I think the media made Manson, turned him into some larger than life figure and surrounded him with mystery and some shady glamour.

Everything we release with Tool is inspired by our music.

If the education of our kids comes from radio, television, newspapers - if that's where they get most of their knowledge from, and not from the schools, then the powers that be are definitely in charge, because they own all those outlets.

I'm a pessimist. But I'm a pessimist with a sense of responsibility.

I think artists are going to express things from an emotional point of view, that's their job, to suggest and interpret, and report what they witness. That's their job as artists, you're looking for the rub, where's the rub, you're a storyteller, you're looking for the rub, not necessarily the solutions, or you're not necessarily educated, you're not the winner of a debate contest, a national debate contest, you're not necessarily a person who has a doctorate in anything.

I feel like with music there's so much ego rooted in expressing your thoughts and your experiences with it.

We are eternal. All this pain is an illusion.