscifer; Caduceus Cellars owner and winemaker; The aspiring actor and comedian is in this entertaining biography, which also serves as a look at one of the most important and influential bands of the 1990s. Of course, to please many fans of the instrument, Jensen's look at Keenan's development as a personality and artist is comprehensive, embracing Keenan's Midwestern youth and his time in the military (which supported his subsequent time in art school), his life in Boston working in a pet shop, and his move to Los Angeles in the late 1980s, where, along with groups such as Fury Machine, , the instrument helped redefine the sound of metal (primary cry was the key to making his sound sincere) and carefully developed a radical stage show. Jensen perfectly describes how Keenan used the talent of the lyrics to play visual and auditory to create a provocative siestesis. And it gets Keenan to come out because of his carefully crafted persona to look back on his life and career and recognize that most of them had dumb luck and trust. You step over the edge into darkness. Bliss finds you. (November) No, no. This © 2016 By Sarah Jensen and Maynard James Keenan All Rights reserved. No part of this book can be reproduced in any form without written permission, with the exception of a newspaper or magazine reviewer who would like to quote brief excerpts in connection with the review. Published in 2016 Backbeat Books Imprint Hal Leonard LLC 7777 West Bluemound Road Milwaukee, WI 53213 Trade Book Division Editing 33 Plymouth St., Montclair, N.J. 07042 Printed in United States Illustrations ramiro Rodriguez Book designed by Michael Kellner Ian Keenan photo from 1972 Mason County Central High School Yearbook. All school sports photos and mock election photos from 1982 County Central High School yearbook. Lines from Little, Big John Crowley, published in 1981 by Bantam Books. Used by John Crowley. Lines from Burn About Out © 1986 by Maynard James Keenan. Used by resolution. Lines from Oreste © 2000 by Billy Howerdel and Maynard James Keenan. Used by resolution. Lines from the oceans © 2011 by Maynard James Keenan. Used by resolution. Lines from Humbling River © 2010 by Maynard James Keenan. Used by resolution. The Library of Congress Cataloging in the publication of data is available on request. ISBN 978-1-4950-2442-9 www.backbeatbooks.com For Kjiirt the foreword punk Psychopomp Maynard James Keenan is a mysterious fountain of permanent creation. From his heartbreaking lyrics and extraordinary music in several bands to his startlingly delicious wine, he's a smear of our culture like no other artist. He has saddled guises and genres and makes us wonder what can fuel such an original superhuman output. Behind every extraordinary person is a crisis, overcome. Most fans of Maynard's work understand the significant impact of his mother's health and faith. From the age of 11, Maynard was destined to be different because his life at home set him apart from his peers. Both the creative artist and the shaman are the classic outsiders of traditional society; their experience of alienation, disease and mortality gives them a unique perspective, a modified condition. This allows them to see things that others can't. Native Americans have a tradition of hayoka, opposite, jester or sacred clown. Hayoka says he moves and reacts in the opposite way to the people around them. Maynard embodies both the trickster and the archetype of human medicine. Unsurprisingly, he lives in an area near Sedona where kachin, the cheat god and powerful natural forces are connected. In my art for the lateralus instrument album, the flaming central point is the throat. I saw the magic of the word empowering music and giving it a unique poetic depth and height. Maynard floats in these depths, so his songs become the soundtrack of the soul, a recognition of our united unconscious ascending forward. Once I visited his house in the Hollywood Hills and saw his amazing collection of sculptures by the outsider artist Stanislav Shukalsky. Maynard is not only an artist, but also surrounds himself with eccentric and amazing works of art. The rock star, who writes songs performed by millions of people, is a man of power. Enthusiastically elevating crowded stadiums around the world night after night is pure shamanic magic. MJK is renowned for its uncompromising artistic integrity and willingness to confront frightening themes. By luring listeners into the collective shadow, he directs us to what is and needs healing. After all, why are we going to a rock concert or a shaman? An enthusiastic leader is in contact with a higher level of creative creativity and becomes a conduit for powerful transformative energies. We go to the show to try this supreme reality, the source of all the good, the true and the beautiful. Without saying a word, we feel his love running through everything he does. Maynard's message points us to ourselves, and the lesson of his life is our artistic task: to be positively intoxicated with life, to be true to yourself, to spiral, to keep going, to continue to grow. Alex Gray co-founder, CoSM, Chapel sacred Mirrors Wappinger, New York February 2016 Prologue The houselights dim and the crowd on their feet, expectant. And when a man in a concealed Italian suit takes his microphone, they swing in time and nod to the drums and bass and join him in every word.