A Perfect Circle's Billy Howerdel Interview and Thougths about Maynard

A Perfect Circle and Appetite for Distortion lead guitarist Billy Howerdel shared his thoughts about Maynard in his latest interview. He also mentioned how he feels about singing with Maynard James Keenan.

Billy Howerdel was born on May 18th, 1970. He is an American musician who is also known as the founder, guitarist, and backing vocalist, as well as producer and songwriter of the bands A Perfect Circle and Ashes Divide. He has released four critically well-received recordings, also in 2008 Ashes Divide released their first debut album, ‘Keep Telling Me It’s All Right’.

In his latest interview, he mentioned Maynard James Keenan for his 2008 Ashes Divide solo project and thoughts on Keenan’s vocal guidance that he used on his forthcoming debut album.

What Billy Howerdel thinks about his new solo album and Maynard James Keenan?

However, now Billy Howerdel will release his first solo album “What Normal Was” which is scheduled for release on June 10th, 2022. But, it’s not the first album by Billy Howerdel recorded without Maynard as the singer in 2008, then he released his album “Keep Reminding Me It’s All Right” under the name Ashes Divide.

In a recent interview on the Appetite for Distortion YouTube channel, Billy Howerdel was asked if the thought of being able to compare his vocals to Keenan’s and Maynard caused him stress when working on his forthcoming solo debut:

“Not on this record, honestly, but in 2008? Yes, I felt the pressure, big time. I felt it because had three records come out within four years, and then I started working on Ashes. I definitely felt like anything I do possibly is going to sound, If I do have any sound, so to speak, of my writing style or playing, it’s going to come through and it’s going to be without Maynard, and how’s that going to be received? I was definitely thinking about it back then. This time? No, I didn’t. I can tell you honestly, I didn’t feel that way.

And Maynard -I hesitate even telling this because I guess I’m good at talking about things and accepting defeat – but Maynard’s suggestion to me, and this was 2006, maybe, is just using your speaking voice… I think that whoever hears that you have to kind of go ‘Okay,’ but that doesn’t mean just make a spoken record…I kind of just took that and ran with it this time. And your voice is your voice, but if you’re trying to do a character, you might be chasing something else. Now, I like acting too, I get it, what it is to go and do a character, and just bring your own thing to that character. But this time, I don’t feel like I’m doing a character, this is just where it naturally falls.

And hence, again, why it makes sense to use my name. The mechanics of singing, let’s say, I worked to make sure that I’m singing in the register that was the right register for me singing the song, not that I wanted to impress you that I’m hitting a B flat in whatever octave.”