Tool’s February newsletter has just been posted and unlike most of Blair’s riddles, mindfucks and nonsense, he offers a good amount of detail Tool fans will appreciate regarding the upcoming LP. On top of this, he once again mentions a “Tool Project” that has been in the works for some time.

I had written an article some time ago explaining why I believe that Tool will be releasing a movie much like Pink Floyd’s The Wall in the unforseen future. Since that time, some new clues have emerged and I feel it my duty to enlighten you all and share the good news!

Before I do that…….

Here’s a recap:

-Band has been tossing around ideas for a ‘movie’ for quite some time

-May 31, 2012, Toolband released a picture of a severed arm with the caption, “Heres a production still form a new TOOL PROJECT that should be out in the Fall.”

-JUSTIN CHANCELLOR was quoted saying, “We are currently working on the biggest project of our lives.”

-The longest wait between albums

Read Article

Now onto more clues…

1. TOOL ‘video’ tee-shirt

“While looking for *********, I saw some guy wearing a programmable display (UV) TOOL ‘video’ tee-shirt. Glancing at it, I could hear the haunting sonic structure of one of the new songs accompanied by the bizarre, vibrant, Adam Jones imagery (yes, on the soft, flexible ‘screen’ material – which, of course, was made from the best quality cloth-plants).”

-Tool Newsletter, Nov 2011

I don’t know why this post wasn’t more talked about four years ago. Blair just clearly told us that there is new Tool MUSIC accompanied by a VIDEO. One could argue that it was perhaps just a new music video and not a movie. While that could be the case, there’s plenty more reasons to assume it is the MOVIE.

2. That damned Dry-Erase board

“I found myself scratching my head in disbelief while examining that damned Dry-Erase board that the band members are so fond of. Although I knew that I was looking at a new musical arrangement (with verses, time signatures, and stops)…Taking a final glance, I noticed the magical words, “The End.” I assume that this means that the musical arrangement for this particular tune is finished. Or does it just mean that the guys know where and how it will end?”

-Tool Newsletter, Jan 2015

Or could it be that these words mark the end of something that isn’t only a musical arrangement? Where do we most often see the words, “The End?” At the end of a work of literature or at the end of a film. It would be right to assume Tool is not working on a novel so that leaves us with music, film or both.

3. Tool in studio

A video emerged last month showing ADAM JONES in the same recording studio as MOTORHEAD and in it he says that they are “working on some tunes.” Finally, Tool is recording/tracking the long-awaited LP…or so we all thought.

Blair refuted the claim that they were recording/tracking the new LP and gave four possibilities of what they could be doing. You may go and check out the options for yourself, but here’s the answer that’s most likely to be the true one (if anything Tool/Blair says is true).

“c) Rather than tracking anything, the members of the band were in the studio mixing music that was recorded sometime ago, which might not have anything to do with the next Tool album (which is still in the writing/arranging process), but might be used for another Tool project that has been in the works for a while, of which I am currently not at liberty to add any further details.”

-Tooband News, Feb 16, 2015

ALSO

“With regards to the chance meeting between members of Tool and their friends in Motorhead in the same recording facility – this had absolutely nothing to do with the preparation, recording, mixing or mastering! of a new Tool album. Instead, it concerned another Tool project that has been in the works for a while. In fact, when I first heard about this project (way back when), I mentioned it in a news post as being a “curve ball” – meaning that it would be something unexpected by most Tool fans (as it was to me). Since then, some fans have guessed what this is, while others remain clueless…”

-Tool Newsletter, Feb 2015

So Tool is not ONLY working on a new album, but also working on, perhaps finishing, a project that has been in the works for a while. How long could this recorded material date back to? I might be inclined to think that maybe they are planning on just releasing never before heard audio from over the years, but would they really call that a ‘project?’

———————————————————————————————————————————————–

I actually had a chance to speak with Maynard at a Q&A at the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles. Luckily, it was captured on video for me to share with you! When I bring up the idea of Tool making a movie, he seems (to me) to get a little uncomfortable. Not that this is solid evidence, but body language can tell a lot.

Watch Video

Blair has been bombarding us with clues about this ‘Tool Project’ and as of recently, it has become quite clear that a movie is in the works on top of a separate new LP. Given that Tool doesn’t fall short of the usual 80 minute mark on their ‘movie’ and new album, we possibly have 2 hours and 40 minutes worth of new Tool material to sink our teeth into.

It’s hard to guess when and how the new stuff is going to be released, but my best guess is to expect the new album on the 10 year anniversary of 10,000 Days in 2016. As for the movie, maybe we will see it sooner than later.