This month's feature is Part I of musicians / artists that have collaborated with Tool on the band's recordings between 1992 and 2001.

UNDERTOW

"Bottom" - Henry Rollins (additional vocals)
Henry Rollins (www.henryrollins.com), the former singer for Black Flag, is now best known as singer for Rollins Band and a solo spoken-word artist recording for 2.13.61 (www.21361.com), a record label he founded and maintains. It was on the Rollins Band - The End of Silence (1992) tour, that Rollins took the fledgling Tool on as an opening act. In 2001 and 2002, Rollins released his 10th spoken word and group recordings, Henry Rollins - Rollins in the Wry (2001) and Rollins Band - The Only Way to Know for Sure (2002). Despite rumours to the contrary, he and Tool both claim to still have a good relationship.

"Disgustipated" - Chris Haskett (sledgehammer)
Guitarist Chris Haskett worked with Henry Rollins [see also above] as both a 10-year recording, writing, and touring member of Rollins Band and as an accompanyist, writer, and producer on the spoken-word release, Henry Rollins - Hot Animal Machine (1999). He has recorded two albums under his own name, the latest being Chris Haskett + Brandon Finley - Nonfiction (1997). Haskett did indeed wield a sledgehammer on "Disgustipated". He used it to hit a piano for effect in the song.

"Disgustipated" - Bill the Landlord (phone message)
Bill Manspeaker, AKA Bill the Landlord, is the founder of Green Jelly (www.ihategreenjelly.com) and performed with them as Moronic Dicktator and Marshall 'Duh' Staxx. Formed as Green Jellö (they were threatened by Kraft Foods, the makers of Jell-O, and changed their name) in Kenmore NY, they were later based in Los Angeles CA and signed (like Tool) to Zoo Records. Their line-up has varied (115 members to-date since 1981) and at one time included Danny Carey and Maynard Keenan who performed on Green Jelly - Cereal Killer Soundtrack (1993), the audio version of the video album Green Jelly - Cereal Killer (1992). As his credit implies, Manspeaker was, for a time, Keenan's landlord in Los Angeles. Green Jelly continues to write and record and plans to release Green Jelly - The Great Rock 'n Roll Apocalypse in 2002.

ÆNIMA

"Message to Harry Manback" - D.B. (keyboards)
Admired by the band for his progressive work with King Crimson, on David Sylvian + Robert Fripp - First Day (1993), and on Peter Gabriel - Passion (1989), David Bottrill, AKA D.B. was asked to co-produce, mix, and engineer Ænima (1996). Although he had little experience with heavy music, he accepted the task after listening to Undertow (1993) and meeting the band. Bottrill's experience was primarily with world music, having worked with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Youssou N'dour, and Afro-Celt Sound System. He has since worked with other rock acts like Kid Rock and Silverchair, returning to work with Tool again on Lateralus (2001). Bottrill is a multi-instrumentalist. In addition to keyboards, he has added piano, guitar, bass, percussion, drums, surdo, and djembe to some of the recordings he has worked on.

"Intermission" - Eban Schletter (organ)
Eban Schletter is likely best (un)known to Tool fans for his Emmy-nominated songwriting and compositions on Mr. Show (1995-1998) (www.bobanddavid.com). He has also composed music for television shows, SpongeBob SquarePants (1999 -) (www.spongebob.com) and BattleBots (2000 -) (www.battlebots.com) as well as Run Ronnie Run (2002) (www.ronniedobbs.com) the feature-length film based on a Mr. Show sketch. Schletter is also a solo recording artist whose latest release is Eban Schletter - Hollywood Free-For-All (2003).

"Die Eier Von Satan" - Marko Fox (vox)
Marko Fox was one of only five people asked to audition for Tool when original bassist Paul D'Amour left the band in 1995. He had been the bassist for Danny Carey's pre-Tool trio, Zaum along with keyboardist, guitarist, and vocalist Chris Pitman [see also below]. Fox also played bass for Collide (www.collide.net), whose co-founder Statik [see next month's feature] has worked with Tool and Replicants. He appeared on their 1996 release, Collide - Beneath The Skin.

"Third Eye" - Bill Hicks (spoken word)
Bill Hicks (www.billhicks.com) (1961-1994) was comedy's "Prince of Darkness". He was a brilliant stand-up comedian-philosopher whose often-frighteningly unfunny observations on drugs, sex, government, religion, and convenience set the standards (albeit sanitized) used by other comedians like Denis Leary, Chris Rock, and Eddie Izzard to surpass his popularity. Hugely popular in the UK, Hicks was the subject of the dedication of Radiohead - The Bends (1995) before most in his native US had heard of him. Hicks' estate gave permission to Tool to use excerpts from "Drugs Have Done Good Things" and "The War on Drugs", sketches found on Bill Hicks - Relentless (1992/1997) and Bill Hicks - Dangerous (1990/1997), respectively. In exchange, and due to Keenan's dilligence, Rykodisc (www.rykodisc.com) (re)released his catalogue within months of the release of Ænima (1996). Hicks succumbed to pancreatic cancer at age 32 in 1994.

"Third Eye" - Chris Pitman (additional synthesizer)
Chris Pitman started his music career as a solo artist for Atlantic Records in the early 90s, later singing and playing guitar/keyboards for Zaum with Danny Carey and Marko Fox [see also above], and providing keyboards, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, and lead vocals to Replicants [see January 2001 feature] with Paul D'Amour and members of Failure. D'Amour and Pitman went on to form Lusk, releasing Lusk - Free Mars in 1997. Pitman has since become a writing, recording, and touring member of Guns N' Roses, significantly contributing to the long-awaited Chinese Democracy due whenever.

Artists and artistry mentioned in this feature: Afro-Celt Sound System, Battlebots, Black Flag, David Bottrill, Collide, Failure, Robert Fripp, Peter Gabriel, Green Jelly, Guns N' Roses, Chris Haskett, Bill Hicks, Eddie Izzard, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Kid Rock, King Crimson, Denis Leary, Lusk, Mr. Show, Youssou N'dour, Radiohead, Replicants, Chris Rock, Henry Rollins, Rollins Band, Run Ronnie Run, Eban Schletter, Silverchair, SpongeBob SquarePants, Tool, and Zaum.

Credits: Source material from toolshed.down.net, All Music Guide, The Internet Movie Database, and Netherota Records.