Tool have made a tradition of pulling a light-hearted prank on their support acts at the end of a tour, and Cali alt rockers Night Verses were the latest to get the treatment.
In a video just posted by Tool on social media, bassist Justin Chancellor and some of the band’s road crew had a surprise ready for Night Verses during their final night supporting Tool’s European tour that wrapped up in late June.
Chancellor donned a mildly terrifying Willy Wonka disguise while his cohorts were wearing massive animal costumes as they collectively invaded the stage during an instrumental breakdown in the set. The members of Night Verses threw some double takes at the bizarre spectacle — Chancellor went centerstage wielding a cane, egging on the drummer and “conducting” the band — though they remained unfazed, crushing this particular crescendo in the song.
It’s quite possible that Night Verses were wise to the potential for some final-show shenanigans. The Tool camp pulled a similar stunt on Blonde Redhead on the last date of their US tour together in 2022, when Maynard James Keenan and company sported long blonde and red-haired wigs and stormed the stage.
And the pranks don’t stop at the opening act. One in particular stands out in our memory: When Maynard covertly replaced drummer Danny Carey’s spare drumstick with a dildo, resulting in a hilarious moment during one of Carey’s solos.
You can watch the video of Chancellor pranking Night Verses below.