Culling Voices
by Tool

Album: Fear Inoculum (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • To "cull" means to pick out from others. "Culling Voices" is about the social media age and the "rage mobs" that declare people guilty without trial and then proceed to destroy their lives.

    Judge, condemn, and banish any and everyone
    Without evidence
    Only the whispers from within


    Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan experienced this phenomenon firsthand in June 2018 when an anonymous Twitter user accused him in a long string of tweets of raping her after a show. After this, more accusations came forward on Reddit. No one pressed charges or came forward to claim these accusations as their own.

    Keenan responded to the accusations by tweeting out thanks to those who "saw right through this despicable false claim" and shaming those who "perpetuate this destructive clickbait."
  • Tool played the song in concert for the first time during their January 15, 2022 show at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The debut of "Culling Voices" meant the band had now performed all seven songs live from the physical version of Fear Inoculum.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.