Despite persistent demand from fans for official vinyl reissues of Tool’s catalog, there seem to be no plans to release them any time soon. That gap in the marketplace has allowed bootleggers to step in, capitalizing on the unmet demand with unofficial vinyl pressings that often fetch high prices from collectors.
In a recent interview with “The Vinyl Guide” podcast, Jen Keenan – wife of Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan – weighed in on the issue of bootleggers. Siding with fans, Jen thinks Tool should reissue their catalog on vinyl and that not doing so is leaving money on the table.
“Guys, just get your sh*t together and you could be making that money,” she said, explaining that it is frustrating to see bootleggers profit off of the band’s absence in the vinyl market.
“But it’s not even that. It’s just that people want this in their collection. So, just do that and then the fringe benefit is you’re making money off of it, too. But, like, share it.”
“I don’t know if you think you’re keeping it safe and pristine by not putting it out there, but it’s really the opposite to me,” she continued. “Like, you’re losing the opportunity to actually share it, you know?”
“They’re probably not the greatest copy [or] the greatest quality. So if you’re concerned about pristine quality and art, then the bootleggers aren’t the ones that were worried about that. So yeah, your stuff’s getting out there [and] not in a way that you want it.”
While Tool have not released any reissues or remasters in recent years, reports have long suggested that they could be in the works.
Speaking about her and Maynard’s own collection, Jen confirmed that they have at least one yet to be released test pressing on vinyl.
“We have one original pressing [of ‘Ænima’] still sealed… It’s not the original test pressing, but we do have an ‘Ænima’ test pressing from the remaster that still hasn’t been released. And believe me, it is just as frustrating for us as everyone else that wants that vinyl.”
When asked what is holding Tool back from releasing these albums, Jen replied: “I will just say it’s not Maynard. That’s all I can say. [laughs]”
She continued, stressing her own desire to someday see Tool’s catalog get the vinyl release it deserves.
“It falls on deaf ears, but every chance I get I do mention, ‘Hey, Tool should repress that stuff.’ They’re a complicated band [laughs],” she said.
“Sometimes, I’ve gone to record stores and I’ve seen like a ‘10,000 Days’ LP, which is of course bootleg. And I’m like, [whispers] ‘Where did you get that?’ And I wanna buy it, but I’m not gonna pay $100 for it, but I do want it so I can have it in my store [Queen B Vinyl Café].”
(Transcribed by Alternative Nation)
