TOOL

Tool is an American progressive metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1990. The group consists of vocalist Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones, drummer Danny Carey, and bassist Justin Chancellor, who replaced founding member Paul D'Amour in 1995. Tool has received multiple Grammy Awards, undertaken international tours, and achieved commercial success with several chart-topping releases.

The band has released five studio albums, one EP, and one box set. Tool first gained attention with a heavy metal-influenced sound on their debut full-length album "Undertow" in 1993, following the earlier EP "Opiate" in 1992. They became associated with the progressive metal movement with their second album "Ænima", released in 1996. Their later work, including "Lateralus" in 2001 and "10,000 Days" in 2006, incorporated elements of musical experimentation, visual art, and thematic exploration of personal development, contributing to both critical and commercial success. Their fifth studio album, "Fear Inoculum", was released on 30 August 2019 and received widespread critical acclaim. Prior to its release, the band had sold more than 13 million albums in the United States.

Tool has been described as a style-transcending act, drawing from progressive metal, avant-garde metal, post-metal, psychedelic and art rock. The band has maintained a complex relationship with the music industry, including disputes over censorship and a preference for privacy.

The members of Tool relocated to Los Angeles during the late 1980s. Maynard James Keenan and Adam Jones met in 1989 and began collaborating musically, later joined by Danny Carey and Paul D'Amour. After performing locally, the band signed with Zoo Entertainment and released the EP "Opiate" in 1992, featuring tracks such as "Hush" and "Opiate". The band toured extensively in support of the release.

In 1993, Tool released "Undertow", which expanded their sound and included singles such as "Sober" and "Prison Sex". The album achieved commercial success and was certified platinum. During this period, the band performed at major festivals including Lollapalooza.

In 1995, Paul D'Amour left the band and was replaced by Justin Chancellor. The following year, Tool released "Ænima", produced by David Bottrill. The album was dedicated to comedian Bill Hicks and included tracks such as "Stinkfist" and "Ænema". Despite issues with censorship, the album achieved commercial success and was later certified multi-platinum. The band toured internationally and headlined major festivals.

During the late 1990s, Tool became involved in legal disputes with their record label and management, which delayed further releases. In 2000, the band issued the box set "Salival", which included live recordings, a new track, and reinterpretations of earlier material.

In 2001, Tool released "Lateralus", which marked a further development in their progressive and experimental style. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy Award for the track "Schism". The band supported the album with extensive touring, including a series of performances with King Crimson.

Their fourth studio album, "10,000 Days", was released in 2006 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album included the single "Vicarious" and continued the band’s commercial success, although it received a more mixed critical response compared to its predecessor. Touring continued throughout this period, despite some interruptions.

Between 2012 and 2019, Tool worked intermittently on new material while touring. Delays were attributed to legal issues and other commitments. In 2019, the band released "Fear Inoculum", their first album in 13 years. The album topped charts internationally and won a Grammy Award for the track "7empest". Around the same time, the band made their catalogue available on digital streaming platforms.

In 2020, Tool postponed and cancelled tour dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, they released a re-recorded version of "Opiate" titled "Opiate²". From 2022 onwards, the band began developing material for a sixth studio album, with members indicating ongoing writing and recording activity and a possible release targeted for the late 2020s.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_(band)

Studio albums
Undertow (1993)
Ænima (1996)
Lateralus (2001)
10,000 Days (2006)
Fear Inoculum (2019)