Maynard James Keenan is most notably the singer for rock bands Tool and A Perfect Circle whose albums have all gone platinum. He also founded and financed Puscifer, a side project. A bit of an eccentric personality on stage and in interviews, Maynard James Keenan is also known for being a recluse, barely leaving the house except for occasional charity fund raisers. Outside of music, Maynard James Keenan owns Merkin Vineyards and its winery, Caduceus Cellars and has part ownership of Stronghold Vineyards. These are all located in Arizona where Maynard James Keenan currently resides.

Maynard James Keenan grew up in Ravenna, Ohio then spent his high school and college years in Michigan. In the early 1908s he served in the U.S. Army, then studied art at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids. In 1988 he moved to Los Angeles to practice interior design for pet stores and set construction for film and theater. He met guitarist Adam Jones and formed the band Tool.