“I’ve Never Seen Someone Who Hates the Fans So Much”: Tool Fans Slam Festival Set
Tool fans are a rare breed of music lover—loyal to a fault, willing to drop thousands of dollars on concert tickets, travel expenses, and exclusive merch, all for the chance to worship at the altar of Maynard James Keenan and his band of psychedelic metal gods. But as evidenced by this weekend’s Live In The Sand festival in Punta Cana, loyalty only goes so far when the band’s promises are put to the test.
Tool headlined the event, which took place at the Hard Rock & Royalton Resorts, offering fans an all-inclusive experience featuring an all-star lineup that included Mastodon, Primus, and more. For some, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see Tool perform two “unique” sets—except, well, that didn’t happen. Instead, Tool played a measly nine songs during their second performance, many of which were repeats from the first night. In a festival where some fans reportedly spent up to $10,000 for the experience, paying for travel, hotel, and an all-inclusive ticket, being served up a repeat performance wasn’t just disappointing—it was infuriating.
Fans took to Reddit to vent their frustration, with one fan lamenting, “They only played an hour and mostly repeats from the first night.” Another fan wasn’t shy about calling out Keenan’s apparent disdain for his audience, saying, “I’ll always love the music, but I’ve never seen someone who hates the fans that made him rich as much as that guy.” For Tool fans—who’ve spent decades adhering to the band’s complicated, cryptic musical world—this wasn’t just a missed opportunity. It felt like a betrayal.
The situation didn’t help when, according to some reports, Maynard James Keenan seemed completely unaware that single-day passes were unavailable for the event. When he asked, “Has anyone not been to the first night’s set?” it wasn’t exactly the sort of acknowledgment you expect from someone charging tens of thousands of dollars for a weekend escape.
The aftermath has led to whispers of a potential class action lawsuit, as fans have been vocal about their dissatisfaction. And it’s not just Tool that’s getting attention for shaky performances. Mastodon debuted a new lineup at the event after the departure of their iconic guitarist Brent Hinds, and Primus’ long-time drummer, Tim “Herb” Alexander, was replaced by John Hoffman. The result? A weekend that not only delivered disappointment for Tool fans but felt emblematic of the broader music industry’s struggle to meet ever-higher fan expectations.
In a world where music festivals and concert tickets are becoming increasingly expensive—and increasingly performative—Tool may have just learned a hard lesson: loyalty is a two-way street. If the fans are expected to pay the price, the band better deliver the goods. Otherwise, a lot of people are going to have a hard time forgetting they were left holding the bag—and the bill.
