Tool’s famous front man Maynard James Keenan was born James Herbert Keenan, one of many surprising facts about the man’s early life. But perhaps the most amazing part of his story is the fact that the man who wrote a song called “Stinkfist” not only sang in Glee Club, but also joined the Army at one point.

After a rough upbringing consisting of a stifling stepfather and a sick mother, Maynard was inspired to join the Army by watching Bill Murray muck it up in the movie Stripes. Maybe it’s just me, but doesn’t that seem like a bad reason to join the army? Maybe he should have watched Full Metal Jacket. He studied at West Point Prep School and got great marks in English and Math. He also was a singer in Glee Club and was on the cross-country team.

At one point in James’ time at the school, he named himself Maynard seemingly out of nowhere. Later he dropped out of West Point and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his love of animals by working as an interior designer for pet shops. Yes, you read that right.

Maynard’s pet shop design job didn’t last long. He was fired and he ended up in set design. Later he would meet future Tool guitarist Adam Jones and future band-mate Danny Carey, who was his neighbor. Danny heard Maynard yelling at another neighbor in the alley behind his apartment and thought Maynard would make a great singer. Carey wold sometimes fill in for drummers who missed rehearsal at Maynard’s apartment. This would of course lead to the formation of Tool, and the rest is rock history. Maynard, among other musical projects, now also makes his own wine at his home in Jerome, AZ. Not a bad life for an ex-pet store interior designer, eh?

In addition to playing guitar on one of the best selling albums of all time, Slash has been honored with a Rock Walk Hall of Fame and was awarded the 2nd spot on Time Magazine’s 10 Best Electric Guitar Players of All-Time list. With his famous top hat and ever-present cigarette, the Guns N’ Roses guitarist has become an icon synonymous with rock n’ roll. If you’ve ever wondered about the person behind the rock star, then keep reading. We’ve compiled a list of interesting trivia to give you a peek at what this guitar legend was like long before rockstar fame.

• Saul Hudson was given the nickname “Slash” by a family friend because he was “always in a hurry, zipping around from one thing to another.”
• Slash attended Beverly Hills High School in the early 1980’s with musician Lenny Kravitz but never graduated, dropping out in the eleventh grade.
• Slash’s mother was clothing designer Ola Hudson, whose work includes costumes for David Bowie in The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976).
• Slash’s father is Anthony Hudson, who designed album covers for Geffen Records such as Joni Mitchell’s “Court and Spark.”
• Before joining Guns N’ Roses, Slash was a very popular session guitarist, playing with Cheap Trick, Bad Company, Alice Cooper, and Rod Stewart.
• Slash started playing guitar at 15 years old and has mentioned influences including Rory Gallagher, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper, and Queen.

Even rockstars have to start somewhere. Are these stories about U2 before they were rockstars TRUE or FALSE? Leave your answers in the comments!

1) Bono was born Paul Hewson.

2) His father described him a “bloody exasperating child.”

3) Young Bono was so often in trouble, he was called “the Antichrist” by his friends.

 4) When he was three years old, his astonished parents watched as Bono gently played with honey bees without getting stung.

 5) U2 was born in Dublin, Ireland after a 14-year-old Larry Mullen tacked a “Musicians Wanted” poster to his school message board.

6) The band was known as “Feedback” and “The Hype” before they settled on U2.

Can’t get enough baby U2? Check out Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of U2.