Slipknot percussionist M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan and the band’s manager Cory Brennan spoke recently with Forbes about the band’s various plans and happenings this year. Topics included their upcoming touring and the impact of the pandemic on ticket sales, the group’s forthcoming album, which will mark their last release with Roadrunner Records, and more.
When asked about their forthcoming seventh studio album and the challenges the pandemic has presented in creating it, Crahan revealed that outside of the requirements of his day job, he’s a proponent of wearing a mask in general:
“The general atmosphere has been very complex as of recently, and the main reason for that is an obvious one, we have been in a very different world with COVID and abiding by government laws. For instance, I think we had it very bumpy because when we were in the studio if we were in the control room and around the engineers that worked for the studio, we had to wear masks.
If we were in the live room where we were recording around each other, and we had all been tested, we didn’t have to wear masks. But, if an employee was in there we’d have to put them on. Now I think about nine months ago and it was even more restrictive, so it’s been very challenging to say the least.
But I’m not ever going to stop wearing a mask, COVID or not, I’ve been in this business 25 years, and people are filthy all over the world. So when I had to be in the studio and I was asked to put on a mask, it didn’t bother me, it was business as usual.
I mean I’m glad at least the majority of the world has been profoundly open to the idea of, ‘hey when you’re going to be out in public there’s a chance you could be around someone with pneumonia, the flu, or just a nasty cough, why not wear a mask to just protect yourself?’ We live in a filthy world, and we live in a world where people don’t wash their hands, they wipe their nose and they open the door and then you touch it.
I have four children and I know what it’s like to drop your kid off at school and they come home sick and then you’re sick. It’s been a highly intense album making process because of COVID. There’s been lots of testing, there’s been different time frames and different restrictions, and it was business as usual. I don’t believe anyone in the band missed a beat.”
Speaking on their upcoming exit from Roadrunner Records,/b>, Crahan commented:
“What I can tell you right now is that we are getting off of our record label. This is a very fascinating time in my life because I’ve lost both of my parents and if they were alive my dad would be so excited that I have fulfilled a contract. It’s not about what I’m going to do afterwards, it’s that I gave my word, I extended my hand and my penmanship and I’m literally getting off of something that I had agreed I can get off of.”
He continued:
“…Seven albums, no greatest hits, no best of, no live albums, straight up rock n’ roll. That’s what we’ve given.”
For clarity sake, the aforementioned interview was conducted prior to the recent passing of the band’s founding drummer Joey Jordison. Furthermore, Roadrunner Records have indeed released a SLipknot greatest hits compilation titled “Antennas To Hell” back in 2012, while several live concert films/albums from the band have also been released over the years.
Slipknot‘s touring plans this year include the below run with Killswitch Engage, Fever 333 and Code Orange:
09/03 Pryor, OK – Rocklahoma (Slipknot only)
09/10 Mansfield, OH – Inkcarceration Festival (Slipknot only)
09/25 Des Moines, IA – National Balloon Classic Field (‘Knotfest Iowa‘)
09/28 Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
09/29 Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
10/01 Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
10/02 Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
10/03 Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
10/05 Syracuse, NY – St. Josephs Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
10/08 Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
10/09 Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
10/10 Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
10/12 Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion
10/13 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
10/15 Burgettstown, PA – S&T Bank Music Park
10/17 Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
10/19 Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
10/20 West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
10/22 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
10/23 Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
10/24 Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
10/26 Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
10/28 Del Valle, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
10/29 The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
10/30 Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
11/01 Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
11/02 Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
11/05 Los Angeles, CA – Banc Of California Stadium (‘Knotfest Los Angeles‘)
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