Search Results for: A Perfect Circle

New York – “eMOTIVe,” the new album from Virgin Records recording group A Perfect Circle, was greeted with spectacular one-day sales upon its Tuesday arrival in stores. The collection, which sees APC reimagining radical rock classics for a new generation, is the week’s #1 album on iTunes. In addition, “eMOTIVe” is expected to debut as the top-selling rock record on next week’s Soundscan charts. The album’s first single, a twisted take on John Lennon’s “Imagine,” is lighting up the switchboards at rock radio outlets coast to coast. The song is quickly bulleting up the chart at both Active Rock and… Read more »

eMOTIVEe(Virgin/EMI) Laced with cover songs and rush-released as an anti-war, anti-Bush protest record, there’s no denying A Perfect Circle’s noble intent with eMOTIVe. The checkered musical adventure features, amongst others, takes on Depeche Mode’s “People Are People,” Black Flag’s “Gimme Gimme Gimme,” Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” and the ubiquitous “Imagine.” The problem though, is the atmospheric, swirling and, frankly, passive reinterpretations APC present. Dressed with little more than the occasional industrial splurt, Maynard sings almost exclusively in hushed tones and the guitars are all but muted throughout. The result is a record more suitable as a soundtrack for pushovers… Read more »

Billy Howerdel is usually the quiet giant in A Perfect Circle. Sure, the guitarist does most of the interviews, but frontman Maynard James Keenan has always been the band’s mouthpiece, even if he traditionally has been press-shy. With an important presidential election on the horizon, however, Howerdel is through keeping his thoughts to himself. “Ordinarily, I hate talking about politics,” he said. “I usually heed the warning of many elders that say, ‘Never discuss it with your friends, or certainly publicly,’ but it’s an important time to voice your opinions and feelings.” It’s hardly a secret which candidate A Perfect… Read more »

When they’re onstage, the members of a Perfect Circle perform in fluid synergy, but behind the scenes all they seem to agree on is when to disagree. Band founder and guitarist Billy Howerdel was uninterested in releasing the moody, melodic “Weak and Powerless” as the first single from Thirteenth Step, and he was against using the cover art of a slug crawling across a woman’s face, which is why he gave singer Maynard James Keenan credit for all artwork. Currently, the bandmembers are torn between releasing the melancholy “Blue” or the bruising “The Outsider” as the second single. Bassist Jeordie… Read more »

A Perfect Circle, described by Rolling Stone as “that rare supergroup… of veteran musicians that actually adds up to more, not less, than the sum of its parts,” announces their next round of concert dates and releases their much- anticipated second album in stores today, THIRTEENTH STEP, propelled by its first single, “Weak and Powerless.” The song has jumped to #3 Alternative and #7 Active Rock on both the Mediabase and BDS charts. The countdown now begins toward the first leg of A Perfect Circle’s 2003 arena tour, opening on Halloween in San Antonio (please see initial dates below in… Read more »

Anyone who even slightly follows ChartAttack’s music coverage should know by know that A Perfect Circle is probably one of the most impressive “super bands” this side of Blind Faith. Heh heh… Blind Faith being “super.” Now there’s a gag! So, with the introduction of ex-Smashing Pumpkin James Iha to the fold hot on the heels of Jeordie “Twiggy Ramirez” White taking up bass duties (as former APC bassist Paz Lenchantin moved to Billy Corgan’s Zwan… inbreeding?) how does APC brainchild Billy Howerdel feel the shift went? “I couldn’t have asked for a smoother transition,” he says. “And without trying… Read more »

One reason A Perfect Circle resonate with such power is because the bandmembers are dedicated to their art – whether it’s catchy and commercial or sprawling and inaccessible to the mainstream. They immerse themselves in their songs, which are as much a part of themselves as a reflection of their personalities. And they present their vision in a striking and unconventional manner, singing from behind a screen, performing in near darkness and greeting the media with complete indifference. The band’s new album, The Thirteenth Step, due September 16, is textural, evocative and moody – metallic art-rock for the clinically depressed.… Read more »

With little pomp and no showboating, A Perfect Circle were all about the music in the first headlining performance in support of their upcoming album, Thirteenth Step. That shouldn’t surprise any APC fans or those familiar with shows by singer Maynard James Keenan’s other band, Tool. Never once did he holler, “Hello, New York” – in fact, he jokingly made a reference to New Jersey – nor did he ask if fans were ready to rock. It didn’t matter. He obviously was. And so were his bandmates, who took the stage in formation: guitarist Billy Howerdel at the front of… Read more »

Maynard James Keenan will keep Tool in the shed for at least another few months, as the oddball frontman’s other band A Perfect Circle releases Thirteenth Step on September 16th. Since the release of its debut album, Mer de Noms, three years ago, A Perfect Circle has had a few chairs vacated and filled. Out are guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen and bassist Paz Lenchantin (who joined Billy Corgan’s new band, Zwan). And joining Keenan, guitarist Billy Howerdel and drummer Josh Freese is Jeordie White, who formerly recorded as “Twiggy Ramirez” for Marilyn Manson. A Perfect Circle have lined up a… Read more »

When former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha got an email a month ago from A Perfect Circle’s Billy Howerdel asking if he’d like to audition for the group, the last thing on Iha’s mind was joining another band. “I really didn’t see myself joining another band too soon after the Pumpkins broke up,” said Iha, who has kept a low profile since the Pumpkins’ December 2000 split. “I was recently saying to someone that it would have to be a pretty good band to bring me back – this is the band.” Iha was also reluctant to hit the road… Read more »