A Perfect Circle is the Los Angeles rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Mer de Noms (2000), the platinum debut with Judith and 3 Libras, is the place to start; Thirteenth Step digs into addiction and recovery. Browse A Perfect Circle vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
A Perfect Circle formed in Los Angeles in 1999 around guitarist Billy Howerdel (a former guitar technician for Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, Fishbone, and Tool) and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. The band made their live debut at the Viper Room in August 1999. The lineup has rotated significantly across the band's history, with notable past members including Paz Lenchantin, Troy Van Leeuwen, Tim Alexander, Danny Lohner, and Jeordie White. The current lineup features Keenan, Howerdel, Josh Freese, James Iha, and Matt McJunkins.
A Perfect Circle's sound combines layered alternative rock with art-rock arrangements, drawing on Howerdel's meticulously constructed guitar textures and Keenan's distinctive vocal phrasing. Lyrical themes range across personal vulnerability (Mer de Noms), addiction and recovery (Thirteenth Step), and sociopolitical commentary (Eat the Elephant).
The original Virgin pressings of Mer de Noms and Thirteenth Step have been issued in multiple vinyl variants and reissues. Eat the Elephant was released on BMG and has appeared in standard and limited edition formats.
Listeners new to A Perfect Circle typically start with Mer de Noms (2000), the platinum-certified debut featuring Judith and 3 Libras. Thirteenth Step (2003) is a common second entry point.
