Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan opened up to Metal Hammer about how changes in Slipknot’s lineup have affected their internal dynamic over the years. He admitted that the group members are no longer as close as they were during their early career.
“Brother, the band will never be like that again,” the percussionist said, reflecting on 1999 when the band debuted. “I can’t tell you how close we were then: we’re not that close anymore. People are gone. Craig’s out. Chris is out, Joey’s out, Paul’s out. The band is different. But, back then, there was nine guys that wanted to be in the same place, and we made it work. And we wound up here, and here is wonderful.”
Chris Fehn and Craig ‘133’ Jones both left the band, while bassist Paul Gray and drummer Joey Jordison passed away in 2010 and 2013, respectively.
“They’re greatly missed,” Crahan said of Jordison and Gray. “And every day that I go through this 25-year anniversary, I miss them more, but also appreciate, love, and just acknowledge who they were to all this. It’s very important for me to say that, because these are two gentlemen that should be talking to you, and they can’t.”
Slipknot kicked off the North American leg of their ‘Here Comes the Pain Tour’ in August with a performance at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana. The extensive dates came as a celebration of their self-titled debut album’s 25th anniversary.
The trek will continue across the U.S. until October 19, when they will head to Latin America. The European leg will begin in the Netherlands on December 5.