Questions
Who is in A Perfect Circle and who started the band?
It is a rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Keenan is also the frontman of Tool and Puscifer.
How did Maynard and Billy Howerdel actually meet?
They met in 1992 when Tool opened for Fishbone. Years later Keenan offered Howerdel a room in his North Hollywood home, and after hearing Howerdel’s demos there Keenan reportedly said he could hear himself singing on them.
Was Maynard the first choice to sing in the band?
Reportedly no. Howerdel originally wanted Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins as the vocalist, but she was unavailable, which opened the door for Keenan.
What did Billy Howerdel do before A Perfect Circle?
He worked as a guitar technician, and his credits reportedly included Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, Fishbone, and Tool.
Where does the name A Perfect Circle come from?
Howerdel designed the logo as two overlapping crescents that contain two perfect circles, meant to represent both himself and Keenan. He tied the symbolism to the song "3 Libras."
What was their debut album and how did it do?
Mer de Noms came out on May 23, 2000, and debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 with about 188,000 copies sold in its first week. It was noted as the highest-selling debut album for a rock band and went platinum by that October.
What are their most famous early songs?
From Mer de Noms, "Judith" reached number 4, "3 Libras" number 12, and "The Hollow" number 14 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
What is the second album and its big singles?
Thirteenth Step arrived September 16, 2003 and hit number 2 on the Billboard 200. "Weak and Powerless" topped both the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts, and "The Outsider" made the top 5 on both.
Why does the band feel different from Tool?
Keenan described it this way: "Tool is more a left-brain masculine result, and [A Perfect Circle] is more a right-brain feminine result."
Did they ever put out an album of cover songs?
Yes. Emotive, released November 2, 2004, is a covers album that includes John Lennon’s "Imagine," Marvin Gaye’s "What’s Going On," and Led Zeppelin’s "When the Levee Breaks." It reached number 2 on the Billboard 200 and went gold.
Why did the band go quiet for years?
The band entered a hiatus in January 2005. Keenan rejoined Tool for 10,000 Days in 2006 and launched Puscifer, while Howerdel released a 2008 solo album under the name Ashes Divide.
What brought the band back together?
Reportedly a last-minute E3 2010 moment: Keenan was set to perform "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Queen’s Brian May, who cancelled, so Keenan brought in Howerdel instead. The performance’s success sparked reunion talks, and the hiatus officially ended in September 2010.
Which other rock notables have played in the band?
Over the years the lineup has included Paz Lenchantin, Troy Van Leeuwen (later of Queens of the Stone Age), Josh Freese on drums, Jeordie White (ex-Marilyn Manson), and James Iha (ex-Smashing Pumpkins).
When did they release a new album after all that time?
Eat the Elephant came out April 20, 2018, their first record in 13 years. It was made with Dave Sardy, the band’s first outside producer, on singles like "The Doomed," "Disillusioned," and "TalkTalk."
Have they done anything new lately?
Yes. They released "Kindred" on March 29, 2024, their first new song in six years, as part of the Sessanta E.P.P.P. split EP with Puscifer and Primus, with Josh Freese returning to record drums after 13 years away.
