Clown On Slipknot: 'We’re Not That Close Anymore'

Slipknot is one of those bands that has had numerous line-up changes, and unfortunately, guitarist Joey Jordison and bassist Paul Gray have passed away.

With all their experiences over nearly three decades, is it really too surprising to find out that band members aren’t that close anymore?

In a new interview with Metal Hammer magazine, Shawn “Clown” Crahan addressed how things feel within the band, saying that after facing grief and line-up changes, the band’s dynamic has been affected.

Crahan, who co-founded the band in 1995, is still in the band while Gray and Jordison have passed away while long-serving members Chris Fehn (percussion) and Craig “133” Jones (samples/keys) have departed the group.

Reflecting on the band’s relationships around the period they released their self-titled debut album in 1999, Crahan said, “Brother, the band will never be like that again.

“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.”

Earlier this year, Slipknot and tour promoters for Knotfest Australia, Destroy All Lines, confirmed that the band would return to Australia in early 2025 to headline their titular festival.

The line-up for Knotfest Australia 2025 – headlined by Slipknot – will be revealed later this year.

Last month, Slipknot kicked off their 25th anniversary celebrations with a series of shows celebrating their early music. The 25th-anniversary setlist features Slipknot’s 1999 self-titled album played in its entirety, and nothing else—vocalist Corey Taylor wasn’t kidding when he said, “Nothing you will hear tonight was written after 1999” in recent footage.

You can check out the setlist here.