He moved to college in 1983 after the year Maynard James Keenan first joined the army and then Jones left in 1987.
While in L.A, Maynard James Keenan's, Adam's soon-to-be-bandmember in Tool, roommate was future Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello. Adam and Tom joined to create the band Electric Sheep.
In 1989, the band Tool was formed with Maynard James Keenan (singer), Adam Jones (lead guitar), Danny Carey (drums) and Paul d'Amour (bass).
In 1991, Tool signed with Zoo/Volcano records for their first release, an EP named Opiate (1992), followed by the albums Undertow (1993), Ænima (1995). A CD, VHS, and DVD set called Salival was released in December 2000, followed by Lateralus in 2001 and a new album is expected in 2003.