MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN - TOOL STAR PLANS TOURS AROUND WINE DAYS

TOOL frontman MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN is planning his touring schedule around his new vineyard's harvesting and bottling because he insists on being part of the process. The eccentric rocker launched Merkin Vineyards in Sedona, Arizona, last year (05) and his first attempt at winemaking, the limited edition Primer Paso, has been a sell out. And now the wine connoisseur is hooked on his new hobby and insists on scheduling all records, promoting and touring around the winery's most important weeks. He says, "The guys know that I've gotta be in Arizona for the harvesting and processing, and then I'll need to be back there again for the bottling. We'll be working our touring schedule around it." Keenan plans to release a 2004 Nagual de la Naga and a 2004 Nagual del Sensei, as well as a new Primer Paso under his Caduceus Cellars trade name later this year (06).