Maynard James Keenan has multiple outlets to express himself, yet even he's surprised at the intense expectations heaped upon his first band Tool. During a chat with the Phoenix New Times, the rocker was asked about why critics and fans tend to take a more serious approach in their view of the band than his other projects.

"It's weird. It's shouldn't be," stated Keenan. "I mean, this one's named dick [Tool], this one's named vagina [Puscifer]. That's the start there, okay?" The vocalist says that Tool was initially founded with a sense of humor, stating, "It's there, but people miss it because they're so focused on the other bulls--t. It's lost. Insufferable people … it's just ridiculous, retards. I'm sorry, can't help them. Way too serious. Too much. Lighten up."

Given that the band hasn't released an album since 2006 and there has been talk of movement on new music over the last couple of years, the inevitable question about the next Tool disc is asked, but Keenan responds, "There's nothing to say. I can't."

Tool are getting together for their lone remaining tour date of 2015 at the Monster Mash Music Festival on Halloween in Tempe, Ariz. When asked by the Phoenix New Times if he had to rally the band to play the show, Keenan replied, "No, they had to con me into it." The following day, Keenan will switch gears and perform at the same festival with Puscifer, kicking off that band's late fall trek. Puscifer are currently supporting their new album Money Shot. Dates can be found here.

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