A Perfect Circle

“A Perfect Circle” also known as the supergroup of American rock including vocalist Maynard James Keenan and former Tool guitar tech Billy Howerdel. When the band made their album release “Mer de Noms” it seemed as an extension of rock to the band Tool, which was popular in the 90’s. Even though there were many comparisons, the band quickly developed their sound that was more melodic that was heard on later albums such as “Thirteenth Step” and “Eat the Elephant.” For over a decade, members of bands like “Nine Inch Nails,” “Marilyn Manson,” “Smashing Pumpkins,” and “Queens of the Stone Age” have made an impact in the band’s accomplishments.

By 1988, Keenan linked up with Howerdel and Paz Lenchantin to form the band, “A Perfect Circle.” The way Keenan and Howerdel met each other was in 1992 when “Tool” opened for “Fishbone.” The opportunity to recruit the band came at the end of the decade, which consisted of Keenan on vocals, Howerdel on guitar, and Lenchantin on bass, ex-Failure and Enemy member Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar and ex-Vandals and Guns N’ Roses member Josh Freese on drums.

On August 15, 1999, at a benefit concert in Los Angeles, Howerdel had become the band’s chief songwriter and producer since he had composed songs for years with bands such as “The Smashing Pumpkins” and “Nine Inch Nails.” Even though, Lechantin and Van Leeuwen were involved with other activities their sophomore album “Thirteenth Step” debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The set album included the Top Five rock chart singles “Weak and Powerless” and “The Outsider.” Since the album had hit singles, the band added James Iha, from Smashing Pumpkins, to embark on their international tour.

Following their international tour, the band released a covers album “eMOTIVe” in 2004 that was an anti-war collection that featured interpretations of songs such as John Lennon’s “Imagine,” Marvin Gaye’s “What’s going on,” and Depeche Mode’s “People are People.” Soon after the release of the album there was a DVD set “aMOTION,” which bundled the music videos along with a remix CD but then the band went on a break for over a decade.

In 2010, the band returned to stage and released a new single, “By and Down,” which was on their 2013 greatest-hits compilation “Three Sixty.” But it wasn’t until another decade and a half before it was an official return for the band.

Again, the band reunited for a US tour to only lead teasing fans to the possibility of a new album. The group did release a single, “The Doomed,” which was their first song in over a decade. By early 2018, “Disillusioned” and “TalkTalk” were released and their fourth LP “Eat the Elephant,” which was the first time the band recruited an outside producer, Dave Sardy.

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