F O U R T H E Y E

Fourteen years after being cryogenically frozen as part of an experimental partnership between the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and Dairy Queen, guitarist Billy Howerdel has been successfully reanimated. He has since reunited with his band A Perfect Circle, ready for their massively anticipated new album, 'Eat the Elephant!'

"It was really relaxing," said Howerdel of his decade-plus spent suspended in cryopreservation. "You know, not having to respond to fan mail or write songs or eat or pee or do anything really."

Maynard James Keenan, vocalist and co-writer for A Perfect Circle, was on hand for Howerdel's unfreezing ceremony at the Dairy Queen in Wickenburg, AZ. The musician noted that while it was wonderful to have his bandmate back at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit again, helping him acclimate to life in 2018 has been challenging. "When he heard that Prince, David Bowie and Amy Winehouse all died, but Creed and the guys from 3 Doors Down are still around, I didn't think he was going to recover," said Keenan, who in addition to singing with a Perfect Circle, also fronts the bands Tool and Puscifer. "He was a big fan of Surreal Life and The Apprentice, too, and, well, I just don't have the heart to tell him what the hell happened there."

Howerdel believes Eat the Elephant may well be A Perfect Circle's finest work to date. "We hope the established rock critics at the major magazines and newspapers really embrace this album," he said. "It'd be great to get a mention in SPIN or Blender, but let's face it, when it comes to reaching fans — especially teenagers — nothing is more important than the opinions of middle-aged white men at our nation's great newspapers. That happens, and this CD will be flying off the shelves at Tower Records and Sam Goody!"
Howerdel added that in addition to print media, the band plans to heavily promote Eat the Elephant on its MySpace page.

"We haven't told him about any of that stuff yet either," added Keenan, who has also secretly pursued a career as beloved electro-crossover sensation Moby. "You have to do it in stages or he gets overwhelmed. How do you explain that every entitled idiot with an iPhone now has the power to immediately express their uninformed mean-spirited opinions under the banner of 'journalism'? "What's an iPhone?" asked Howerdel.

With a title like Eat The Elephant, A Perfect Circle's new record has clear political overtones that Keenan admits could stir up controversy. It's something he's all too familiar with — back in 2003, when he was fronting the Dixie Chicks as his alter ego Natalie Maines, Keenan landed in hot water after making disparaging remarks about President Bush. "Boy, was I ever wrong about that guy," he said, shaking his head. "What I wouldn't give to have ol' W back in the White House right now."

hellboy wrote:Interesting promo blurb for the new album:

Fourteen years after being cryogenically frozen as part of an experimental partnership between the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and Dairy Queen, guitarist Billy Howerdel has been successfully reanimated. He has since reunited with his band A Perfect Circle, ready for their massively anticipated new album, 'Eat the Elephant!'

"It was really relaxing," said Howerdel of his decade-plus spent suspended in cryopreservation. "You know, not having to respond to fan mail or write songs or eat or pee or do anything really."

Maynard James Keenan, vocalist and co-writer for A Perfect Circle, was on hand for Howerdel's unfreezing ceremony at the Dairy Queen in Wickenburg, AZ. The musician noted that while it was wonderful to have his bandmate back at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit again, helping him acclimate to life in 2018 has been challenging. "When he heard that Prince, David Bowie and Amy Winehouse all died, but Creed and the guys from 3 Doors Down are still around, I didn't think he was going to recover," said Keenan, who in addition to singing with a Perfect Circle, also fronts the bands Tool and Puscifer. "He was a big fan of Surreal Life and The Apprentice, too, and, well, I just don't have the heart to tell him what the hell happened there."

Howerdel believes Eat the Elephant may well be A Perfect Circle's finest work to date. "We hope the established rock critics at the major magazines and newspapers really embrace this album," he said. "It'd be great to get a mention in SPIN or Blender, but let's face it, when it comes to reaching fans — especially teenagers — nothing is more important than the opinions of middle-aged white men at our nation's great newspapers. That happens, and this CD will be flying off the shelves at Tower Records and Sam Goody!"
Howerdel added that in addition to print media, the band plans to heavily promote Eat the Elephant on its MySpace page.

"We haven't told him about any of that stuff yet either," added Keenan, who has also secretly pursued a career as beloved electro-crossover sensation Moby. "You have to do it in stages or he gets overwhelmed. How do you explain that every entitled idiot with an iPhone now has the power to immediately express their uninformed mean-spirited opinions under the banner of 'journalism'? "What's an iPhone?" asked Howerdel.

With a title like Eat The Elephant, A Perfect Circle's new record has clear political overtones that Keenan admits could stir up controversy. It's something he's all too familiar with — back in 2003, when he was fronting the Dixie Chicks as his alter ego Natalie Maines, Keenan landed in hot water after making disparaging remarks about President Bush. "Boy, was I ever wrong about that guy," he said, shaking his head. "What I wouldn't give to have ol' W back in the White House right now."

I think that must be the one that Maynard was referring to in the last Rolling Stone interview.

Also, you can now pre-order the album at JB-Hifi here in Oz and go into the running for a trip to Dallas to see the band: https://www.jbhifi.com.au/music/Whats-H ... yl/576837/

And rather than collaborate side-by-side with Keenan on each track from beginning to end, most of the vocals were done in Arizona and engineered by Puscifer's Mat Mitchell. It's a process Keenan now prefers for all his projects.

hellboy wrote:Was a really good interview I thought. Whole thing is here: https://www.revolvermag.com/music/mayna ... omed-world

I think Maynard is an astute media personality, and knows exactly how to make Tool related quotes that are likely to "outrage" and drive extra clicks. I doubt his relationship with Tool is anywhere near as hostile as some make it out to be.

hellboy wrote: Personally I see no reason to despise anyone I haven't met.