From The Archives: On the Vineyard with Maynard James Keenan1

by Erin Broadley

Ghost towns have a bad reputation: Shop doors creak, saloons swirl with phantoms of unloved prostitutes, rotting jail cells are haunted by remorseless outlaws, and the dusty streets are patrolled by spirits of hardened deputies.

For some, ghost towns are merely creepy roadside attractions; for others they are American landmarks brimming with history’s shadows and latent inspiration. The abandoned mining settlement of Jerome, Arizona is one of the oldest and largest American ghost towns. Until recently, its roads lay ruined and its doors were boarded up. It quietly waited for some headstrong thrill-seeker to dust it off and polish its potential. Now a vibrant artist community, Jerome is the place that Maynard James Keenan calls home.

In 1995, after having his fill of the endless white noise and wayward temperament of Los Angeles, the enigmatic Tool frontman bid the city adieu, packed his bags, followed his intuition and headed for the desert. After settling in Jerome, Keenan soon began his adventure into the art of winemaking. Today he is the proud owner of Merkin Vineyards and Caduceus Cellars, which he runs with partner Eric Glomski in Cornville, Arizona. To our delight, Keenan invited both Avalon Suicide and myself over for a tour of the grounds, a lengthy chat, and rare glimpse into his world.

As we meandered through the rows of grapevines, I asked Keenan why he chose to leave Los Angeles for Arizona. He waved his arm at our surroundings and matter-of-factly replied, “Just look at this place!”

For an afternoon, armed with a video camera, we walked the vineyard as Keenan spoke in detail about his craft – both as a musician and a winemaker – and also about his latest project, Puscifer, a multifaceted, multimedia, multi-artist, multi-personality project that takes shape in myriad ways like film, music, digital video, clothes, feminine hygiene products, pet supplies, and more.

The debut album from Puscifer, titled V is for Vagina, is in stores now. And yes, Keenan’s wine is fucking delicious.

Read our exclusive interview with Maynard James Keenan on SuicideGirls.com.