When 'Reverend Maynard' and Tool Brought Church to Wings Stadium

Tool fans are blown away at how great this remastered version of a 1998 concert at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo sounds. Grab some headphones and hear it now.

We all know the 1970s and '80s were when the best shows happened, but Wings Stadium still had some incredible concerts for rock fans in the 1990s. Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Danzig, Pantera, and White Zombie all rocked the hockey rink at I-94 and Sprinkle Rd.

While the feeling of being in the crowd and in the moment is why we go to concerts, the sound isn't always ideal. Bootleg recording equipment in the '90s was primitive, you couldn't exactly hide a microphone in your pocket without getting some strange looks, and cameras were the size of lunchboxes. Now, thanks to remastering, this 1998 Tool show recorded at Wings Stadium is going viral. It was first uploaded to YouTube nine years ago and re-shared three years ago. Now, an HD remastered version of the Wings Stadium show recorded in Kalamazoo has nearly 5,000 likes and over 200,000 views.

Frontman Maynard James Keenan is in character as Reverend Maynard and introduces the band as the "Revival Team." "Are you ready to do some of the good Lord's work tonight?" Rev. Maynard asks the crowd after the first song, then explains, "I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place.." Keenan is animated as the televangelist character, engaging the audience all night as the band performs their intricate music.

There was a special song played just for Michigan at this Kalamazoo show. Nearly a half hour into the set, Tool brought Buzz Osborne, the guitar player for opening act Melvins, back to the stage for a dedication. "This song is specifically for Michigan," says Keenan before exhorting, "Praise God...zilla." Tool, accompanied by Buzz, then launch into an almost 8 minute version of Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold." After the song, Maynard tells the crowd, "Don't tell Ted how badly we ruined his song."

Hear that cover and the entire show from July 15, 1998 at Wings Stadium in the video below. WARNING: Explicit content. (If you are a Tool fan, we're betting you already knew that.)

Tool | 7.15.1998 | Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo