Maynard James Keenan, the frontman of the rock band Tool, caused a stir at the Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Keenan appeared on stage in drag, wearing a blonde wig, exaggerated red lipstick, and prosthetic breasts. This act seemed to coincide with the recent signing of an anti-drag bill into law by Governor Ron DeSantis. However, Keenan insists that his outfit had nothing to do with Florida and was not a political statement.
In an interview with The Messenger, Keenan clarified his intentions, stating, “I’ve been cross-dressing since long before these clickbait-junkie dupes were out of diapers. It’s pretty crazy the technology and the prosthetics nowadays, how they’ve come along, and I just was considering bringing the look back,” he explained. “And that’s really all there is to it. I’m not a political fella — had nothing to do with Florida.”
Although Keenan denied any political motivation, he did criticize the new law. “I think limiting people’s access to anything is absurd,” he said. “Good parenting allows you to teach your kids how to be reasonable and reason and puzzle things out and decide for themselves what the fuck they wanna see or not wanna see.”
When asked about his connection to the drag community, Keenan admitted that he considers himself a member, albeit a casual one. “On occasion, I am a drag queen; I’ve been a drag queen. I’m casual, so the hardcore people are going to dismiss me as being a tourist.”
Ultimately, Keenan’s message is one of acceptance and individuality. “Solidarity with people who are not afraid to express themselves? Absolutely. People that want to express themselves in whatever fucking way they want to express themselves, as long as they’re not physically directly hurting someone? Yeah, go for it. I’m all for ya.”
“If there’s any takeaway, it’s be yourself. Don’t be afraid to be yourself,” Keenan says.
See video of the performance below.