Ongoing History of New Music

Ongoing History Daily: Tool’s worst gig

Tool has played some incredible gigs, but not all of them have been comfortable for the band. For example, on August 16, 1998, the band was booked to play an outdoor show in Boise, Idaho. 

In and amongst the crowd was a group of skinhead psychos who showed up looking for trouble. After Tool got onstage, these weirdos started beating up random people. Tool got into a huddle right on stage trying to decide what to do. Do we keep playing or should we stop the show?

They tried to start up again after Maynard made an impassioned speech and threatened to bail on the gig, but every single time they started playing, fists started flying. They were genuinely concerned that someone was going to get beaten to death, so they ended their set and walked off.

In Tool’s opinion, this was their worst gig ever—and it wasn’t their fault. 

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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