Maynard James Keenan of Tool/ A Perfect Circle

[RichardL]

Speaking of douchebags, A few days ago, I bought a ticket and met Maynard James Keenan. It cost me 250 bucks, and the man refused to shake my hand or even acknowledge me. He had his security guard escorting the fans meeting him out within a few seconds after getting their CDs signed. My buddy Jim brought a t-shirt to give to Maynard as a gift, and Maynard told the security guard that he didn't want the shirt, and he literally threw the shirt back at him!
My friend Allison said there were no women getting backstage.

Does anyone have some recent experiences with Maynard?
I will never spend any more money seeing him, the least he could have done for the 250 bucks my friend paid is shook his hand back or acknowledged him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdjnmSXxwWs Someone made a youtube video about their experience with him

[Orionslavegirl1]

He sounds self conscience. More so than Trent Reznor.

Also if i may add- isn't it 250 for a wine tasting session/lesson/tour? Maybe he wants to be taken seriously as an wine connoisseur. And if i may add,I would never do a meet and great for said reason. Sometimes you pay for something and get absolutely nothing.

But on a side note- I went to the Apollo last week to see his band Puscifer ( i love all things Maynard) and they were absolute Nazi's when it came to doing anything electronically. I tried texting and that was a no-no. And they pulled out some dude who took a photo-like he was under arrest. I thought that was the Apollo and i was like HUH. But then i remembered a friend went to a wine signing and they were like that too (and had a similar experience to the dude in the video)

Not defending the dude-even though i love Maynard- but let the buyer beware.

Sorry you had a bad experience.

[RichardL]

It wasn't just one bad experience. It was several-me, my friend, and my other friend Allison at a different show. Yes, it is a business transaction, I am paying 250 bucks to meet Maynard James Keenan and a ticket. The wine tasting for 250 bucks is a separate event that you pay for, and there he makes no guarantee that you can talk to him at all. He could have at least said "thanks" or "enjoy the show tonight" as we went up to him. Instead, he refused to even let me say anything at all, and said "Here's your signed CD," and his security guard ushered the people in line out.
I should really be thanking him-he's saved me hundreds of dollars because I plan on buying no more Tool/ APC merchandise or go to see him play again.
Maybe I should have spent the 250 bucksinstead to meet Trent, then I could have told him what I thought of his recent online behavior to the fans. I bet he would have answered me. Joke.
Anyone else have a similar experience with Maynard J Keenan?

[amouthfulofsin220]

From my very limited observation, Maynard seems (key word being seems) to be very sincerely camera/fame shy. He's already given the audience as much as he's going to with his poetry, which is very open and explicit, and maybe he feels he owes them (the audience, the fans, whatever) absolutely nothing more.

I think it's fair, but obviously, many don't see it that way, which is understandable if you've paid $250, $500, or $1200 of your hard earned cash to get the opportunity to polish his taint in person - I guess you live, you learn...and it's good that it's posted here for anyone to see - MJK isn't about it.

[snarky0]

well, short guys tend to have big egos

that's the only way I can make sense of it

[RichardL]

The youtube video the guy posted about having Maynard James Keenan sign his wine bottle speaks for itself.
I've met people before FOR FREE who NOTE: don't charge their fans who were much nicer.

[bronzecookie81]

Why would you spend more money on this Asshole if you felt like he's dissed you and yours before?? Seriously.........
Stop paying these ungrateful Assholes and it would be over.

[RichardL]

Bronzecookie- I'm not spending anymore money on him. Many people who have spoken to Maynard James Keenan will agree.
However, there are still people who don't know how he is-like how I was last year-who didn't know he acted like that, and delusional fans like amouthfulofshit who will excuse away his bad behavior and buy his music anyways.

[killeverything]

It wasn't just one bad experience. It was several-me, my friend, and my other friend Allison at a different show. Yes, it is a business transaction, I am paying 250 bucks to meet Maynard James Keenan and a ticket. The wine tasting for 250 bucks is a separate event that you pay for, and there he makes no guarantee that you can talk to him at all. He could have at least said "thanks" or "enjoy the show tonight" as we went up to him. Instead, he refused to even let me say anything at all, and said "Here's your signed CD," and his security guard ushered the people in line out.
I should really be thanking him-he's saved me hundreds of dollars because I plan on buying no more Tool/ APC merchandise or go to see him play again.
Maybe I should have spent the 250 bucksinstead to meet Trent, then I could have told him what I thought of his recent online behavior to the fans. I bet he would have answered me. Joke.
Anyone else have a similar experience with Maynard J Keenan?

I work in wine distribution. I have a friend/co-worker who is a huge Tool/Maynard projects fan. With Maynard's new wine coming out, one of the other co-workers is going to his tasting or whatever. He's pumped that he's getting some of his wine, and he thinks an autograph. I told him not to get his hopes up he'll sign anything.

[amouthfulofsin220]

Bronzecookie- I'm not spending anymore money on him. Many people who have spoken to Maynard James Keenan will agree.
However, there are still people who don't know how he is-like how I was last year-who didn't know he acted like that, and delusional fans like amouthfulofshit who will excuse away his bad behavior and buy his music anyways.

I'm not a Tool fan - I'd buy his poetry if it came in a book, but I don't really like the music - so I'm not making excuses for anyone.

Just stating what I've concluded from *limited* observation.

[fastermetallicat]

The youtube video the guy posted about having Maynard James Keenan sign his wine bottle speaks for itself.
I've met people before FOR FREE who NOTE: don't charge their fans who were much nicer.

I totally agree. Its ridiculous to charge for a meet and greet if your not gonna be at least civil and respectful towards your fans. They're who got you where you were!

[Blackie Onassis]

At Tool shows in the UK, all bags had to be checked at the door and no one could bring in cameras or phones. Trying to get your shit back at the end of the night is a clusterfuck.

Maynard can be nice - he just usually chooses not to be.

[RichardL]

I'd love to be a millionaire like him and treat fans like crap, and not care, and still have my millions. I'd never have to worry about being homeless and not being able to pay the rent.
I make not even 1/10th of what he makes, and if I treated people at work the way he does, I'd lose my job.

[Lydia]

At Tool shows in the UK, all bags had to be checked at the door and no one could bring in cameras or phones. Trying to get your shit back at the end of the night is a clusterfuck.

How many people balked at the idea of handing over their bag and phone for the pleasure of meeting Maynard? First time I met him, I was on APC's tour bus, and he was pretty much unnoticeable and looked like a roadie. I think he has short man syndrome (not unlike our buddy Trent Reznor). Women wouldn't look twice at him if he weren't in a successful rock band. LOL

[bronzecookie81]

Fucking munchkin should be glad someone wants to shake his hand or take his picture. He's got some mental health issues goin on. Paranoid much?.....
Handing a bag over????? O_o
Who the hell is dying to meet MJK that bad??

[RichardL]

Maybe they didn't know you had to hand over the bag until you got there. From the way the person was talking, they did it to all people going,even people who didn't pay extra to meet him.

[Blackie Onassis]

Maybe they didn't know you had to hand over the bag until you got there. From the way the person was talking, they did it to all people going,even people who didn't pay extra to meet him.

Yeah, I mean that every person going into the show had to surrender their shit at the door. No handover, no show.

[amouthfulofsin220]

So here's my Maynard story:
I was in Jerome, AZ two years ago and stopped by his winery. Maynard and a lady were seated at a table one afternoon and a staffer came up to them and he requested a certain vintage. The staffer then asked a question-I'm unsure what was asked but I could tell by her tone of voice it was a question. Maynard then yells at at this staff member. I mean really goes off. She mumbles something and scurries off. The lady seated with Maynard looks around nervously, leans forward to him and whispers something under her breath to him. Any thoughts of approaching him and complimenting his music immediately left my head and I turned and left.
Sorry your experience cost you money. Luckily mine was free.

Damn.

I'm certain that mystery lady was just rearin' and ready to go, or at least thoroughly impressed after that display of authoritarian masculinity.

[/sarcasm]

[taste_the_rainbow]

[grishnak boss]

thats what you get for being a stupid fanboi

[RichardL]

The video was made by a guy who had driven several hours to meet Maynard at his winery. Long story short, Maynard didn't even talk to the guy, he just passed his wine bottle over to be signed, and then was led out the door. There were a ton of stories of Maynard being a dick to people who paid money to meet him as comments under the video.

[Orionslavegirl1]

My question is, If people say that Maynard is a dick- Why do they continue to pay for these events?

Are they waiting for him to one day get up and kiss their asses?

[RichardL]

I didn't know beforehand Maynard acted like a dickhead before I paid the money. I won't ever go see him play again, so he's saved me a ton of money.

[HollyDiver]

I got pulled from the crowd at an A Perfect Circle concert by their tour manager who asked me and my friend if we wanted to meet Maynard. I'm a huge fan of his musically and was always intrigued by his persona, so we went backstage. Basically we were told we were there for Maynard, these two very rubber/latex-clad fetish chicks were there for Twiggy, and then these other couple of cute blondes were there for James Iha. It was very awkward, because we were all just sitting in this room backstage shooting the shit. Eventually the TM came back to us and gave us 'rules' for when the guys came in the room to greet us. It was so fuckin silly and ridiculous. We could not:
1- Smoke in the presence of Maynard
2- Ask for a photo
3- Call Twiggy, 'Twiggy". He was Jordy, only.
4- Ask questions about any band but A Pefect Circle (no side projects)

We all sorta rolled our eyes, but I figured what the heck and stuck around for a few more minutes. It wasn't long before 'Jordy' entered the room and sat between the two fetish chicks. He introduced himself to everyone, and then the fetish chicks told him they liked him and were bisexual, and he took both of them by the hand and left the room. It was pretty funny.

Right after he left James came in and was so shy and nice. The blonde girls meant for him were also really shy so the convo went nowhere and he ended up chatting with me and my friend. We talked for a good 45 minutes or so. He told us about his love of his grandma and living in NYC. Really polite and soft spoken. He was a cutie pie but absolutely non-sexual. After he left the TM came back and told us Maynard wouldn't be out for another 20 minutes. By that time we'd been in there for about an hour, so we just split. The real kicker though is that the TM said the reason Maynard was taking so long was because someone 'accidently smoked in front of him, so Maynard needs to lie is his bunk for a while to cool down and settle his nerves'.

[jonah]

I just returned from a short trip to AZ. We did stop because it is on the way (sort of) to Sedona and because 'it was Maynard's. Actually, the wine is very good but is way overpriced for what it is. I do find it funny that so many have these kinds of stories about their personal experiences and nothing about the actual product for which he wants to be taken seriously for. In addition to the wine tasting room there is also a Puscifer store there. It is really wonderful how he is revitalizing this old mining town.

[RichardL]

It's no wonder Trent is such good friends with him. Maynard should just sell presigned autographed CDs, that way he doesn't have to talk to people. That way when you meet dickhead Maynard James Keenan for 250 bucks, and he refuses to even say hi to you and cuts you off, you didn't have to see that.

[lillfish]

I love Maynard. He's anti-social as hell and probably doesn't like people that much. He enjoys only his close circle of friends and is very shy/introverted around people he doesn't know.
I'd probably treat a lot of people like shit if I wasn't in the mood to be social. People like him need to be energized to interact with people, otherwise it is very draining in their already tired state. He doesn't like to be worshipped, he doesn't want the light on him... he just wants people to see his work, his art. He is no attention whore and seems to stay far away from drama & noise.

[Orionslavegirl1]

I love Maynard. He's anti-social as hell and probably doesn't like people that much. He enjoys only his close circle of friends and is very shy/introverted around people he doesn't know.
I'd probably treat a lot of people like shit if I wasn't in the mood to be social. People like him need to be energized to interact with people, otherwise it is very draining in their already tired state. He doesn't like to be worshipped, he doesn't want the light on him... he just wants people to see his work, his art. He is no attention whore and seems to stay far away from drama & noise.

And thats why he is awesome

Nice post lilfish!

[lillfish]

Thanks yep, he's awesome.

[RichardL]

Does that mean maynard can't say hi back to someone who paid 200 bucks to see him? Excuses aside, there's no reason for him to be an asshole when people are paying 200 bucks a pop to meet the guy. He should be in a good mood seeing all the $$$$
Yep, I will never be attending his shows or paying 200 bucks to see him again.