Oh yeah TOOL is an amazing band, i remember when i used to smoke alot of pot while listening to TOOL haha

Yeah I feel like Maynard recorded their songs high because I swear as good as they sound sober, they are so much more harmonious when listening to them high.

ah, yet another thread about tool and mars volta... time to chime in I guess...

Tool: I actually never felt like any of the songs were 'about' DMT. If anything related to DMT they are about what DMT is about - which is life, the universe, reality, perception, the divine, the ineffable, experience, love, abysmal darkness, light, etc etc. Many of the songs have kind of Shadow-Work aspects to them, working through traumas (Prison Sex)...
Others may be about spirituality (the whole Lateralus CD?). I think it's a bit of a limited perspective to think, just because they use fancy sentences like 'we are eternal all this pain is an illusion' means it refers to DMT. This kind of insight could have been gained by transcendental meditation, having a near death experience (a real one) or something completely unrelated. This could be something that comes straight out of the very core of Maynard's being without any thought directed towards teh DMT experiences he's had.

Personally I don't listen to Tool much these days, mainly because I can't stop listening to the mars volta... however I used to love listening to Lateralus on acid, and any other Tool when not on anything. I find it interesting to look at songs I've been listening to for 10 years and find new emotional connections to them after such a long time. To me this demonstrates that the music and the lyrics both are deep and came from a place where there was definitely more than reproduction.

Mars volta: WOW. No idea if they are trying to get across a message or just riding the surf of some kind of wild wave to see where it takes them. I love the mystery that surrounds their albums, like has anyone understood what Frances the Mute is about?? But the fact that they are so cryptic makes me listen even more and always try to figure out the story. It's one of my favorite hobbies... (kind of like watching David Lynch movies).
the music is just amazing. On DMT, on mushrooms on acid. eargasms is the right word. Or rather that my universal spirit is making love to the music..? I love when Cedric screams into the mic... so cathartic somehow.

The idea that Maynard was probably high when recording probably isn't too far off. He may not have necessarily been directly under the influence of psychedelics or even pot at the time, but personal experience has shown me that using entheogens and playing music together can induce a trance state that seems to allow the heart to flow directly into the music. Once this state has been attained once (not necessarily via entheogen use), further practice is all that's required to allow oneself to tap into this state of mind and truly 'play from the heart' at will.
I believe it is this quality that made every truly great musician and artist what they are.

I can definitely say I wouldn't have learned this so quickly if I hadn't been a fan of Tool long before I discovered psychedelics. As I've mentioned somewhere in another post, I chose Schism to blast-off to the first time I ever tried DMT. Set my space up with my laptop in front of me, vaped the spice, inhaled, and hit play. Let's just say I'm glad the song -starts- gently.

The rollercoaster ride that followed still blows my mind to this day, and some of the lyrics I think definitely flavoured the experience somewhat.. I definitely agree with Enoon, that the songs probably aren't specifically 'about' DMT, but they definitely relate to the same principles as was stated. Two particular lines in this song where the only ones that were really both clearly audible and memorable throughout.. "i know the pieces fit, because i watched them fall away".. just as my reality disintegrated around me, no less.. and "I've done the math enough to know" as I was coming back.. my loungeroom had reformed, but was laced with luminous edging and flowing, glowing mathematical equations which I at the time perceived to be the math behind creations light filtering down into physical structure.. or something like that - I still wish I'd paid attention to the equations themselves.. was a little to dumbfounded.

I really do like Tool, both as a musician and psychonaut they've helped me greatly - I think one of the reasons for this is that, Maynard has such an amazing ability to blend his vocals with the rest of the band. He isn't the "lead singer", he's the vocalist in an ensemble that produces an epic and unified sound. As such, the vocal tones become one with the entirety of the track.. I generally have to read Maynard's lyrics to get most of what he's saying anyways. This I find makes the lyrical content less limiting/grounding and more akin to flavour.

Can't speak as much on the Mars Volta, haven't given them a proper listen yet.. will have to do something about that soon.

That's so true, he doesn't even stand at the front of the stage most concerts. You'll see him in the back, off to the side, with a screen behind him. When he's not singing, he does some really interesting crazy psychedelic dancing

All this talk of the Mars Volta is making me want to give them another try. I tried to get into them when a friend was so insistent that they were amazing, but I just found it hard to get into. I'll have to listen to them again with a more open mind.

I suggest Frances The Mute album, and Deloused in the Comatorium. And if you can listen tripping, maybe better

The thing with Mars Volta is that their sound is much more 'agressive', loud, in your face, so it takes a bit to get the ear accustomed, but once you do, you'll see what we mean, its amaaaaazing

Thanks for the suggestions.

I listen to some vicious metal much of the time, so I won't have a problem with their aggressive sound I just don't think I gave them a fair shot when I first heard them.

Agree completely. Tool has changed my life and allowed all my lessons to melt with my subconscious. I have maybe 2 or 3 experiences of actually using DMT and none of which involve Tool. ALL of my LSD experiences and others are CONSUMED with TOOL!!! Its almost like he's speaking with me directly. All the lessons I learned in my trips eventually caught up to me while playing Tool songs over and over again...lol. After all my experiences I am a firm believer of self exploration with hallucinogens. Those that are afraid are only afraid of what they'll find. You're only running from yourself, I know I did for years. Until my recent guide, I was scared shitless to try it at all. To have an experienced guide as well as one you love, helps you drops the walls needed faster than normal...forcing yourself to deal with yourself. Tool makes my life make sense...makes everything make sense. Be aware that no matter how much you think you've learned from Tool or know about their songs, they will surprise you time and time again. I dont agree with much of what many people say the songs mean to them and I think thats exactly what they wanted. To each their own right?!? Maynard meant for each experience to be different for the person at that exact moment in their life.

I hope you continue to heavily use Tool in all your self exploration or just listen to it in general. Best of luck to you in all your travels. As Maynard said, Free yourself from yourself...

[quote=Skye Bird]http://www.toolband.com/identity/danny/main.html

http://toolnavy.com/showthread.php?t=12063[/quote]



dude...regarding that article with Danny...that insane shit at the end...is he being serious?

None of them?? Rosetta Stoned Other than that though I agree, most of them aren't really directly about DMT or other drugs

the song reflection on lateralus is one of my favorites, when the mood is right. also intention on 10,000 days i really like. and all the rest anytime

i was thinking about that too they could just be messin with people who look way too deep into the music. seems a wee bit over the top

I definitely feel Tool is open to each persons interpretation. I think the lyrics have a base line but the lesson learned or information gained from each song is dependent upon the listener and where they are in their life at that moment.

The Mars Volta, Tool, and Phish are the most enjoyable live performances I've experienced.

I enjoy Maynard having performed on Rage Against The Machine's "know your enemy"

I super enjoy John Frusciante's frequent guitar contributions to Mars Volta. Omar and John Frusciante together?

John Frusciante is another artist of high quality on all fronts. Omar actually plays on Frusciante's 2005 "curtains" album. Mostly an acoustic album.

i hate tool.

Just saw Tool last night down here in Florida. Show was incredible, Maynard definitely has a stage presence that is unmatched, he seems humble, not wanting to be in the forefront. I have to say that it was awesome to see the crowd going bananas. For the type of music that it is, Tool is one of the best at it, I generally prefer Reggae, Dub, Hip-Hop so it was a nice change of pace.

Tool is good. REAL GOOD ive done a few journeys while under the influence of tool and there is just something about the off beat drumming that makes their music alot of fun to hear wile on psychedelics.

Funny!! Tool was just in Fl
Like just played the other day

Anyone wanna go see them? I live in Minnesota but they aint comin here.

Was it new material they played?