With a successful, awe-inspiring and revolving lineup, and members from bands ranging from Tool to Smashing Pumpkins, A Perfect Circle is a unique band distinguished by an indescribable sound. The band’s background in metal gives them their dark sound and harsh instrumentals, but their vocals and lyrics provide a softer edge. However you’d describe their sound – it works for them, and has, since the early 2000s.

A Band Born of Legal Trouble

The base of A Perfect Circle was created by two former Tool band members, Maynard James Keenan, and Billy Howerdel. They decided to form a new band after experiencing legal issues with their record label Freeworld Entertainment. The lawsuit took years and Tool took a long break, not releasing another album until 2001. Even though they agreed to this break, Keenan and Howerdel decided they needed to get back into the music scene soon after. So, in the late 1990s, they invited Paz Lenchantin to play bass for them, along with Troy Van Leeuwen and Josh Freese.

The Perfect Surprise

Other than the band members, no one knew that A Perfect Circle was in the works. They didn’t perform as a group until 1999, at a benefit concert in LA. The fledgling band was well-received, and they released their debut album “Mer de Noms” the next year. Their next album had some new musicians and new voices, as Keenan was working on Tool’s 2001 album Lateralus. Two other band members were busy that year too, so the lineup added Jeordie White and Danny Lohner to their second album.

Over the years the original members have circled back to the band, but it seems they’re always swapping out one founding member or another. Perhaps that’s how they’ve kept people loving them over time – their sound is constantly changing.