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Adam Jones (musician)
Encyclopedia
Adam Thomas Jones is a three time Grammy Award
-winning Welsh-American musician and visual artist, best known for his position as the guitarist for Grammy-Award winning band Tool
. Jones has been rated the 75th Greatest Guitarist of all time by the Rolling Stone
and placed 9th in Guitar World
's Top 100 Greatest metal
Guitarists. Jones is regularly credited for a majority of Tool's music video
s.
, raised in Libertyville, Illinois
. He was accepted into the Suzuki program
, and continued to play violin through his freshman year in high school. He then began to play an acoustic bass
for three years in an orchestra.
In addition to playing classical music, Jones played bass guitar
in the band Electric Sheep
, with Tom Morello
of Rage Against the Machine
, until Jones moved to California (Morello soon followed). According to both of them, the band was quite unpopular at the time. Jones never received traditional guitar lessons, but instead learned by ear.
to study art and sculpture. His focus of interest shifted to film
, and he began to work as a sculptor and special effects designer, where he learned the stop-motion camera techniques he would later apply in Tool's music videos, such as "Sober" (on which he collaborated with Fred Stuhr), "Prison Sex
", "Stinkfist
", "Ænema
", "Schism", "Parabola" and "Vicarious". He graduated in 1987.
After graduation, he went to work at Rick Lazzarini's Character Shop. During the next couple of years, he worked the TV show Monsters
. He designed and fabricated a Grim Reaper makeup and a Zombie head on a spike (later used in Ghostbusters 2) among others. After that, he went to Stan Winston
's special effects workshop, where he worked on Predator 2
, sculpting a unique-looking skull for the Predator's spaceship interior.
Jones worked on several other big films in Hollywood doing makeup and set design, including Jurassic Park
, Terminator 2: Judgment Day
, Dances with Wolves
, and Ghostbusters 2.
He did the "Freddy Krueger
in the womb" makeup for A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
, as well as work for A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
.
He also worked on commercials for salad dressing (never aired), Olympic stain (Albert Einstein makeup), and Duracell
(boxers and taxicabs).
Jones also toured with the Jello Biafra
/The Melvins
band and contributed to their albums Never Breathe What You Can't See
and Sieg Howdy!
. Jones and Melvins Guitarist/Vocalist Buzz Osborne
are close friends. Jones also appeared on the Melvins album Hostile Ambient Takeover
, the Melvins/Lustmord
collaboration Pigs of the Roman Empire
and the Isis
album Wavering Radiant
.
On Mr. Show
, he appeared as the fictional guitarist of Puscifer
along with bandmate Keenan, and can also be spotted in the audience seated at a table with Keenan in the series' first episode.
On August 14, 2011, Jones performed the National Anthem of the United States at the outset of WWE's SummerSlam (2011)
wrestling event in Los Angeles.
and 10,000 Days
he made heavy use of triplets. Other techniques used to expand his band's sound repertoire require forms of instrumental experimentation, for example, on the Tool song, "Jambi", Jones uses a talk box
. In the song Third Eye he makes use of a guitar slide for the opening. He has two synthesizer
s that are listed below in his effects section. Live, Adam can be seen with a large pedalboard full of effects, including a DOD
FX-40B Equalizer (EQ) pedal, Boss
BF-2 Flanger, Line 6 DL-4 delay, and an MXR
Micro Amp among others.
's Giving Birth to a Stone, in which Jones's fellow Tool
member Justin Chancellor
played bass.
He helped Green Jellÿ
with their costumes.
In 2007 he received the Grammy Award
for 'Best Recording Package' as art director
for his work on 10,000 Days
.
Adam came up with the make-up layout the actors wore on the videos for Schism and Parabol/Parabola
.
In his spare time, Adam shoots photography that is used for the visuals at live Tool concerts.
Adam draws his own comics, a habit he began as a young child manipulating his ideas into 2-D form on paper.
After making these Silverburst Les Pauls in the late seventies and early eighties, Gibson discontinued using this finish after complaints about the metal flaking changing the tone of the guitar. Jones says that this altered tone is part of the draw for him. In a March 1994 interview with Guitar School magazine, Adam states: "I use Gibson guitars; I prefer the Les Paul Custom. It's a black guitar with a greenish burst in the middle. They only made them for two or three years. I guess a lot of people complained that the metallic finish was affecting the sound. That's exactly why I like playing it. I have Seymour Duncan pickups, and I can't get the same sound with any other guitar, not even another Gibson, without that finish on it. I have five of them. I'd buy another if I could find one". Adam has admitted that his guitars are customized, but he has kept secret the exact nature of the modifications he has made to his guitars. Jones stated in 2001 that his pickups were "hot-wired" and would say nothing beyond this. Jones has admitted that the fret wire on the Gibsons is of the heaviest gauge. Gibson have stated that they will produce models based on Jones' Silverburst Les Pauls.
When playing live, Jones also uses a Natural finish Les Paul to play the songs "Prison Sex" and "Parabol/Parabola", which are in BADGBE and BEDGBE tunings respectively. When in the studio, Jones has said he has used other guitars, mentioning a Gibson SG electric guitar and a Guild acoustic guitar amongst others. It is rumored that he used a Fender Telecaster to record "Right in Two" on the album 10,000 Days, and a Fender Stratocaster to record "Pushit."
Super Bass amp and a 1995 Diezel
VH4 Blueface amp, the blue faceplate models were made from 94-97, and have less presence and a darker tone than the current Silverface that are being made. The Marshall is his oldest amp, and was most likely used on all the Tool recordings, all the way back to Opiate EP
. Adam has stated that this amp is of the "non-master volume" type and has had both channels wired together. He keeps this amp "in the freezer" when not in use to help preserve it. The Diezel has been in his live and studio setup since at least 1994. This is a four channel amp from Germany. From as early as 1994 until the late 1990s Adam can be seen live using a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 2 Channel amplifier as a third amp. In some interviews from that period, Jones has confirmed that it is a Dual Rectifier. More recently, this Mesa/Boogie has not appeared on stage and appears to have been replaced with another more recent VH4 amp. The new model VH4's have a silver faceplate and are different in voicing and circuitry compared to the Bluefaces. Interestingly, he does not always appear to use this amp. During some shows, the blue Diezel's 'standby' clearly remains illuminated for the duration of the performance, while the amp is without a doubt on and being used at other shows. Other amps mentioned by Adam include a Sunn Beta Lead which he states he used in place of the Mesa/Boogie during studio recording in a June 2001 interview. More recently Jones has talked about using Bogner, Rivera, and Peavey amps in the studio as well as his Marshall and Diezel. He appears to use Mesa/Boogie cabinets exclusively with his amps, with the exception of a Marshall cabinet which is always seen sitting under his Marshall head.
Lateralus
may have been recorded with the Diezel amp, along with the Marshall bass amp. Adam has made references to a Sunn
head and may have also used his Mesa Boogie rectifier in the studio. By the time of the main Lateralus tour, the only Mesa Boogie equipment in sight was the two Mesa Rectifier Standard cabinets.
Mixonline.com's interview with Joe Barresi and Bob Ludwig discuss Adam's equipment and setup for the 10,000 Days
album with great detail. When discussing the amps, Barresi mentions Adam's famous Marshall and Diezel, "a Mesa Boogie", a Bogner Uberschall, a Rivera Knucklehead Reverb, and "several others". In a Guitarworld magazine interview Adam also mentions an unspecified Peavey amp, which is probably one of the "several others" that Barresi mentions. As far as cabinets go, Barresi says that Mesa/Boogie cabinets were mostly used because of the better low end response. The Marshall ran through its Marshall cabinet and the Rivera ran through a Rivera cabinet. Barresi goes on to describe signal chain for tracking. He says that Adam would play through certain effects and then send the signal to a splitter. The sound would then go into three to five amps. The Marshall and Diezel would each get their own track, and a third track would be a mix of the other amps (usually the Bogner and Rivera). Each cabinet would have at least two to three mics on them. Rivera Amps also claims on its web page that he is using a Rivera Knucklehead Rev Mick Thompson model on the recording.
It is worth pointing out that Adam does not switch channels on his VH4. He uses only channel 3 when playing live. All changes in intensity are through his pick, his volume knob, or (as of recently) a volume pedal. Also, another point to mention about Adam's live rig is that he uses Mesa/Boogie 4x12 Oversized Rectifier straight front/slant baffle cabinets with his VH4's.
.
In the April 2006 edition of Guitar World
magazine, Jones revealed that he used the Gig-FX Chopper Effects Pedal. He also mentioned that he had several pedals modified, and that he used an altered volume pedal to control the strength of some effects. A newer Ernie Ball Standard Volume Pedal is clearly visible on his stage setup. He also stated that he uses the Foxx Tone Machine Reissue and a Heil talk box
on the song "Jambi", that he learned to use with Joe Walsh
's help. Adam used a "pipe-bomb microphone" for the lead recording of the song Rosetta Stoned, which is a guitar pick-up wrapped in what is believed to be a piece of brass tubing capped at each end, which resembles a pipe bomb. Jones also uses a Dunlop CryBaby BB-535 Wah. In a recent Guitar World interview, he stated that he uses an Access Virus
synth hooked up to a Roland PK-5 midi controller. As an example, the Access V.B. can be heard in the introduction of the songs "Reflection," and "The Grudge".
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning Welsh-American musician and visual artist, best known for his position as the guitarist for Grammy-Award winning band Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
. Jones has been rated the 75th Greatest Guitarist of all time by the Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
and placed 9th in Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
's Top 100 Greatest metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
Guitarists. Jones is regularly credited for a majority of Tool's music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s.
Early years
Jones was born in Park Ridge, IllinoisPark Ridge, Illinois
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 37,775 people, 14,219 households, and 10,465 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,374.6 people per square mile . There were 14,646 housing units at an average density of 2,083.8 per square mile...
, raised in Libertyville, Illinois
Libertyville, Illinois
Libertyville is an affluent northern suburb of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is located west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River. The 2000 census population was 20,742; the 2005 estimate was 21,760...
. He was accepted into the Suzuki program
Suzuki method
The Suzuki method is a method of teaching music that emerged in the mid-20th century.-Background:The Suzuki Method was conceived in the mid-20th century by Shin'ichi Suzuki, a Japanese violinist who desired to bring beauty to the lives of children in his country after the devastation of World War II...
, and continued to play violin through his freshman year in high school. He then began to play an acoustic bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
for three years in an orchestra.
In addition to playing classical music, Jones played bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in the band Electric Sheep
Electric Sheep (band)
Electric Sheep was a garage band that included Adam Jones and Tom Morello...
, with Tom Morello
Tom Morello
Thomas Baptiste "Tom" Morello is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist best known for his tenure with the bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, his acoustic solo act The Nightwatchman, and his newest group, Street Sweeper Social Club...
of Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
, until Jones moved to California (Morello soon followed). According to both of them, the band was quite unpopular at the time. Jones never received traditional guitar lessons, but instead learned by ear.
Film work
Jones was offered a film scholarship but declined and chose to move to Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to study art and sculpture. His focus of interest shifted to film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, and he began to work as a sculptor and special effects designer, where he learned the stop-motion camera techniques he would later apply in Tool's music videos, such as "Sober" (on which he collaborated with Fred Stuhr), "Prison Sex
Prison Sex (song)
"Prison Sex" is a song by American rock band Tool. The song was released as their first single from their debut album Undertow. The song is unique for its use of modified drop-B tuning.-Music video:...
", "Stinkfist
Stinkfist
"Stinkfist" is a song by American rock band Tool. It is released as the first single and first music video from their second album Ænima. Due to its name and perceived subject, the song had its lyrics altered and its title changed by TV and radio programmers, who also shortened the track...
", "Ænema
Ænema
"Ænema" is a Grammy Award-winning song by rock band Tool, released as the third single from their second album Ænima. Adam Jones made a video for the song using stop-motion animation that appears on Salival. The song reached number twenty-five on the U.S...
", "Schism", "Parabola" and "Vicarious". He graduated in 1987.
After graduation, he went to work at Rick Lazzarini's Character Shop. During the next couple of years, he worked the TV show Monsters
Monsters (TV series)
Monsters is a syndicated horror anthology series which originally ran from 1988 to 1991 and reran on the Sci-Fi Channel during the 1990s. As of 2011, Monsters airs on NBC Universal's horror/suspense-themed cable channel Chiller in sporadic weekday marathons.In a similar vein to Tales from the...
. He designed and fabricated a Grim Reaper makeup and a Zombie head on a spike (later used in Ghostbusters 2) among others. After that, he went to Stan Winston
Stan Winston
Stanley Winston was an American visual effects supervisor, makeup artist, and film director. He was best known for his work in the Terminator series, the Jurassic Park series, Aliens, the Predator series, Iron Man, Edward Scissorhands, and Avatar...
's special effects workshop, where he worked on Predator 2
Predator 2
Predator 2 is a 1990 science fiction action film starring Danny Glover, Gary Busey, María Conchita Alonso, Rubén Blades, and Bill Paxton. Written by Jim and John Thomas and directed by Stephen Hopkins, the film is a sequel to 1987's Predator, with Kevin Peter Hall again playing the role of the...
, sculpting a unique-looking skull for the Predator's spaceship interior.
Jones worked on several other big films in Hollywood doing makeup and set design, including Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park (film)
Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
, Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a 1991 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr.. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, and Edward Furlong...
, Dances with Wolves
Dances with Wolves
Dances with Wolves is a 1990 epic western film directed by and starring Kevin Costner. It is a film adaptation of the 1988 book of the same name by Michael Blake and tells the story of a Union Army Lieutenant who travels to the American frontier to find a military post, and his dealings with a...
, and Ghostbusters 2.
He did the "Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger
Frederick Charles "Freddy" Krueger is a fictional, horrifying character from the Nightmare on Elm Street series of horror films. He first appears in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street as a disfigured dream stalker who uses a glove armed with razors to kill his victims in their dreams,...
in the womb" makeup for A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child is a 1989 American slasher film and the fifth film in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. It was directed by Stephen Hopkins. The film's general tone is much more gothic and dark than the films before, and used a blue filter lighting technique in most of...
, as well as work for A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master is a 1988 American slasher film and the fourth film in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. The film was directed by Renny Harlin.-Plot:...
.
He also worked on commercials for salad dressing (never aired), Olympic stain (Albert Einstein makeup), and Duracell
Duracell
Duracell is a brand of batteries manufactured by Procter & Gamble.Additionally, Duracell owns the Procell professional-use brand.-Products:Duracell manufactures alkaline batteries in many common sizes, such as AAA, AA, C, D, and 9V...
(boxers and taxicabs).
Music career
Jones also toured with the Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
/The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
band and contributed to their albums Never Breathe What You Can't See
Never Breathe What You Can't See
Never Breathe What You Can't See is an album by Jello Biafra and The Melvins. It was released in 2004 through Alternative Tentacles...
and Sieg Howdy!
Sieg Howdy!
Sieg Howdy! is the second album by Jello Biafra and The Melvins. It consists of songs recorded during the same sessions that produced their first collaboration Never Breathe What You Can't See but not used on that album, plus remixes of four songs from the first album.The opening track, a cover of...
. Jones and Melvins Guitarist/Vocalist Buzz Osborne
Buzz Osborne
Roger "Buzz" Osborne , also known as King Buzzo, is the guitarist/vocalist/songwriter and technically the only remaining founding member of the Melvins...
are close friends. Jones also appeared on the Melvins album Hostile Ambient Takeover
Hostile Ambient Takeover
-Personnel:*The Melvins:**Dale Crover - drums, vocals, keyboards**Kevin Rutmanis - bass, slide bass**King Buzzo - vocals, guitar*Sir David Scott Stone - thunder sheet, electric wire*Toshi Kasai - keyboards, recording, mixing*Adam Jones - virus...
, the Melvins/Lustmord
Lustmord
Brian Williams is a British electronic musician often credited for creating the dark ambient genre with albums recorded under the name Lustmord.- History :Williams started recording as Lustmord in 1980 before joining SPK in 1982...
collaboration Pigs of the Roman Empire
Pigs of the Roman Empire
Pigs of the Roman Empire is an album by Melvins and Lustmord, which was released in 2004 through Ipecac Recordings. There are two untitled songs on track 9.-Track listing:#"III" – 3:00#"The Bloated Pope" – 3:45#"Toadi Acceleratio" – 3:25...
and the Isis
Isis (band)
Isis was a Los Angeles, California-based post-metal band, founded in Boston, Massachusetts, with a career spanning from 1997 to 2010...
album Wavering Radiant
Wavering Radiant
Wavering Radiant is the fifth and final full-length album by American post-metal group Isis, released by Ipecac Recordings in 2009 and produced by Joe Barresi. It stands as Isis' last full-length album, as the band split just over a year after its release...
.
On Mr. Show
Mr. Show
Mr. Show with Bob and David is an American sketch comedy series featuring former Saturday Night Live writer/actor Bob Odenkirk and stand up comedian/actor David Cross...
, he appeared as the fictional guitarist of Puscifer
Puscifer
Puscifer is a side project of Maynard James Keenan from the bands Tool and A Perfect Circle. As Keenan is the only permanent member and he considers the project to be his "creative subconscious", Puscifer could also be considered a pseudonym for his solo work....
along with bandmate Keenan, and can also be spotted in the audience seated at a table with Keenan in the series' first episode.
On August 14, 2011, Jones performed the National Anthem of the United States at the outset of WWE's SummerSlam (2011)
SummerSlam (2011)
SummerSlam was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by WWE that took place on August 14, 2011. For the third consecutive year, SummerSlam was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, and it was the 24th annual SummerSlam event...
wrestling event in Los Angeles.
Playing style
Adam Jones is known for not predominantly using any particular guitar playing technique, but rather combining many techniques such as "alternately utilizing power chords, scratchy noise, chiming arpeggios, off-beat rhythm patterns, and a quiet minimalism". On LateralusLateralus
Lateralus is the third studio album by American rock band Tool. The album was released on May 15, 2001, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. On August 5, 2003, Lateralus was certified double platinum by the RIAA. On August 30, 2004 the album was certified Silver by the BPI for...
and 10,000 Days
10,000 Days
10,000 Days is the Grammy Award-winning fourth studio album by American rock band Tool. The album was released on April 28, 2006 in parts of Europe, April 29 in Australia, May 1 in the United Kingdom, and May 2 in North America...
he made heavy use of triplets. Other techniques used to expand his band's sound repertoire require forms of instrumental experimentation, for example, on the Tool song, "Jambi", Jones uses a talk box
Talk box
A talk box is an effects unit that allows a musician to modify the sound of a musical instrument. The musician controls the modification by lip syncing, or by changing the shape of the mouth...
. In the song Third Eye he makes use of a guitar slide for the opening. He has two synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s that are listed below in his effects section. Live, Adam can be seen with a large pedalboard full of effects, including a DOD
DOD Electronics
DOD Electronics or simply DOD is a Harman International company specializing in making guitar effects pedals, most of which are now discontinued. Additionally, the company has made active crossover gear....
FX-40B Equalizer (EQ) pedal, Boss
Boss Corporation
Boss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
BF-2 Flanger, Line 6 DL-4 delay, and an MXR
MXR
MXR, also known as MXR Innovations, was a manufacturer of guitar effects units, co-founded in 1973 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood . MXR was based in the United States in Rochester, New York. MXR Innovations, Inc. was incorporated in 1974...
Micro Amp among others.
Visual art
Jones created the liner art for the re-release of PeachPeach (band)
Peach was a band from England that originally recorded between 1991 and 1994. They played metal music of a progressive style. The original line-up consisted of Simon Oakes, Rob Havis, Ben Durling and Justin Chancellor...
's Giving Birth to a Stone, in which Jones's fellow Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
member Justin Chancellor
Justin Chancellor
Justin Gunnar Walter Chancellor is an English musician formerly in the band Peach but best known as the bass player for Grammy Award-winning rock band Tool. Chancellor is of Norwegian and English descent...
played bass.
He helped Green Jellÿ
Green Jellÿ
Green Jellÿ is a Grammy-nominated American comedy rock band formed in 1981. Originally named Green Jellö, the band changed its name due to legal pressure from the owners of the Jell-O trademark, Kraft Foods, who claimed that it was an infringement of their trademark...
with their costumes.
In 2007 he received the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for 'Best Recording Package' as art director
Art director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
for his work on 10,000 Days
10,000 Days
10,000 Days is the Grammy Award-winning fourth studio album by American rock band Tool. The album was released on April 28, 2006 in parts of Europe, April 29 in Australia, May 1 in the United Kingdom, and May 2 in North America...
.
Adam came up with the make-up layout the actors wore on the videos for Schism and Parabol/Parabola
Parabola (song)
"Parabola" is a song by the American rock band Tool, the song was released as the second single from their third studio album Lateralus. It was released in 2002 as a promo only, however, on December 20, 2005, the single was re-released, which includes the song and a DVD containing the music video...
.
In his spare time, Adam shoots photography that is used for the visuals at live Tool concerts.
Adam draws his own comics, a habit he began as a young child manipulating his ideas into 2-D form on paper.
Guitars
Adam Jones uses the Gibson Silverburst Les Paul Customs, of which he owns three (it has been believed that he owned five because of a Guitar World cover, but in actuality the last two were copied) as his main guitars for live performances and in the studio. His main Les Paul has a headstock ornament. It appears to be a blue mirror, which covers the usual split diamond inlay Gibson Les Paul Customs are known for. Another of his Silverbursts is a 1981 model and (as described by Jones himself in an interview in 2001 with Australian Guitar magazine) has an unsightly screw in it that Jones will not remove because doing so may hurt the unique tone of the guitar. (This guitar with its screw can clearly be seen twice on the cover of the above mentioned Guitar World Magazine.)After making these Silverburst Les Pauls in the late seventies and early eighties, Gibson discontinued using this finish after complaints about the metal flaking changing the tone of the guitar. Jones says that this altered tone is part of the draw for him. In a March 1994 interview with Guitar School magazine, Adam states: "I use Gibson guitars; I prefer the Les Paul Custom. It's a black guitar with a greenish burst in the middle. They only made them for two or three years. I guess a lot of people complained that the metallic finish was affecting the sound. That's exactly why I like playing it. I have Seymour Duncan pickups, and I can't get the same sound with any other guitar, not even another Gibson, without that finish on it. I have five of them. I'd buy another if I could find one". Adam has admitted that his guitars are customized, but he has kept secret the exact nature of the modifications he has made to his guitars. Jones stated in 2001 that his pickups were "hot-wired" and would say nothing beyond this. Jones has admitted that the fret wire on the Gibsons is of the heaviest gauge. Gibson have stated that they will produce models based on Jones' Silverburst Les Pauls.
When playing live, Jones also uses a Natural finish Les Paul to play the songs "Prison Sex" and "Parabol/Parabola", which are in BADGBE and BEDGBE tunings respectively. When in the studio, Jones has said he has used other guitars, mentioning a Gibson SG electric guitar and a Guild acoustic guitar amongst others. It is rumored that he used a Fender Telecaster to record "Right in Two" on the album 10,000 Days, and a Fender Stratocaster to record "Pushit."
Amplifiers
The amplifiers that Jones uses to create his unique tone are uncertain, as he and the band are known for spreading misinformation about themselves and their music. What is known for certain is that he uses multiple amplifiers simultaneously. Of the amplifiers that he has cycled through, two have remained constant since 1995 and can be assumed to be "core" of his sound. These amps are a 1976 MarshallMarshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
Super Bass amp and a 1995 Diezel
Diezel
Diezel Amplification GmbH is a small firm based in Bad Steben, Germany, founded by Peter Diezel, that builds high-end guitar amplifiers. The company was established in 1994.-Bands and artists:...
VH4 Blueface amp, the blue faceplate models were made from 94-97, and have less presence and a darker tone than the current Silverface that are being made. The Marshall is his oldest amp, and was most likely used on all the Tool recordings, all the way back to Opiate EP
Opiate (album)
Opiate is an EP by American rock band Tool. It was produced and engineered by Sylvia Massy and former Minor Threat bassist Steve Hansgen. Released in 1992, it was the result of some two years of the band playing together after their formation in 1990. "Opiate" preceded Tool's first full-length...
. Adam has stated that this amp is of the "non-master volume" type and has had both channels wired together. He keeps this amp "in the freezer" when not in use to help preserve it. The Diezel has been in his live and studio setup since at least 1994. This is a four channel amp from Germany. From as early as 1994 until the late 1990s Adam can be seen live using a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 2 Channel amplifier as a third amp. In some interviews from that period, Jones has confirmed that it is a Dual Rectifier. More recently, this Mesa/Boogie has not appeared on stage and appears to have been replaced with another more recent VH4 amp. The new model VH4's have a silver faceplate and are different in voicing and circuitry compared to the Bluefaces. Interestingly, he does not always appear to use this amp. During some shows, the blue Diezel's 'standby' clearly remains illuminated for the duration of the performance, while the amp is without a doubt on and being used at other shows. Other amps mentioned by Adam include a Sunn Beta Lead which he states he used in place of the Mesa/Boogie during studio recording in a June 2001 interview. More recently Jones has talked about using Bogner, Rivera, and Peavey amps in the studio as well as his Marshall and Diezel. He appears to use Mesa/Boogie cabinets exclusively with his amps, with the exception of a Marshall cabinet which is always seen sitting under his Marshall head.
Lateralus
Lateralus
Lateralus is the third studio album by American rock band Tool. The album was released on May 15, 2001, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. On August 5, 2003, Lateralus was certified double platinum by the RIAA. On August 30, 2004 the album was certified Silver by the BPI for...
may have been recorded with the Diezel amp, along with the Marshall bass amp. Adam has made references to a Sunn
Sunn
Sunn Amplifiers, are a brand of musical instrument amplifiers.- History :In early 1963, the Kingsmen, a band based in the U.S. state of Oregon, became known for the song "Louie, Louie". After its hit single, the band soon embarked on a fifty-state national tour...
head and may have also used his Mesa Boogie rectifier in the studio. By the time of the main Lateralus tour, the only Mesa Boogie equipment in sight was the two Mesa Rectifier Standard cabinets.
Mixonline.com's interview with Joe Barresi and Bob Ludwig discuss Adam's equipment and setup for the 10,000 Days
10,000 Days
10,000 Days is the Grammy Award-winning fourth studio album by American rock band Tool. The album was released on April 28, 2006 in parts of Europe, April 29 in Australia, May 1 in the United Kingdom, and May 2 in North America...
album with great detail. When discussing the amps, Barresi mentions Adam's famous Marshall and Diezel, "a Mesa Boogie", a Bogner Uberschall, a Rivera Knucklehead Reverb, and "several others". In a Guitarworld magazine interview Adam also mentions an unspecified Peavey amp, which is probably one of the "several others" that Barresi mentions. As far as cabinets go, Barresi says that Mesa/Boogie cabinets were mostly used because of the better low end response. The Marshall ran through its Marshall cabinet and the Rivera ran through a Rivera cabinet. Barresi goes on to describe signal chain for tracking. He says that Adam would play through certain effects and then send the signal to a splitter. The sound would then go into three to five amps. The Marshall and Diezel would each get their own track, and a third track would be a mix of the other amps (usually the Bogner and Rivera). Each cabinet would have at least two to three mics on them. Rivera Amps also claims on its web page that he is using a Rivera Knucklehead Rev Mick Thompson model on the recording.
It is worth pointing out that Adam does not switch channels on his VH4. He uses only channel 3 when playing live. All changes in intensity are through his pick, his volume knob, or (as of recently) a volume pedal. Also, another point to mention about Adam's live rig is that he uses Mesa/Boogie 4x12 Oversized Rectifier straight front/slant baffle cabinets with his VH4's.
Jones' tones
According to a Guitar School interview in 1994, Jones stated that he strongly disliked using effect pedals. During that time, he only used two pedals, a delay and an equalizer, in part to the reliability of simple live setups. He is known for subtle wah use, to only create slight tone and timbre bends. There is also an older Ibanez Flanger and Digital Delay present on much of Ænima and Lateralus. Flanger is definitely a staple of his live tone. Adam runs these pedals right into the front of the amplifiers as opposed to in the effects loopEffects loop
An effects loop is a series of audio effects units, connected between two points of a signal path; usually between the pre-amp and power amp stages of an amplifier circuit, although occasionally between two pre-amp stages. The two principal uses of effects loops are in recordings and in instrument...
.
In the April 2006 edition of Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
magazine, Jones revealed that he used the Gig-FX Chopper Effects Pedal. He also mentioned that he had several pedals modified, and that he used an altered volume pedal to control the strength of some effects. A newer Ernie Ball Standard Volume Pedal is clearly visible on his stage setup. He also stated that he uses the Foxx Tone Machine Reissue and a Heil talk box
Talk box
A talk box is an effects unit that allows a musician to modify the sound of a musical instrument. The musician controls the modification by lip syncing, or by changing the shape of the mouth...
on the song "Jambi", that he learned to use with Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
's help. Adam used a "pipe-bomb microphone" for the lead recording of the song Rosetta Stoned, which is a guitar pick-up wrapped in what is believed to be a piece of brass tubing capped at each end, which resembles a pipe bomb. Jones also uses a Dunlop CryBaby BB-535 Wah. In a recent Guitar World interview, he stated that he uses an Access Virus
Access Virus
The Access Virus is a virtual analog synthesizer made by the German company Access Music GmbH. It was first produced in 1997 and has since been upgraded frequently, with the company releasing new models about every two years. Early models include the Virus A, Virus B, and Virus C series, each...
synth hooked up to a Roland PK-5 midi controller. As an example, the Access V.B. can be heard in the introduction of the songs "Reflection," and "The Grudge".