Formed in the late '90s by Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan and former guitar tech Billy Howerdel, American rock supergroup A Perfect Circle blends alt-metal and art rock, showcasing melodic sounds and theatrical, ambient qualities. The band's lineup has included members from Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Smashing Pumpkins, and Queens of the Stone Age alongside the core duo of Keenan and Howerdel. A Perfect Circle released their debut album, Mer de Noms, in 2000, followed by Thirteenth Step in 2003 and, after a hiatus, Eat the Elephant in 2018.
After a legal battle in the mid-'90s, Keenan and Tool took a break, leading to the formation of A Perfect Circle with Howerdel and Paz Lenchantin. The band made their debut in 1999, with Howerdel as chief songwriter and producer. A Perfect Circle's early success with hits like "Judith" and "3 Libras" from Mer de Noms paved the way for their sophomore album, Thirteenth Step, to debut in the Top Five. Following the release of the politically charged covers album eMOTIVe in 2004, the band went on hiatus, reuniting in 2010 and eventually releasing Eat the Elephant in 2018 before focusing on individual projects.
