Maynard James Keenan has announced details of his upcoming authorised biography, titled, A Perfect Union of Contrary Things. The book was written with Sarah Jensen, who collaborated with Keenan throughout the process. It will be a rare insight into the enigmatic leader of Tool, A Perfect Circle and latest project Puscifer.
The official book description is as follows:
“Here is the authorized biography of the one and only Maynard James Keenan. The book traces Keenan‘s journey from his Midwest childhood to his years in the Army to his time in art school, from his stint at a Boston pet shop to his place in the international spotlight and his influence on contemporary music and regional winemaking. A comprehensive portrayal of a versatile and dedicated artist, A Perfect Union of Contrary Things, pays homage to the people and places that shaped the man and his art. Until now, Maynard‘s fans have had access to only an abridged version of his story.
“A Perfect Union of Contrary Things, presents the outtakes, the scenes of disappointment and triumph, and the events that led him to take one step after the next, to change direction, to explore sometimes surprising opportunities. Included are sidebars in his own words, often humorous anecdotes that illuminate the narrative, as well as commentary by his family members, friends, instructors, and industry colleagues. The book also features a foreword by Alex Grey, an American visionary artist and long-time friend of Keenan, who has designed Tool’s album and stage art. Accompanying the text are photos of Keenan from childhood to the present, as well as reproductions of his early drawings and writings. Maynard‘s story is a metaphor for the reader’s own evolution and an encouragement to follow one’s dreams, hold fast to individual integrity, and work ceaselessly to fulfil our creative potential.”
Keenan spoke to RollingStone.com about how the idea for his biography came about: “One of my best friends in high school, we’re still close, his sister’s a writer, she’s 10 years older than we are; she’s kind of been around for a while, of course, seeing everything that went on pre–high school, high school, etc. So I approached her, because she’s a writer, to see if she was interested in helping me work on a semi-autobiography. Because I didn’t really want to write it as an autobiography, first-person — I’d rather have it be more in story form, like your kind of along for the journey, with sidebars by me throughout, in my voice, kind of expanding on particular instances or anecdotes. But for the most part, it’s just she and I on the phone a couple times a week, just going over timelines, going over stories, etc.”
A Perfect Union of Contrary Things will be released on 8 November 2016 via Backbeat Books.
