Billy Howerdel Says "A Perfect Circle Is Done For Now"
Band Photo: A Perfect Circle (?)
MTV.com reports: About a month ago, Maynard James Keenan told a French magazine that A Perfect Circle was, if not dead, on life support. The band, he added, "pushed [it] as far as it could go," and he said he sees the group "playing again together only in a few years to make one or two songs, nothing more." But Keenan stopped short of saying the group had officially called it quits.
Guitarist Billy Howerdel's not so sure what's happening with A Perfect Circle. The creative strength behind the band has been working on his own material. He's also in the throes of assembling a fresh outfit he'd like to record and tour with. But when it comes to A Perfect Circle, he'd rather not think about it.
"We don't know what's happening," said Howerdel, one of Keenan's best friends. "[Maynard and I have] talked about it lightly. A few months ago, it was like, 'If we did A Perfect Circle again, I'd want to do this or that.' It was a benign conversation. I think we both entertain the fact that it could happen again, but for right now we don't have any plans to do it again. We're focusing on what we're doing now. A Perfect Circle is done for now."
Not long after the release of 2004's Emotive, Howerdel began sculpting and recording material on his own, bouncing ideas off session drummer Josh Freese. He's written 14 tracks, nine of which he's content with.
Two weeks ago, Howerdel — who hasn't found a record label for his forthcoming, yet-untitled project — teamed up with Freese, Jonny Polanski ("The first bass player we had try out for A Perfect Circle"), ex-APC guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, and Freese's brother, keyboardist Jason Freese, "to flush them out in a live rehearsal situation." Of course, Howerdel's not sure his next band's going to feature any of these players.
Howerdel hopes to have his band in place by late summer so he can get back out on the road. He'd like to be able to release the record before year's end. But first he needs to make sure everything about these songs is just right.
Read the full article at MTV.com.
Source: MTV.com
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29 Comments on "Howerdel Says 'A Perfect Circle Is Done For Now'"
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Writer, Reviewer
5. writes:
Scorched_Earth, I agree that the band could well produce another album or two yet, but I gotta say, the way I see it, Maynard's closing in on the end. I don't think he has too many albums left in him. One, maybe two at the outside most. And what with Tool being the bigger band, I just don't know if he'll be able to stretch himself for both bands. Which is tragic, to say the least. Best outcome I would say is another album or two from Tool, MAYBE one from APC. I wouldn't be displeased if APC continued on with another vocalist (so long as they make music they way they have and do, and the vocalist is the right choice). No-one can replace Maynard, but they could still have a great sound with another person singing (weren't they originally looking for a female vocalist?...).
6. writes:
I heard the same thing about the female vocalist when they released their first album. Billy apparantly rathered go with a female vocalist and not Maynard so as to get right away form Tool but went ahead anyway, and of course everyone (most people) associate APC with Tool. I personally rate Tool a knotch or two higher than APC...
(fire suit on)
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Former Contributor
8. writes:
I loved "Mer de Noms" and "13th Step" but "Emotive" was a waste. Three good songs at best....
Worse, I actually agree with the message of the album, it was just thrown together too hastely.
Howerdel will put together another excellent project but without MJK fewer people will be on board fanbase-wise. I'll be to tempted to check it out myself, APC was just too dynamic and interesting to pass up anything else Howerdel does.
R.I.P APC
Member
13. writes:
well lets c.... tool and APC f***en rock and its a damn shame APC is over and done w/ ......
i love them but their last album rots.... yeah i said it it really sucked. i really hopoe they can come back togetther l8r and come up with something awsum....... i personally think they just threw something together w/ out really putting much effort into it bcuz emotive really sucked!!!
APC still has my respects though...
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Former Contributor
16. writes:
Psythe
If you're wanting to read that Moonspell review it is below the top three pictured reviews in the list, click on Memorial...It's one of my favorite records to come out this year.
I need to look into Puscifier. Never worked up the interest, I've only heard a sound bite, didn't move me one way or the other but again it was about 15 seconds of audio.
Writer, Reviewer
17. writes:
yeah, I read it. good job. I think I left you a comment on the font size etc thread? anyway, I'm pretty much gonna get the album asap.
as for Puscifier, you definitely should give them a try. I highly recommend the song on the first Underworld soundtrack - I think it's called "Rev 22 12" or something. But it's the best song on the soundtrack, and it's just awesome. I didn't actually realise Puscifier was a Maynard project when I first heard the song, so my opinion of it isn't even biased just from love of Maynard (as my opinion of Tool may well be). Anyway, check them out.
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Former Contributor
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Former Contributor
21. writes:
OK so I'm a complete liar. I mistook Caduceus for Pucifier. Puscifier = straightforward barely rock music at all stuff. Caduceus = Maynards wine company. I knew I had read about the name somewhere but couldn't put my finger on the details.
Sorry. I knew when I posted that that something seemed off.
Writer, Reviewer
22. writes:
Former Contributor
23. writes:
Same here. Some of my favorite bands (Vast, Blackfield, Radiohead, Mr Bungle) are so far from metal as to be almost absurd.
I'm going to give Puscifier time to grow on me and I'll pick up the full length when/if it comes out. It's like ignoring a Billy Howerdel project after Maynard leaves....I was so impressed by APC I'd feel foolish ignoring it.
24. writes:
I LOVE APC, and this is very sad.... And I do not agree that another singer could pull it off. If they had a female singer, they would sound like Shelly Ann Orphan or something.. Maynards voice is haunting and erotic and cannot be replaced -- especially by a female. I also love, love, love Tool..... and I really hope they come out with more before calling it quits! :(
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Writer, Reviewer
1. psythe writes:
I won't lie, I'm quite sad that APC are over and done. They were a great band that actually had something to say about today's state of affairs. Whilst many were not enthused over their latest album, eMOTIVE, I found that it had a lot of relevant points to make about the state of mind that the whole of humanity seems to be in at present date.
"oh my friend, what time is this
to trade the handshake for the fist?"
god I love Maynard (in a completely safe, normal and heterosexual way, of course).