Slipknot

Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa in 1995, best known for their distinctive matching jumpsuits and custom masks, their ferocious live performances, and a sound that fused nu metal, thrash, and alternative metal into something uniquely their own. The band coalesced around percussionist Shawn Crahan, bassist Paul Gray, and drummer Joey Jordison, with vocalist Corey Taylor recruited from fellow Des Moines band Stone Sour in 1997. The classic nine-member lineup - including guitarists Mick Thomson and Jim Root, turntablist Sid Wilson, sampler Craig Jones, and percussionist Chris Fehn - signed with Roadrunner Records and released their self-titled major label debut in 1999, breaking through with singles Wait and Bleed and Spit It Out after touring Ozzfest. Iowa (2001) debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and topped the UK Albums Chart, cementing their global status. Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses (2004) produced the Grammy-winning Before I Forget and the massive radio hit Duality. All Hope Is Gone (2008) became their first Billboard 200 number one album. The band was devastated by the death of founding bassist Paul Gray from an accidental overdose on May 24, 2010, and further rocked by the departure of founding drummer Joey Jordison in 2013 - who later revealed his exit was caused by transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder that had paralyzed his leg. Jordison passed away in July 2021. The band continued, releasing the Grammy-nominated .5: The Gray Chapter (2014) as a tribute to Gray, followed by We Are Not Your Kind (2019) and The End So Far (2022), their final album for Roadrunner after a 25-year partnership. Slipknot has sold over 30 million records worldwide and founded their own festival Knotfest, which has expanded to multiple countries.