Ongoing History Daily: Maynard in Rage Against the Machine? Almost.

Maynard James Keenan has had a long and successful career as the singer of Tool, the leader of Puscifer, and the maker of fine wines in the Arizona desert. Things would have been a lot different had he accepted an offer to sing for the band that would become Rage Against the Machine.

Guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk were trying to put together a new band at the same time Adam Jones had an idea for a new group. Tom and Adam both knew each other from playing in the same high school band back in Illinois, so they kept each other apprised of their progress. Enter Maynard who began jamming with Tom and Brad and things were going well.

But then Zach De La Rocha entered the scene, changing Tom and Brad’s plan of where this new group should go.

No hard feelings. Maynard did contribute some background vocals to the first Rage album and he’s done all right with Tool.