Well it seems that being asked by the right person was all we needed for Maynard to be open about the delays for the upcoming TOOL and APC albums.  Joe Rogan and Maynard spent some time on the recent Joe Rogan podcast (Episode# 986 convo starts at the 1:22:50 mark) discussing TOOL and APC.  Old Joe seems to have the key to cracking the Maynard code of not discussing upcoming albums.  To know one’s surprise it’s not Maynard’s fault if you listen to him.  /sarcasm

For TOOL, the frontman says that the bands “tedious” writing process continues to hold up the album.  Claiming Justin, Danny, and Adam just like to dig in, overanalyze, do and redo all the work they’ve done has stalled any progress and will do so for a while.  Add in some “fear” of failure based on the previous TOOL album successes are the reasons for major delays.   It’s basically the band’s fault for the delay.  Maynard at one point calls the writing and arranging as “Rain Man” like, the implication is that the hard part of sitting in a studio watching all this go down isn’t and should not be something Maynard can or be expected to do.  In his words, he goes and builds a vineyard for 5 years and comes back and they are doing the same thing.  In the APC world, it’s Howerdel’s being too deep in the weeds and Maynard coaching him out to look at the bigger picture.

On one hand it’s Maynard being the asshole he is, on the other hand, I’m surprised that based on this that TOOL and APC are still together after these kinds of things.  In today’s world of egos, big headedness, and butt hurt feelings, seems this has to sting the guys a little and why not let Maynard do his thing and be done?  What’s the draw of having them get dumped on for wanting to provide the best product to the fans?  Is Maynard that guy who is so busy to be bothered with the hard part of the work?  Some can say coming in and whipping up some lyrics is the easy part.

Dont know about you but the more album news that comes out lately just frustrates and angers fans waiting to give these guys their money.  Getting re-hashed tours that are overpriced seems to being wearing thin from this writer’s perspective ($75 to $300 for good APC seats in Camden NJ is beyond aggravating) just get a fucking album out already.  Everyone works right?  Everyone have a boss that says “Hey no worries it’s been 10 years get the product out when you feel like it”?  Nope.  Can we say “well it’s the other team member’s fault”?  We can but we divide and sour the team.  This is what seems to be happening here.

Let’s hope the respective bands can pull it together and get to dear Maynard’s level so he can write and lay vocals down so we see albums this lifetime.