MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN Discusses PUSCIFER With 'Kevin & Bean'; Audio Available

Maynard James Keenan of TOOL and A PERFECT CIRCLE previewed his new band PUSCIFER during a phone call to "Kevin & Bean" of KROQ FM in Los Angeles the other day. Keenan talked about the songwriting process while writing for multiple bands, selling odd items on the band's web site to qualify for SoundScan, his warning to "check your overinflated expectations at the door" when listening to the new stuff, and going the independent release route from here on out. Listen to the interview at this location.

PUSCIFER released its debut album, titled "V Is For Vagina", on Tuesday (October 30) through Maynard's own label. Although PUSCIFER has been around in one form or another since the early '90s, when a version of the outfit would perform at a Los Angeles comedy club, Keenan told The Pulse of Radio why he only got around to making an album now. "The reason this has kind of come together more so recently is just the beauty of the Internet, and how you can actually get information out there and let people know you're doing something more easily," he said. "That, and I'm a little older and I've figured out a way to kind of organize my day. So when you're sitting in some bunker somewhere in some city waiting to do a show, there's these awkward amounts of downtime, and I've figured out a way to turn them into something."

The first single from the album is called "Queen B".

The record features contributions from a number of artists, including PRIMUS drummer Tim Alexander, ex-NINE INCH NAILS member Danny Lohner, producer Alan Moulder and actress Milla Jovovich.

Keenan also has a merchandise company under the Puscifer banner, and plans to make several short films as part of the project.

TOOL will begin a new North American tour on November 14 in Austin, Texas and issues a DVD called "Vicarious" on December 18.