Maynard James Keenan recently revealed how Ozzy Osbourne’s death has influenced his perspective on creating new music with Tool. He shared his thoughts in an interview with Loudwire.
The Tool frontman explained how the loss of the metal legend has prompted him to reconsider the band’s approach to releasing new material.
“You know, life is short. You just got to f*cking do it now. There is no waiting,” Keenan said. “You don’t know what’s coming tomorrow. You got to do it now. So that’s what we’re doing.”
Ozzy’s passing occurred after his final concert “Back to the Beginning.” The comments suggest that this event has served as a catalyst for Tool to move forward more urgently with their musical projects.
This renewed sense of urgency appears to be translating into concrete action across Keenan’s various musical endeavors. The vocalist has been notably active in recent months. He is working simultaneously on multiple projects that showcase his diverse artistic range.
Loaded Radio reported that Keenan confirmed he is actively writing new music not only for Tool but also for his other bands, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer. This marks a busy next 18 months for him. This multi-project approach demonstrates how Ozzy’s passing has motivated him to maximize his creative output across all his musical ventures.
The most advanced of these projects appears to be Puscifer, Keenan’s experimental side project. 105.7 The Point noted that Puscifer’s next album is already about 90% written and expected to be released in 2025. This timeline indicates that Keenan’s creative acceleration is already yielding tangible results.
The accelerated pace represents a significant shift for an artist known for taking his time between releases. Tool’s previous album, “Fear Inoculum,” was released in 2019 after a 13-year gap. This makes Keenan’s current urgency all the more notable.
This creative surge across multiple bands suggests that Ozzy’s death has fundamentally changed how Keenan approaches his artistic legacy. It is pushing him to ensure his musical contributions continue without unnecessary delays.
