On Opiate, at the begining of “Cold and Ugly” Maynard (I’m assuming) says, “Throw that Bob Marley wannabe motherfucker out of here” before starting the song. The question is, who is that Bob Marley wannabe? Someone in Tool? Someone in a band that played before them? Was the venue small enough that he was talking about someone in the audience?
Probably the last one. Even relatively big bands play relatively medium-ish venues, at least compared to the Lollapalooza style venues and stadiums of major acts (which Tool now is). Opiate was their first album, and the live songs were recorded on six-track at a fairly small venue on New Years Eve 1991, long before they were a major MTV type draw. My WAG, they were probably playing to around 1000-1500 people, maybe more. In any case, plenty of space to interact directly with one’s adoring fans, including asking that a jerk in the pit be excused from further participation.
Liner notes have the live tracks recorded at Jellö Loft which was a punk complex or storied squat at Sunset and Orange in Hollywood, CA. The loft was occupied by Green Jelly a punk/parody band that were friends of the nascent superstars.
Click this link then “info” for the 12/31 show then “01” under image to see the poster for the show. Green Jellö headlined.
This page below the tracklist for Opiate identifies the “Bob Marley wannabe” as possibly being the singer of Green Jelly.
My guess is definitely someone in attendance known to Maynard, probably said in jest, before a crowd considerably smalller than 500.
there was like under i’d say 300 people through out the space and the roof.
I thought this was gonna be about hammers…