A Perfect Circle is Maynard James Keenan's musically talented new group, it is not a side project. Tool is not gone for good though, Maynard looks forward to start recording the Tool album after this year's Canadian Somersault tour finishes.
Maynard will have 3 weeks off at this point, and he will start to record the next Tool album if the other band members are ready. Maynard has been trying to fire the other Tool members up in recent interviews, so as to make sure they will be ready when he comes off from tour.
FYI: Maynard wears a wig for APC concerts and photo shoots, he is still as bald as ever.
As "Recreational Racism", Maynard and others played a series of covers country-style at the Viper Room in LA on August 15, 1999. Later that night, a new band called "A Perfect Circle" played their first public show. The band was started by Billy Howerdel (maynards ex-roommate) and Paz, and came to feature Maynard only after its inception.
They are absolutely phenomenal and may best be described as Tool but ten times better. It's a little more melodic and less dark than Tool but with stronger lyrics and more rythm. The songs are phenomenal and are well worth the wait. I recommend Magnadela, Orestes, and Three Libras, but they are all great.