Pino Palladino

Lore & Background

Despite widespread online claims, Pino Palladino has no known involvement with Tool. He did not play on any Tool album or tour with the band. The bassist on Lateralus and subsequent tours was Justin Chancellor. Palladino remains a highly respected session musician, but his career has no connection to Tool.

In Their Own Story

The studio lights hummed with a low frequency, casting long shadows across the mixing console. Inside the control room, the air was thick with anticipation as the band prepared to lay down the foundation for a new sonic chapter. Pino sat in his corner, fingers hovering over the fretboard of his instrument, listening intently to the intricate drum patterns and guitar textures weaving together. When the count-in finished, he didn't just play notes; he wove a melodic thread that pulled the entire composition into focus, grounding the ethereal sounds with a pulse that felt both ancient and immediate.

Reader's Guide

Pino Palladino is an Italian bassist celebrated for his work across rock, jazz, and pop genres before joining Tool. His contribution to Tool is most prominent on tracks that require intricate rhythmic navigation without sacrificing groove. Palladino's style brought a smoother, more fluid dynamic to the band's complex arrangements, contrasting with the heavier, more rigid approach of previous eras. He also toured extensively with the group following the album's release, helping to translate their studio complexity into live performances. Outside of Tool, Palladino is a highly respected session musician who has collaborated with countless artists, including Duran Duran and Steve Vai. His solo projects and work as a sideman demonstrate his versatility, ranging from jazz fusion to hard rock.

Did You Know?

• Pino Palladino has never recorded or toured with Tool; the band's bassist during the Lateralus era and beyond is Justin Chancellor.
• Before the internet myth, Palladino had already established a reputation as one of the most in-demand session bassists in London and Los Angeles.
• His playing style is often noted for its fluidity and use of melodic counterpoint, but it has never been applied to any Tool recording.