Maynard James Keenan thinks people are “arrogant” for not following COVID-19 safety guidelines
“I would recommend that you take this seriously, but I feel like that’s just going to fall on deaf ears.”
Photo: Yuliya Christensen / Redferns
Maynard James Keenan has doubled down on his support for prevailing COVID-19 safety guidelines, saying people can be “fairly arrogant” by not following them.
Last month, the Tool, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle singer revealed that eight months on from surviving the coronavirus, he still suffers from lung damage and daily coughing fits.
Keenan allegedly caught the disease while touring Australia and New Zealand with Tool back in February. Reflecting on the general public response to the pandemic, as well as his own experiences with the disease, Keenan told Consequence Of Sound: “There’s logic attached to just looking out for each other”.
“I have a lot more questions than answers, honestly,” he said. “Is this thing like a flame on a candle? If you stand in the corner far enough away from somebody, does the flame burn the candle down, and then it can no longer light your candle? Or is it not like that at all, and it’s going to live on beyond its own cycle within you?
“I have no idea, but the idea of temporarily isolating and really adhering to the isolation, it seems like that would’ve worked.”
He continued: “But we tend to be fairly arrogant. I knew what I went through and I know what I’m still going through, so I would recommend that you take this seriously, but I feel like that’s just going to fall on deaf ears.”
“It’s just going to be a polarised, politicised statement, so it’s pointless. In that case, I’m just going to worry about keeping my family safe and keeping my friends safe.”
Keenan also gave his thoughts about the post-coronavirus return of live music, suggesting that a look at past pandemics may offer insight into the future.
“When you go back and learn history, then you start looking at various pandemics around the world throughout history to see what happened before, during and after, and then make a plan based around that.”
He added: “I’m pretty sure people were touring after the pandemic hit back in the early 1900s. So, eventually it works out. Is it going to work out immediately? I don’t know.”
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