Certain decisions define the lives of people, and for Maynard James Keenan, a good part of the success he has today was founded on a singular decision made by his now late mother. Maynard, who is also known as MJK, is an American musician, singer, and songwriter, known for his exploits with bands such as Tool and A Perfect Circle.
It is also interesting to know that amid his already vast pursuits in music, the singer-songwriter has gone on to show more affinity in different artistic ventures such as acting and wine tasting. As of now, Keenan continues to enjoy more success from both his wine business and as a musician.
Maynard James Keenan Achieved Fame With The Band, Tool
Maynard James Keenan’s foray into music began in the 1980s when he left military prep school and a string of failed attempts at holding down a job. He was drawn to music as at then, and he started to play the bass guitar for TexA.N.S. as well as singing for the Children of the Anachronistic Dynasty. During those early years of his career, he also sang backup and played the guitar for a string of musicians.
After deciding to migrate from Massachusetts to Los Angeles. Keenan met Adam Jones. It was Jones who, having heard a demo recorded by Keenan, urged him to form a band. Maynard James Keenan did this reluctantly; nevertheless, his first band Tool was formed. He was the frontman for the band, while Jones was the lead guitarist, Paul D’Amour was the bassist, and Danny Carey on the drums.
As a member of this band, Maynard James Keenan has been the recipient of 4 Grammys and are forerunners in the world of alternative metal music. The band has also sold more than 10 million copies of their albums. They have 5 albums, all of which have been received with critical acclaim.
Finding More Success with A Perfect Circle
After the 1996 album, Ænima the members of Tool decided to go on a hiatus for legal issues. During that period, Maynard James Keenan started to work with Billy Howerdel, a guitar tech who had worked with them on the tour for that album, and in time, the supergroup, A Perfect Circle, was formed.
This band has released 4 albums, all of which Keenan worked on. The quality of work that Keenan was able to do on Tool was what he replicated with A Perfect circle, and this band just like Tool is recognized for the influence they have on the genre of modern rock. It is also known that their second album, ‘Thirteenth Step,’ which is a reference to the steps people who are recovering from addiction have to go through was well received and spent 78 weeks on the charts.
However, in 2009, nine years after their formation and several live tours, the band decided to go on a break. Maynard James Keenan spoke about the decision saying that Billy Howerdel, who he originally formed that band with, needed to discover himself as an artist.
He Embarked on a Solo Career with the Stage Name, Puscifer
While Maynard James Keenan worked with two bands, he still found some time to start his solo career and went by the moniker, Puscifer. According to him, this version of his artistry is a manifestation of his creative subconscious. The first emergence of this persona was on the song, ‘Rev 22:20,’ which was featured in the soundtrack of the film, Underworld.
Despite being his solo career, Keenan has worked with other people from other bands who were on breaks from their bands. The first album he released under this brand was ‘V is for Vagina’. He paid for the entire production of the album, and this gesture is representative of how he relates to the Puscifer brand.
However, the album was not a hit with critics and was described as being unfocused and not lacking the features that defined Maynard James Keenan’s other works. The Puscifer brand is not limited to the music, as it includes a clothing line, collectibles, and roasted coffee.
More Money With His Wine Business
Having made music for over two decades with about three bands to his name, Maynard James Keenan is a wealthy man by all standards as his net worth is valued at $60 million. However, this amount did not just come from his music career as he is also notable as a business owner with a wine company called Caduceus Cellars and a vineyard named Merkin Vineyard.
More so, he co-owns Stronghold Vineyards, which have been quite a flourishing business. It is even on record that after the death of his mother in 2003, he named one of his wines after her. He named it Cabernet Sauvignon “Nagual del Judit”.
The Whereabouts Of His First Wife Remain Unknown
Maynard James Keenan is notoriously known for his reclusive tendencies. The details of his life are something that he likes to keep under wraps but hiding the identity of your child is not an easy task. He is the father of Devo H. Keenan, who is also a singer. Jennifer Brena Ferguson, the first woman who was linked to him romantically since his career started is believed to be the mother of his son.
As of now, the details of their relationship are not clear as Maynard James Keenan is bound to keep things away from the public, and it is something that Ferguson also practiced. Asides, the true nature of their relationship, there is little to no information available on Jennifer Brena Ferguson. However, when the two were together, which was around 1995 to the early 2000s, it was common knowledge that Keenan was a serial cheat, which is most likely what led to the end of their relationship.
Maynard James Is Currently Married To His Employee
In June 2010, the reclusive musician proposed to his then-girlfriend Lei Li. It is believed that she used to work in his wine company as a lab manager. They got married two years after on September 10, 2012. Lei Li just like the other woman Keenan was in a relationship with has no online presence and is concerned more with giving all her time to her family.
However, it is known that the couple had their first child, a daughter named Lei Li Agostina Maria, on July 12, 2014. Both Keenan and Li are parents to Devo alongside their daughter, and the entire family lives in Jerome May, Arizona.
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