Slipknot

Blending grinding alternative metal with echoes of post-Korn aggression, neo-shock rock in the vein of Marilyn Manson, and rap-metal, Slipknot rose among the leading acts during the nu-metal wave that swept the late 1990s into the early 2000s. Their theatrical, attention-commanding presentation proved equally decisive: the group consistently appeared in matching industrial jumpsuits paired with handcrafted Halloween masks, reinforcing an air of enigmatic anonymity by performing under stage names numbered zero through eight. Layered atop lyrics steeped in darkness and nihilism, plus the group's tongue-in-cheek label for devotees ("Maggots"), this formula crystallized their approach to nu-metal prominence.

Formed in late 1995 within the improbable setting of Des Moines, Iowa, the Grammy Award-winning nine-piece stabilized, after initial lineup changes, around (ordered zero to eight) DJ Sid Wilson, drummer Joey Jordison, bassist Paul Gray, percussionist Chris Fehn, guitarist James Root, sampler/programmer Craig Jones, percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan, guitarist Mick Thomson, and lead vocalist Corey Taylor. The modest local scene in Des Moines often met the band's outsized goals with skepticism and mockery, prompting their early choice of veiled stage imagery. On Halloween 1996, Slipknot independently issued Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat., which generated growing interest once copies reached various labels. Nebraska's -ismist imprint handled distribution and drew notice from Roadrunner Records, resulting in a 1997 signing. Producer Ross Robinson guided sessions for the official self-titled debut, which surfaced in 1999. Near-constant road work gradually expanded their following, culminating in a slot on that summer's Ozzfest package tour. Live performances drew widespread praise from metal audiences, with Crahan twice sustaining head gashes from his drum kit that required stitches. By early 2000, Slipknot earned platinum certification, marking the first such milestone in Roadrunner's catalog.

Eager anticipation surrounded the follow-up, and sophomore effort Iowa entered at number three upon its 2001 arrival. Extensive touring continued, highlighted by another prominent Ozzfest appearance that summer. Following a prolonged stretch on the road, the band paused while members pursued outside projects. They established Maggot Recordings and signed Downthesun, whose vocalist had previously assisted Crahan as drum technician. Wilson launched solo DJ work as DJ Starscream, while Root and Thomson each explored solo recordings. Jordison contributed to side outfit the Rejects, having earlier played guitar in that group for an extended period. Taylor formed Superego and supplied the solo track "Bother" to the 2002 Spider-Man soundtrack. That same year, Jordison and Static-X guitarist Tripp Eisen launched Murderdolls, as Taylor revived Stone Sour for a new album.

In August 2003, Slipknot relocated from Iowa to L.A. to begin recording with producer Rick Rubin. "Pulse of the Maggots" surfaced in early 2004 as a download exclusive. A short preparatory tour preceded their headlining Ozzfest dates that summer, during which the band unveiled a fully reimagined third generation of masks. Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses arrived in May 2004, reaching number two on the Billboard 200; steady touring persisted for the ensuing year-and-a-half. A two-disc live set followed in November 2005, after which further side endeavors ensued—Tayor and Root returned to Stone Sour, while Jordison guested with Ministry and Korn—before fourth album All Hope Is Gone emerged in 2008. Festival appearances filled the summer of 2009 alongside the All Hope Is Gone world tour. On May 24, 2010, maintenance staff discovered bassist Paul Gray's body in an Urbandale, Iowa hotel room; he was 38, and the death was later attributed to an accidental drug overdose. Two years later the band issued its first compilation, Antennas to Hell: The Best of Slipknot, spanning 13 years and combining key studio tracks with bonus material such as their complete 2009 Download Festival performance.

Work on a fifth studio album commenced in 2013. During those sessions, drummer Joey Jordison and the band parted ways. Replacement players were subsequently identified as Jay Weinberg, previously of Against Me, on drums and Alessandro Venturella, ex-Cry for Silence, on bass. Honoring their late member, .5: The Gray Chapter appeared in October 2014. Returning to a raw, brutal, dissonant aesthetic akin to earlier material, the record was promoted via singles "The Negative One" and "The Devil in I," both accompanied by music videos directed by Shawn Crahan. In 2017, Crahan's documentary film Day of the Gusano chronicled Slipknot's inaugural visit to Mexico and their Mexico City Knotfest concert from late 2015.

Late 2018 brought the standalone single "All Out Life." The Greg Fidelman-produced sixth album We Are Not Your Kind followed in August 2019, debuting at number one on both the U.S. Billboard 200 and the U.K. Albums Chart. Original drummer Joey Jordison passed away on July 26, 2021, at age 46. The End, So Far surfaced in 2022 as Slipknot's concluding Roadrunner release and the first to feature new percussionist Michael Pfaff. Achieving further global reach, it peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 while topping charts in the U.K., Australia, and Germany. Single "Hive Mind" earned a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 66th Grammy Awards. A further lineup adjustment arrived in June 2023 when longtime sampler/programmer Craig Jones departed abruptly, his masked successor appearing onstage that same day. Also that month, Slipknot released EP Adderall, containing multiple renditions of the title track.