Opiate (song)

"Opiate"
Song by Tool
from the EP Opiate
Released	March 10, 1992
Recorded	December 1991 – January 1992
Genre	Alternative metal [1]
Length	5:20
Label	Zoo
Songwriter(s)	Danny Carey Paul D'Amour Adam Jones Maynard James Keenan
Producer(s)	Sylvia Massy Steve Hansgen Tool

"Opiate" is a song by American rock band Tool and the title track from their debut EP recorded by producer Sylvia Massy at Sound City Studios in 1991. "Opiate" serves as the final track of the Opiate EP and contains the hidden track, "The Gaping Lotus Experience". The song plays as one continuous track with a runtime of 8:32. Japanese edition of Undertow have this song as track 10 (This version does not include "The Gaping Lotus Experience").

Live performances

"Opiate" has held a regular position on Tool's concert setlist since 1992. In 1994, it was often played back-to-back with "Flood", transitioning smoothly between songs and skipping the lengthy "Flood" intro. By 1996, "Opiate" would often serve as the penultimate song of concerts, preceding "Ænema". Maynard James Keenan has dedicated the song to psychologist and author Timothy Leary on multiple occasions and to former Tool bassist Paul D'Amour on others, referring to him as "Paul of Love". ^[2]

Various musicians have collaborated with Tool in performing "Opiate" live. Examples include Layne Staley in 1993 and '94, ^[3] Tricky in 2001, ^[4] and Heitham Al-Sayed in 2006. ^[5] Nu metal band Limp Bizkit has also been known to have covered the song live. ^[6]

Opiate²

"Opiate2"
Single by Tool
Released	March 1, 2022
Genre	Progressive metal [7]
Length	9:54
Label	Tool Dissectional
Songwriter(s)	Danny Carey Paul D'Amour Adam Jones Maynard James Keenan
Tool singles chronology
"Pneuma" (2020) "Opiate2" (2022)

"Opiate" was re-recorded and released as "Opiate²" on March 1, 2022. It's four and a half minutes longer than the original and includes the same lyrics as the original version (with a few changes), plus a new bass intro, an extended instrumental midsection, and a new instrumental outro. A Blu-ray short film directed by Dominic Hailstone was released on March 18 to commemorate the EP's 30th anniversary. The commentary is provided by BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon of RuPaul's Drag Race . ^[8]

Charts

Chart performance for "Opiate²"

Chart (2022)	Peak position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [9]	34

Personnel

Tool

• Maynard James Keenan – vocals
• Adam Jones – guitar, synthesizer (Opiate²)
• Paul D'Amour – bass guitar
• Danny Carey – drums
• Justin Chancellor – bass guitar (Opiate²)

Technical personnel

• Sylvia Massy – production
• Steve Hansgen – production
• Tool - production (Opiate²)
• Toshi Kasai - engineering (Opiate²)
• "Evil" Joe Barresi – mixing (Opiate²)
• Bob Ludwig - mastering (Opiate²)

References

1. "See Limp Bizkit Cover TOOL's "Opiate" in 1999". 3 November 2022.
2. TOOL-Opiate 11.1.2001 Audio w/Tricky on YouTube. Retrieved on August 9, 2008.
3. Metal News - Tool's Keenan 'Near Perfect' For Alice In Chains ( Metal Underground . com )
4. The Tool Page: Tour Reviews
5. Heitham Al-Sayed with Tool
6. Limp Bizkit Opiate Cover on YouTube (March 16, 2006). Retrieved on August 9, 2008.
7. Jenke, Tyler (2022-03-02). "Tool celebrate 30th anniversary of debut EP with new single, 'Opiate²'". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
8. "Hear Tool's "Opiate2": New Studio Version of Extended "Opiate"". Revolver. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
9. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.