A Perfect Circle

A Perfect Circle formed in Los Angeles in 1999, when guitarist Billy Howerdel teamed up with Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Howerdel composes the music, Keenan writes the lyrics and vocal melodies, and around that fixed partnership the line-up has shifted from album to album. Their sound sits between alternative, progressive and art rock. Josh Freese on drums and James Iha of Smashing Pumpkins on guitar are part of the current band.

The debut, Mer de Noms, arrived in 2000, followed by Thirteenth Step in 2003 and eMOTIVe in 2004, a collection of radically reworked cover songs. Keenan's other commitments, including Tool and Puscifer, brought a hiatus, then periods of sporadic activity. Eat the Elephant, the fourth album, came in 2018. Fans of Tool, Nine Inch Nails and Deftones will find plenty to enjoy, and touring is planned for 2027.