Maynard James Keenan

Maynard James Keenan, born James Herbert Keenan, also known as MJK, is a musician, producer, winemaker, and actor. He is best known as the vocalist for the band Tool, which he co-founded with Adam Jones.

He’s also the lead vocalist for A Perfect Circle, which he co-founded with Billy Howerdel. In 2003, he created Puscifer, who have since released three albums.

Maynard owns and operates Merkin Vineyards and its associated winery, Caduceus Cellars, in Jerome, Arizona.

Maynard was born in Ravenna, Ohio. At the age of 11, his mother, Judith, suffered a cerebral aneurysm. In 2003, Judith died from complications from the aneurysm at the age of 59. Following her death, he scattered her ashes across one of his vineyards and named one of his wines after her, honoring her memory with his Cabernet Sauvignon, Nagual del Judith.

His mother has served as a major creative influence and inspiration in his work, such as Tool’s “Wings for Marie” and “Jimmy”, A Perfect Circle’s “Judith”, and others. In fact, the time between his mother’s diagnosis and her death was just over 10,000 Days.

Blood Into Wine, a documentary released in 2010 featuring Maynard and wine partner Eric Glomski, focuses on Caduceus Cellars and the wine industry in Northern Arizona. A soundtrack for the film was also released the same year, featuring both released and unreleased Puscifer tracks.

He has performed in several minor acting roles, usually under a pseudonym, but made his major feature film debut in 2009’s Crank: High Voltage, and shares a scene with the film’s starring actor, Jason Statham.