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Joey Jordison
Iowa is probably best known as "the middle of
nowhere." Most non-residents consider the corn-and-pig-state a
geographical black hole. Since rock'n'roll's dawning in the early
'50's, Iowa has had no singular voice to put on the musical map.
Naming a significant musical identity from the state is inarguably a
fruitless task; it simply can't be done. However, nine freaks from
Des Moines--draped in industrial coveralls, surrealistic self-made
masks, and an attack that combines violently regurgitated "L.A.
neo-metal," death metal, hip-hop, and downtuned screeching
horror--are about to leap upon the unsuspecting world like a musical
of Clockwork Orange. Have you ever thought about what a messed-up
hardcore metal band from "the middle of nowhere" would sound like?
"Ultra-violence" only begins to describe it...
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Meet 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. (In human terms
that's DJ Sid Wilson, drummer Joey Jordison, bassist Paul Gray,
percussionist Chris Fehn, guitarist James Root, sampler Craig
Jones, percussionist Shawn Crahan, guitarist Mic Thompson, and
vocalist Corey Taylor, respectively.) Each comes equipped with not
only a frightening visual persona and number assignment, but a
talent on his particular instrument that combines and collides to
form the nine-headed savior/destructor of modern heavy music
dubbed Slipknot. Now, with the tools and talents (not to mention
complex-yet-infectiously-catchy songs) that this band holds in its
grasp, the world has no choice: Slipknot has arrived, and you must
now decide how to deal with it.
Formed during the latter half of 1995, the band
went through necessary lineup changes to arrive at what they now
descibe as "a family unit." All native Iowans, their rather
unassuming, un-happening locale gave the members plenty of space
and time to perfect their unusual take on heaviosity. The band
recorded and distributed the self-released debut Mate. Feed.
Kill. Repeat. in 1996, and the ball hasn't stopped rolling
since. Attracting the attention of a number of labels, Slipknot
finally signed to Roadrunner through noted producer Ross
Robinson's I AM RECORDS imprint in 1997 and entered Indigo Ranch
Studios in L.A. with Robinson to record Slipknot.
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