Maynard James Keenan on why attention around Alex Honnold’s Taipei 101 Tool climbing playlist is “actually depressing”

Maynard James Keenan has admitted that the attention surrounding Alex Honnold’s Taipei 101 Tool climbing playlist is “actually depressing”.

• READ MORE: Puscifer: “It might seem dark at the moment, but humans at their core are a positive light”

The American rock climber recently scaled one of the tallest skyscrapers while listening to the band, Linkin Park, and more.

Honnold successfully climbed Taipei 101 last month, setting a new record for the tallest urban free solo in history after scaling the monument without any safety net or ropes.

He completed the ascent of the 101-floor, 1,667-foot building in just one hour and 31 minutes, and it was broadcast as part of a live event on Netflix. Speaking to Variety, he revealed that the playlist he chose, which went viral, was integral in helping him pace the climb.

“It was mostly Tool […] I made it months ago while I was driving. I’ve been training to it a bunch – it’s basically rock music that I’ve liked my whole life,” he said.

“Part of the appeal of music is that actually it helps me with pacing. Each bamboo box had been taking me about five to six and a half minutes. I just know how long the songs are. So it gives you a sense of if you’re going fast or slow.”

Now, in a new interview with NME, Keenan has spoken about Honnold’s playlist and his achievement.

When asked if he had spoken to Honnold or planned to meet up?, he said: “I’m sure we’ll run into each other or something. I’ll be the one falling off the building and he’ll be the one climbing up it. But yeah, I definitely got some thunder off of him saying he was playing Tool songs. It’s actually depressing that what gets the attention is not the fact that this idiot is climbing that building, which is still impressive, it’s the playlist.”

Keenan added: “My God, man. The balls to do what he did. When I get up from this chair, I’m going to have to take a minute before I take a couple steps, then I might have to do yoga before I hit the stairs. But for him, all his accomplishments get overshadowed by a rock band that can’t put out records in a very timely fashion. That’s pretty weird.”

Of the Tool tracks which featured on the playlist were ‘Lateralus’, ‘Schism’, ‘Forty Six & 2’, ‘Parabola’ and ‘Pneuma’.

Puscifer, 2026. CREDIT: Press

‘Choke On This’ by Senses Fail also made the cut, as did ‘Hands And Faces’ by The Used, ‘The Emptiness Machine’ from the latest Linkin Park album, and six songs from NOTHING MORE, including ‘If It Doesn’t Hurt’ and ‘Spirits’.

Meanwhile, Keenan also spoke about Puscifer’s new album ‘Normal Isn’t’ to NME, the long-awaited follow-up to 2020’s ‘Existential Reckoning’.

“With any music that we’re doing, there’s an element of trying to challenge yourself and break your own mould,” he said. “I think it helps as an artist to, instead of just settling into a process, find a way to throw yourself back to the beginning and start over.”

The band will also be embarking on a US tour later this month – visit here for tickets and a list of upcoming tour dates.

You can view the original article HERE.