Tool, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Keenan reckons that the current global situation is just “the beginning” of the shift from how we lived to how we will continue.
As the world continues to go through the global pandemic, numerous musicians have chatted about their thoughts on COVID-19, and how they envision how we’ll move past it, with Maynard James Keenan being the latest musical maestro to toss his two cents in.
Chatting with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe after the release of Puscifer’s fitting ‘Apocalyptic’ song earlier this month, Maynard James Keenan detailed how he’s handling the current state of things, and what he foresees for the future.
Although typically this season would see Maynard out on the road for a tour with one of his many bands, he noted that he’s currently staying at home where he’s watching the fruit of his orchards blossom.
“Well, normally this is the road season, gearing up for harvest in July, August, September, October. So, this is the time that I would be out. If I’m going to be away from home, this is the perfect time,” he detailed.
“Unfortunately, actually, for the last seven years, I’ve missed a lot of things in my orchards, like apricots, come on. I just saw them today, they’re starting to come on. So, I usually miss the apricots, miss the plums, all the stuff that’s just coming on during this particular season. So, this is nice for me to be home, to be able to touch the things that I planted 15 years ago.”
After noting that it’s nice to not miss the little things back home, Maynard shifted into what he thinks will come of this pandemic era we’re living through, saying that he feels “like this is the beginning” of adjustments we’ll have to make.
Love Metal?
Get the latest Metal news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more
“Things shifting, climate change, adjustments, readjustments, realignments. We’re probably going to see a lot more of these things, because right when you get in that group, you think you’ve got it all figured out, there’s something that will come out of left field that takes you out at the knees. And why wouldn’t it be microscopic?,” he queried.
“You’ve heard people talk about ice caps melting and it releasing crazy things that we haven’t seen in millennia. This could be training for that. So, get used to it, figure out what you’re going to do.”
Although the reality we could be living through after the pandemic is over is a bit harsh, Maynard is trying to ensure he keeps his mind open to everything.
“I feel like we’re going to go through a lot of changes. We’re going to go through a lot of growing pains. I’ve tried to keep open minded about things, not always just assume you’re right just because you’re successful and reevaluate those things.”
Then, he refers back to his garden in one final metaphor to show how a simple moment can effect history: “Last night we had pasta with tomatoes and basil from our garden, drinking our own wine. It’s one of those things that didn’t happen overnight.”
“We had to work for that. You had to pay attention to that. You had to be in touch because some things just don’t grow everywhere. You have to be in touch with where you are, where you’re going and I could claim, ‘Look how I was right 25 years ago when I planted that orchard and planted that garden.’ That’s absurd. I was just like planting things.”
Check out Maynard James Keenan in Puscifer’s ‘Apocalyptic’:
