SLIPKNOT INTERVIEW

Not content with being merely in your face, USA band Slipknot is now getting right inside your head and will turn your worst nightmares into reality. Draped in jumpsuits, these masked psychos wield axes rather than chainsaws and their freak shows have been inflicting rhythmic, melodic and aural degradation on unsuspecting audiences across the globe. It’s now Australia’s turn.

Slipknot shows are extremely brutal so prepare for the rest of your life to change immediately, as once you’ve been infected you either die or you run with the sickness and spread it. That’s what happened at the recent Oklahoma City show where both the opening bands managed to play their sets but the Slipknot sickness spread so fast that it even infected their show.

“Basically, what happened from what I know was that fire marshals came in,” percussionist Shawn Crahan (Clown) explains. “I don’t know if the show was oversold or not, I just know that the particular venue that we were at isn’t for these types of events. So, a lot of kids were standing up front and the fire marshals asked them to come in and sit down in the seats but then what happened was that by sitting in a seat the guys’ girlfriends would sit with them. The fire marshals got really fed up and started kicking people out. There was like 300 kids outside and like 700 kids inside and we decided that it’s one for all, all for one.

” Everybody had paid for a ticket and we didn’t just want to play for some people because other people might have been some of the first to buy tickets. But just because they were in the hallway they got kicked out, so we’ll do a makeup show where the kids won’t get hassled and everything will be fine.”

On a better note, there must be some good road stories that you’d like to tell? According to press Joey Jordison recently smashed up his $8,000 drum kit, broke four cymbals, broke his cage and everything went totally crazy from there.

” There are always good road stories as it always depends on what’s going on. We’re getting out of control as usual but nothing comes to mind because every night is crazy. The drum kit accident you are talking about was a great gig and the last day of the Coal Chamber show in California. It was after four months of extensive touring and Joey threw all his cymbals out and I broke his drum cage, Chris (Fehn) and I threw our drums and guitar cabinets went flying. Everything was pretty nuts, and to say the least it ruled.

“You know, it’s a feeling thing because it doesn’t happen at every show but there’s definitely some shit that makes Joey feel the way he does. It’s like when Sid (Wilson) and I wrestle on stage, I’m not going to wrestle because I want to fight.”

Moving over to a more controversial topic - even although, hopefully, it’s over and done with - would you like to briefly go over what happened with Limp Bizkit?

“All I can tell you is that someone in their band had stressed their opinions that more or less it doesn’t matter about our success, our fame or what we’re doing to the world right now because only fat ugly kids come to our shows. Everybody can look at that for what it is, but I represent all the fat ugly kids because I’m still one myself. We do a little ritual in Slipknot and it’s called flip for a punch in the face. I take a coin out of my pocket and flip it and call it heads or tails and the loser gets one punch in the face.

“So, Fred (Durst - vocalist of Limp Bizkit) doesn’t have a choice about this. We’re going to have to flip for a punch in the face, but I’ll tell you what, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and I’ll let him call the coin. We’ve had it and we’re tired of the rock ‘n’ roll cliche, and we’re here to tell you that it’s bullshit. You’re not going to talk shit on us; you’re not going to talk shit to our fans and we certainly not going to take out Calvin Klein ads.”

Moving along to the Scream 3 soundtrack. At first, we were told that you were going to release a new song on their called People=Shit, which is what is on the back of your t-shirts and have on a banner on stage but it’s been changed to Wait & Bleed.

“We released a Wait & Bleed Terry Date mix and it turned out really well, “says Crahan. “We’re going to hide all the new songs until the new album and you’re going to have to stay frothing at the mouth until then. We’re throwing some ideas around but we’re going to focus on touring and hopefully we’re on Ozzfest then we’ll take some time off and write an album.”