Who We Are: Puscifer, From Mr. Show to Now
We are Puscifer: an American rock project formed in Los Angeles by Maynard James Keenan, the singer of Tool and A Perfect Circle. Keenan has called it his "creative subconscious", and that is still the best short answer to what we are.
Where does the name come from?
"Puscifer" first turned up as a made-up band in the very first episode of the TV sketch show Mr. Show. Before it settled on that name, the project was called Umlaut. The joke stuck, and so did the name.
Who is in Puscifer?
Three of us carry it today:
- Maynard James Keenan: vocals.
- Mat Mitchell: guitar, bass, programming and keyboards. In the studio from 2007, a full member from 2009.
- Carina Round: vocals, guitar, percussion and keyboards, since 2009.
Mat and Carina are credited as permanent members from Existential Reckoning. On stage, Gunnar Olsen has played drums with us since 2020, and Josh Moreau plays bass.
What does it sound like?
You will see a lot of labels next to our name: experimental rock, alternative rock, art rock, progressive rock, trip-hop, electronic rock, post-industrial. All of them fit some of the time; none of them fits all of it. Our records come out on our own label, Puscifer Entertainment.
Why the clothes?
Puscifer has been described as "as much a clothing line as it is a band", and we take that seriously. There were limited-run pieces and a leather jacket made with Paul Frank, and on 3 October 2008 a Puscifer store opened in Jerome, Arizona, selling merchandise, coffee, art and collectibles.
This shop carries that on: our designs on tees, long sleeves, crewnecks and hoodies, dark and a little strange, the way we like it.