Slipknot (band)

Slipknot is a nine-piece nu-metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Aside from their real names, members of the band are also referred to by numbers 0 through 8.

Slipknot is currently one of the more popular musical groups of the Contemporary music scene, with their extreme music and violent stage performances. Their albums and home videos have achieved Platinum-sales status, with Grammy nods in the Best Heavy Metal and Best Hard Rock categories for songs from all three of their albums.

The band is also well-known for its peculiar image: the members wear matching uniforms (some of which have UPC barcodes printed on the them) and each has a unique mask.

Contents

1 History 2 Debate on categorization 3 Detractors 4 Members 4.1 Current members 4.2 Former members 5 Discography 5.1 Albums 5.2 Singles 5.3 Unreleased Discs 6 External links 6.1 Fansites

History

The group formed in 1995, and released a demo album called Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat in 1996. The album was well-received, and several major record labels became interested in the group.

Slipknot eventually signed to Roadrunner Records, and released their self-titled debut album in June of 1999. Despite receiving little airplay, the album was successful, due mainly to word-of-mouth. Regarding the album, one reviewer wrote "You thought Limp Bizkit was hard? They're the Osmonds. (Slipknot) are something else entirely. And it's pretty impressive." [1] (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ykuk6j4771r0~T1)

Heavy touring (including an Ozzfest stint in 1999) greatly enhanced the band's fanbase.

2001's Iowa, the follow-up to their debut album, was widely anticipated and debuted at number three on the Billboard Magazine album charts. They again toured heavily to promote the record.

After an almost two-year hiatus, the band regrouped in late 2003 and began writing and recording with world-renowned producer Rick Rubin, who has worked with artists ranging from Johnny Cash to the Beastie Boys to Slayer.

The band released their third album, Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses) in May 2004. Reviews were mostly positive. New Musical Express noted, "At least two thirds of it is still comprised of head-spinning speed metal, but there are signs of genuine progression -- not to mention progressive rock -- from the off." It debuted at #2 on the Billboard albums chart.

Several members of the band have been photographed without masks: Vocalist Corey Taylor and guitarist James Root with their band Stone Sour, drummer Joey Jordison with his side-project the Murderdolls, percussionist Shawn Crahan with To My Surprise, guitarist Mick Thomson in Total Guitar magazine, and bassist Paul Gray in a police mugshot leaked through The Smoking Gun.

Debate on categorization

The critics are in discord where Slipknot's music fits, if in nu metal / mallcore or other genres.

Critics argue that the lyrical themes and instrumental styles of Slipknot (most notably the rarity of guitar solos), the use of turntables and sampling, and rap-style vocals are definately similar to those of typical nu-metal bands. The structure of the songs tend to be simplistic and often limited to two notes per riff, grinding back and forth. On the contrary, supporters of Slipknot note that the majority of their music does not have a rap-based lyrical structure (although the influence of rap is evident in some of their earlier music). Additionally, most of their instrument settings are not typical of nu metal (scooping of the mid range is not common in Slipknot's music).

With the release of Slipknot's latest album, "Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses", advocates felt that the presence of solos on their albums would silence debates on the genre with finality. However, it can be argued that this is simply another financially conscious move given the mid-2000s "retro-metal" renaissance, and that the style of vocals still have more in common with hardcore music than metal. Some others think that the presence of solos in their latest album it's only due to the change of the producer, because some sort of solos was present in early Slipknot songs. Following that hypotesis, producer Ross Robinson should have denied to Slipknot the use of guitar solos at all, to align them to the musical tendences of late 90's. The debate goes on.

Detractors

Some detractors accuses Slipknot to be not sincere in their music, to show violence on stage and to scream only to sell better and not because they are really angry with the world. As one detractor of their music says: "Slipknot are intense the same way your little sister screaming is intense. It's loud and angry, but also very annoying and not the least bit menacing".

The band is also frowned upon by many critics due to their appearance which many attribute to shock marketing and are described as "gimmicky". Some argue that this is no different to other metal bands and that image is promoted in all mainstream bands.

Other methods of shock marketing that the band incorporates are epitomized in songs like The Heretic Anthem suggest Satanic undertones. The lyrics "If you're 555 then I'm 666! What's it like to be a heretic?" imply the dark purpose strongly, but the band members say otherwise, agreeing that it is part of the shock marketing.

Slipknot is also accused of creating positions within the band for the sole purpose of increasing the total number of members; for example, no other popular bands hold a position for a sampler, even if samples are included in the music.

Members

Current members

• 0 Sid Wilson - Turntables
• 1 Joey Jordison - Drums
• 2 Paul Gray - Bass
• 3 Chris Fehn - Percussion
• 4 James Root - Guitar
• 5 Craig "133" Jones - Sampler
• 6 Shawn "Clown" Crahan - Percussion
• 7 Mick Thomson - Guitar
• 8 Corey Taylor - Vocals

Former members

• Anders Colsefini
• Greg "Cuddles" Welts
• Josh Brainard
• Brandon Darner
• Donnie Steele

Discography

Albums

• Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat (1996)
• Slipknot (1999)
• Iowa (2001)
• Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses) (2004)

Singles

• "Wait And Bleed" (2000) #27 UK
• "Spit It Out" (2000) #28 UK
• "Left Behind" (2001) #24 UK
• "My Plague" (2002) #43 UK
• "Duality" (2004) #15 UK
• "Vermilion" (2004) #31 UK
• "Before I Forget" (2005) #35 UK

Unreleased Discs

• Crowz (1997)
• Roadrunner Records Demo (1997)

External links

• Official Slipknot website (http://www.slipknot1.com)
• Roadrunner Records' Slipknot webpage (http://www.roadrun.com/artists/slipknot/)

Fansites

• MFKR1.com (http://www.mfkr1.com/)
• Disasterpiece (http://www.geocities.com/disasterknot)
• Slipknot News (http://www.slipknotnews.com)
• Slipknot CPD (http://www.slipknotcpd.com)
• Black-Goat.com (http://www.black-goat.com)
• PulseOfTheMaggots.com (http://www.pulseofthemaggots.com)
• Metabolic666.com (http://www.metabolic666.com)
• Slipknot.cl (http://www.slipknot.cl)
• SicArmy.org (http://www.sicarmy.org)
• Slipknot-Metal.com (http://www.slipknot-metal.com)
• Maggotland.net (http://www.maggotland.net)
• Slipknot Board - Slipknot message board (http://www.slipknot555.tk)
• Slipknot cult @ VF.com (http://www.vampirefreaks.com/cult.php?c=Slipknot)bg:Slipknot

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