Maynard James Keenan Opens Up About Stage Fright

Maynard James Keenan is known for his popular hard-hitting bands Tool and A Perfect Circle, but he also makes music in Puscifer, an experimental rock outfit where he gets to be extra creative.

Now, the band is touring the U.S., and while touring through Detroit, Keenan caught up with Meltdown of Detroit rock radio station WRIF. During the interview, Keenan opened up about stage fright. As it turns out, the vocalist says that he still experiences a lot of it.

"Every night is terrifying," Keenan said in the interview. "You don't know how it's going to go. It's a challenge, but that's what live music is, right? That's why you're going to see it."

He added, "We're literally alive right now. We might not be alive tomorrow. So, that's why I would encourage you to come to the show, because you don't know what you're getting tomorrow. It's lie music. We're alive today. Come see us today, while we're alive."

When asked if getting on the stage and performing is an adrenaline rush for him, Keenan added, "I guess. It's equal parts fear and excitement. You're literally having to pay attention to every second."

The band is touring on their latest album, Normal Isn't. It says a lot that Keenan continues to make new records and tour decades into his career. Keenan says that when it comes to making music and touring, he doesn't want to call it his "job, because that sounds cold. I don't want to be here, but I do want to be here. Job is not the word."

So, it's obvious that Keenan still loves what he does for a living, even years later. It's a treasure that he continues to make music, whether it's in Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer or all of the above.