Artists...make art to purge, to express, to introspect...basically to make themselves feel good through what they believe to be beautiful. It is coincidence when one's art speaks to another person. The artist then has no obligation to further elaborate to the listener...anything.

However, should this artist choose to exploit this coincidental connection by selling it to the entire world the integrity with which the artist has built their genuinely unique reputation becomes compromised. The artist then makes a choice: evolve or cash out.

Artists evolve. Authors, painters, musicians, carpenters, dancers, sculptors, weavers, chefs, wine makers... whatever.

Fans know what they want and they give an artist opportunities to make a living doing what they love to do. In this case...a substantial living. Seems to be a pretty stellar alternative to having a day job with an expensive hobby. Fans deserve the love, adoration and dedication they pour into this art they themselves are not able (for whatever reason i.e. time, motivation, means) to create.

The artists have lots to say. The fans become the voice. Sometimes we might miss the message, sometimes we can be overbearing and obnoxious. But we're doing our best.

Tool have been without question one of the greatest American musical acts of the last two generations. That's why we're here. We LOVE these four guys. We relate to a message, we appreciate their musicianship, we are awestruck by what they put on a screen, we throw our hands up and scream and cry and stand in line through the night to buy their records, we get our shit beat in to get close enough to them to see their faces, we buy wine and download their side projects...because they're in Tool. We are invested in what they do because right now we can't do it any better. Maybe some of us might be able to at some point. But right now here we are and there they go.

We don't have to pay for a ticket, or a record, or a t-shirt, or get our shit beat in. They don't have to throw together shows that they aren't prepared to play.

"Send more money. Fuck you buddy?"
"Maybe you should...fuck yourself."

We love TOOL. They can love us back.