Slipknot

Slipknot's mix of grinding, post-
Korn alternative metal, Marilyn
Manson-esque neo-shock rock,
and
rap-metal helped make them
one of the most popular bands
in the so-called nu-metal
explosion of the late '90s. But
even more helpful was their
theatrical, attention-grabbing
(some critics said ridiculous)
image: the band always
performed in identical industrial
jump suits and homemade
Halloween masks, and added to
its mysterious anonymity by
adopting the numbers zero
through eight as stage aliases.
Add to that a lyrical
preoccupation with darkness and
nihilism, and an affectionately
insulting name for their fans
("Maggots"), and Slipknot's
blueprint for nu-metal success
was set.
Slipknot were formed in late
1995 in the unlikely locale of Des
Moines, IA; after some early
personnel shifts, the nine-piece
lineup settled around (in order
from number zero to number
eight): DJ Sid Wilson, drummer
Joey Jordison, bassist Paul Grey,
percussionist Chris Fehn, guitarist
James Root, sampler/
programmer Craig Jones,
percussionist Shawn "Clown"
Crahan, guitarist Mick
Thompson, and lead vocalist
Corey Taylor. The music scene in
Des Moines wasn't much to
speak of, and the band's big-
time ambition was usually met
with disbelief and ridicule, which
provided the initial spark for its
mostly anonymous stage visuals.
On Halloween 1996, Slipknot
self-released an album called
Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat., which
began to build a buzz around
the group once it found its way
to several labels. It was picked
up for distribution by the
Nebraska-based -ismist label,
and also caught the attention of
Roadrunner Records, which
signed Slipknot in 1997. Working
with producer Ross Robinson,
Slipknot recorded their official,
self-titled debut album, which
was released in 1999. They
gradually built an audience
through near-constant touring,
working their way up to the
summer Ozzfest package tour,
which really expanded their
audience. Their live shows were a
much-discussed hit with metal
fans, and the band performed
with such energy that Crahan
gashed his head open on his
own drum kit twice that summer,
requiring stitches both times. The
tracks "Wait and Bleed" and
"Spit It Out" got the band some
airplay, but most of the buzz
came from touring and word of
mouth. Finally, in the spring of
2000, Slipknot was certified
platinum; the first such album in
Roadrunner's history.
The anticipation for Slipknot's
follow-up was intense, and many
industry observers predicted that
it would debut at number one;
however, faced with some stiff
competition that week, the
band's sophomore effort, Iowa,
bowed at number three upon its
release in 2001. More heavy
touring followed, including
another, more prominent slot on
that summer's Ozzfest. After a
long spell on the road, Slipknot
took a break while the members
worked on side projects. The
band set up its own label,
Maggot Recordings, and signed a
band called Downthesun, whose
lead singer had served as
Crahan's drum technician.
Wilson, meanwhile, began DJing
solo under the name DJ
Starscream, and Root and
Thompson both worked on solo
material. Drummer Jordison
worked with a side group called
the Rejects, where he'd actually
served for quite some time as
guitarist. Taylor, meanwhile,
started a side band called
Superego, and also contributed
a solo song, "Bother," to the
soundtrack of the 2002
blockbuster Spider-Man. That
May, the band got some
amusing press when some of its
fans discovered the website of a
British crocheting group also
called "Slipknot," and flooded
the members' in-boxes with
excessively rude e-mails. Guitarist
Joey Jordison and Static-X
guitarist Tripp Eisen teamed that
summer for the Murderdolls
project, while Taylor reformed
his old band Stone Sour and
released an album. By the
winter, Slipknot had still not
reunited and Taylor wrote a
commentary on the band's
website stating that they had not
spoken in months, and that
they'd rather break up than
become "the next Gwar". The
statement sparked a quickly
resolved minifeud between
Taylor and Gwar frontman
Oderus Urungus. but it also sent
many of the Maggots into a
tailspin. By early 2003, Taylor
had retracted his comments, and
announced plans for a new
Slipknot album. By August, the
entire squad had decamped
Iowa for LA, where they began
work on the new record with
famously bearded producer Rick
Rubin. "Pulse of the Maggots"
appeared in early 2004 as an
exclusive download; it was
followed by a full track listing for
Vol. 3: [The Subliminal Verses],
which was slated for a May
release. Slipknot then embarked
on a brief tour as a warm-up for
their dates headlining Ozzfest
that summer. The group also
debuted a fully-redesigned third
generation of their famous
masks. On May 25th, the
Subliminal Verses finally
dropped, to the usual clamor of
great fanfare and furious anger.
~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide.