A Perfect Union of Contrary Things

Actor, performer, musician, entrepreneur, winemaker, athlete, writer, curious adventurer—Maynard James Keenan is the embodiment of the archetypal artist. Best known as the vocalist in award-winning groups Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer, he has trusted the path he’s followed and heeded his inner voice, ever open to synchronicities and unexpected turnings along the way.
Written by Sarah Jensen, Keenan’s friend of more than thirty years, A Perfect Union of Contrary Things artfully traces his journey from his Midwest childhood to his years in the Army to his time in art school, from his stint at a Boston pet shop to his move to the Arizona desert and his place in the international spotlight. The account transcends the personal and becomes a metaphor for the readers’ own evolution: an encouragement to follow our dreams, hold fast to our individual integrity, and work ceaselessly to fulfill our creative potential.
Until now, his fans have had access to only an abridged version of Keenan’s story. His fully authorized biography is a comprehensive portrayal of the versatile and dedicated artist and successful vintner, presenting the outtakes, the scenes of disappointment and triumph, the prime influences and events that shaped his life and his work. Included are sidebars in his own words, often-humorous anecdotes that illuminate the narrative, as well as commentary by his family members, friends, instructors, and industry colleagues, and photos of Keenan from childhood to the present.
Keenan’s longtime friend, American visionary artist Alex Grey, explains in his foreword, “Maynard’s message points us back to ourselves, and the lesson of his life is our artistic challenge: Be positively inebriated with life, be true to yourself, spiral out, keep going, keep growing.”