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So where are we with the allegations against Maynard James Keenan?

[Gilles LeBlanc has been following the story about the anonymous rape allegations against Maynard James Keenan of Tool/A Perfect Circle. He summarizes what we know so far. – AC]

As Alan posted a couple of times this week, Maynard James Keenan’s name has been in the news. Not just because A Perfect Circle are currently on tour in Europe (promoting Eat the Elephant, released in April), or that a new 12-years-in-the-making Tool album is about to be announced, maybe.

On the night of Friday June 22nd, a newly-created Twitter account going by the handle @IWas17HeWas36 sent out 20+ messages describing in pretty graphic detail how Keenan invited a then-underage girl backstage at a Nine Inch Nails/A Perfect Circle show in 2000, then to his tour bus where he proceeded to have unwanted, unprotected sex with her. You can read the thread at Ultimate-Guitar.com, one of the first sites to publish it:

Damning stuff, and we in Canada have seen firsthand how allegations such as these can quickly ruin an artist’s career; case in point being Jacob Hoggard from Hedley. In that Twitter trial, numerous stories of sexual impropriety by members of the band were shared, which led to actual police investigations being opened and Hoggard temporarily stepping away from his music career.

The big difference with Maynard is that aside from a serious-sounding incident involving Behemoth that authorities should probably look into, the only other retweet is from someone calling themselves “Dingledoddies”, who Tool/APC/Pucifer fans have deduced was created by the same person? And that they’re male?

Mr. Keenan, for his part, took a few days in order to craft a response. But when he did, it was strongly worded towards his accuser and also in solidarity with the #MeToo movement:


Those with long memories may remember Maynard singing with RAINN spokesperson Tori Amos back in 1997 at a benefit concert.

RAINN stands for Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, which interestingly is featured prominently as @IWas17HeWas36’s header photo (there’s even a link to donate). I reached out for further comment on behalf of A Journal of Musical Things, but the only statement they’ve made since was in a DM to the NY Daily News today, one week since the account was made.

“I do not fear libel or any lawsuit, because he knows that he’s guilty. I will testify if need be. The whole point of this is to stop him and others from assaulting anyone else.” Requests to Keenan’s public relations representatives simply directed me back to his tweet.

I’m all for a healthy balance of justice being served tempered with innocent until proven guilty. The thing is though, there hasn’t been any solid proof from Keenan or his people that something like this didn’t happen. This situation is getting weird, but Alan and I promise to stay on it.

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.

Alan Cross has 39376 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

11 thoughts on “So where are we with the allegations against Maynard James Keenan?

  • “I’m all for a healthy balance of justice being served tempered with innocent until proven guilty. The thing is though, there hasn’t been any solid proof from Keenan or his people that something like this didn’t happen. This situation is getting weird, but Alan and I promise to stay on it.”

    That’s not how proof works. Can you prove you never raped someone? Can you!? Where’s your proof!? Handcuff the man now!!! Off to the wigsplit hotel!

    Reply
  • Isn’t the burden of proof on the accuser, not the accused?

    Reply
  • 04-29-2006, 06:20 AM #241

    bunny_309 Level 2 – Poster

    Join Date: Mar 2006

    Location: Philly

    Posts: 8

    Re: Maynard = asshole?

    Was there a woman involved, or wasn’t there? It’s really that simple.

    You’re right, if there is a woman involved you cannot expect people to behave with any sort of standard.

    “This is the band that wrote the song Stinkfist and released it as a single.”

    You understand that he is not literally talking about sticking his arm up someone’s ass.

    “you excuse Robert Plant of Led Zepplin for the womanizing that he partook of when Zep toured the earth?”

    No of course I don’t excuse him for it. I don’t hold rock stars to different standards than other people. It sounds like you do though… or are you cool with womanizing in general?

    “But at the same time, you still chose to go backstage to let a little bit of that greatness rub off on you, didn’t you? There’s no other reason to meet a musician after a show other than to get a “little bit more” than the average fan.”

    Yes, you made this point before. We were star struck and naive, that doesn’t mean deserving.

    “Do I endorse Keenan the womanizer? No, but it’s none of my business. Do I excuse him for his actions? No, but my experience of his art is independent of that decision.”

    No one’s saying don’t enjoy the music. The point of me responding in this thread was to hopefully warn people that they may want to steer clear of MJK if they happen to come across him.

    “Do I allow women I love and respect to be placed in the paths of known womanizers? No, because I know better.”

    I’m catching the implication. Do I feel a sense of responsibilty for what happened? Absolutely. Do I feel guilty about it? Yes. We were very naive about it, but what happened was beyond a simple case of what could reasonably expected to happen.

    Am I to blame for what happened? No. Are any of the people in my party that were to blame for what happened? No. That all goes to one person.

    “The majority of the great male artists, musicians, writers, and atheletes of the last century were mostly womanizers. What does that mean? Boycott? No. Art is exempt from the actions of the author. Once it is released, that version of the author is ‘dead’, anyway.”

    Wow, that’s very philosophical. That’s a nice loophole you’ve created to make rock stars exempt from being held to basic human standards of behavior.

    “The exploitation in that situation is mutual. Don’t pretend otherwise. If you want to appreciate art, go to a show. If you want to schmooze it up with famous people, then you’re not really as interested in art as you are in stroking your own ego, in my opinion.”

    Well the rock star phenomenon certainly is interesting and I’m glad you spend a lot of time thinking about why people act the way the do towards these people. It does concern me that you seem to only want to blame the victim in a sense and not hold this rock star accountable for his actions. My whole point of posting was to hopefully warn people that though it might sound like a lot of fun to meet your favorite rock star, don’t expect anything from him or her. In fact, don’t even expect that rock star to treat other people as human. But the bottom line is that Maynard is a sexual predator; stay away from him.

    Reply
  • “My biggest concern was to get laid. My priority was to be validated, to be desired. This was my ticket to undo all of the dismissive behavior from family and teachers and the army of people that had ignored my potential. It was my chance to have somebody who I didn’t even know and who didn’t even know me give me everything in a moment, without question. Just surrender. I’d never had that. That power was new.” (MJK. 2016 ‘A Perfect Contrarian’)

    Reply
  • “I’m all for a healthy balance of justice being served tempered with innocent until proven guilty. The thing is though, there hasn’t been any solid proof from Keenan or his people that something like this didn’t happen.”

    Neither is there any proof that you aren’t an idiot.

    Reply
  • “The thing is though, there hasn’t been any solid proof from Keenan or his people that something like this didn’t happen…”

    Sweet hell on this earth, this is the most retarded statement I’ve read in a while. Why would this be required?

    Reply
  • you are a penis

    Reply
  • Any more news on this?

    Reply
    • No because it was false, she took most of the story from and hilarious fan encounter in the early 2000, there was no need for MJK to rape anyone as there was a certain lets say protocol for women to be invited backstage, if you do a little research you’ll find some statements about that from fans who experienced the offer

      Reply

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