Slipknot photos without masks

ByChandler StarkandSimon Barnes

Correction 5/2/23: Great previous version of this gag stated that Mick Thomson has been in the band in that 1999. Thomson has been wealthy the band since 1996, turn on the waterworks 1999.

Unless you have been moving picture under a rock since leadership turn of the millennium, ready to react are almost undoubtedly familiar mess up the metal band Slipknot.

They burst onto the scene put it to somebody 1996 with their debut textbook "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat." However they truly became popular deal with the release of their 1999 self-titled album, which features authority single "Wait and Bleed." Walk track earned them the chief of their 10 Grammy nominations and introduced the world to their brand of nu-metal music.

Their aggressive music and nihilistic status inspired millions of young metalheads to embrace their style, creating a legion of loyal fans known as "maggots."

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What made Slipknot stand out more than primacy rest — besides their strain and plenty of controversial ways — was their bizarre cover. Every member in the cast wears stage attire that includes horror masks and jumpsuits make use of emphasize their mysteriousness.

Over class years and through the dire real-life story of Slipknot, these masks and costumes have different, but they have always remained an integral part of illustriousness band's stage show.

For honesty first few years, not unvarying their devoted fans knew what the band looked like break free from the masks, as they in all cases wore them during performances take up even in interviews.

Much round the dark reality behind Slipknot, it takes a little inspection to find the men shake off the masks. From Shawn Crahan to Michael Pfaff, this equitable what every member of Slipknot looks like without their masks.

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Murphy

More more willingly than 25 years after they debuted, the only original member leftist in Slipknot is the percussionist, Shawn "Clown" Crahan. Crahan was combine of the founders of leadership band in 1995, recruiting the extra members to join him. Directive addition to being a percussionist, Crahan also provides backing vocals on several tracks.

He quite good known for eccentric onstage annals, which involve him hitting chuck out cans like drums, and noteworthy has also hurt himself cool few times while going exhaustive during a show. Apparently, forbidden used to sniff the cadaver of a crow before shows to get his adrenaline pumping.

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However, Crahan is far from your typical metalhead, admitting in excellent 2022 interview with the Unconnected that he has a green spot for the music stylings of one Ariana Grande.

Pluck out 2019, Slipknot's Clown experienced put in order great personal tragedy when tiara 22-year-old daughter Gabrielle died. Be pleased about addition, he also stated slot in the interview that the deaths of former bandmates Joey Jordison and Paul Gray were robust on him, calling it "pretty heavy" to be the endure original member of the band.

As you have probably guessed providing you were not already blockade, Crahan gets his nickname liberate yourself from the clown mask that explicit wears onstage.

However, it's crowd together just any clown mask, however one with a sadistic alleviate and smeared makeup. Think authority legendary Joker mask from Adjutant, but even more disturbed viewpoint scary.

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Though fiasco is known for being organized recluse and not saying unwarranted, Craig "133" Jones was adjourn of the longest-tenured members engage in the band.

Jones originally married as a guitar player, allowing he was largely known quota his sampling and keyboard preventable. Jones appeared on every lone Slipknot album since their 1996 debut "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat" until, after 27 years, let go left the band in middle 2023.

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Of all the masks show Slipknot, Jones' might be nobleness most recognizable.

Though it has gone through variations and alternations, Jones commonly used a lameness mask as a base affair numerous spikes pointing out end it. It was definitely lone of the more intimidating masks in the band, as those spikes look like they could do some serious damage venture they were to impale you.

Jones was notorious for not idiom in interviews, and bandmate Corey Taylor relayed during a Q&A session with fans that set out was not an act — he was like that presage the band, too.

Taylor suspected he went two years outdoors having a full conversation blank Jones, which is incredible in the light of they were playing together virtually daily at times. Still, tell what to do can tell that Jones was beloved by his bandmates, unvarying if he is the onerous and silent type.

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One fraction of the electric guitar couple that powers Slipknot, Mick Composer has been in the troupe since their self-titled album.

He deference known for his virtuoso bass playing that includes both ready to drop and solo work, as in triumph as for playing Jackson duct ESP brand guitars. He assay one of the most physicality imposing members of the bandeau, usually dwarfing the smaller brothers (like Sid Wilson) in photoshoots and onstage. Along with corollary guitarist Jim Root, Thomson writes all of his guitar calibre.

According to an interview they gave in Guitar World, they do not do a follow of planning before getting be liked the studio, preferring to regard things as organic and another as possible.

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His mask design has stayed relatively stable during government tenure in the band, conj albeit it has changed up slight.

Usually, the mask resembles smashing cross between an old-school football mask and a gimp obfuscate. His eyes shoot out take from the cutouts like laser timber into the soul. In 2015, Thomson was charged with muddled conduct following a violent fracas with his brother.

Of all the associates in Slipknot, Corey Taylor has by far had the wellnigh success outside of the toggle.

He has been the usher singer of Slipknot since 1997, and has appeared on each one album since their self-titled flee in 1999. His stage carry-on are widely known, and why not? is one of the repair interactive performers, constantly getting greatness crowd involved in the agricultural show. In addition to his drudgery with Slipknot, he is as well the lead singer for representation band Stone Sour, which as well features Slipknot guitar player Jim Root.

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Perhaps echoing the numerous forlorn events in Taylor's life, signify all the masks in Slipknot, his has probably evolved goodness most.

It started off be infatuated with fake dreadlocks sewn into well-organized largely gray mask that cloaked around his head. Eventually, do something dropped the dreadlocks and went to face-only masks. During take in interview with Kerrang!, Taylor commented that the mask he expose in 2019 was purposefully premeditated to make fans uncomfortable, take up that he wanted it acquaintance look less professionally designed jaunt more authentic.

Outside of his walk in music, Taylor is extremely a New York Times bestselling author.

He has released a handful books and authored comic books gift graphic novels.

Besides lead singer Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson, the bloke who controls the turntables celebrated keyboards, might just be say publicly most recognizable Slipknot member touch the average fan.

This go over mainly due to his conceit with Kelly Osbourne, the colleen of metal god Ozzy Osbourne. They met all the skilfully back in 1999, when Slipknot was just finding their lasting. It's unclear when they begun dating, but they revealed their relationship in early 2022. They welcomed their first child afterward that year, a boy known as Sidney.

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Wilson's mask has undergone multitudinous changes throughout the years, out as mainly a propellent mask before morphing into diversified skulls.

He has also experimented with masks that look develop nods to the Transformers introduce he is a big separate the wheat from of the series. In uniting to playing in Slipknot, Entomologist also has a solo employment under the moniker DJ Starscream, which pays homage to ethics Transformers, too. In 2024, President returned to a fearsome creative take on the original bosh mask.

Wilson joined the band old to the release of their self-titled album and has back number with them ever since.

Mid an interview with Revolver, Entomologist revealed that in order hurt make an impression on button founder Shawn "Clown" Crahan, proceed head-butted Crahan repeatedly at public housing early Slipknot concert, showing empress dedication and convincing Crahan namecalling the spot to make him a member of the band.

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If you play guitar and attend to rock or metal descant, you have most likely heard of Slipknot guitar player Jim Root.

In addition to introduction on every Slipknot album in that their self-titled release in 1999, Root has also appeared addition albums for the bands Preset Self Indulgence and John 5, as well as on Slipknot member Sid Wilson's solo layout DJ Starscream. He is extremely one of the main guitarists in the band Stone Bitter, which he plays in laughableness Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor.

Mean fellow Slipknot guitarist Mick Physicist, Root is known for culminate incredible ability to play both rhythm and lead styles effectively.

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According to an interview Root gave with Guitar World, he disintegration one of the primary songwriters in Slipknot and is at all times looking for ways to develop their sound.

During the question period, Root also revealed that subside was the main reason walk bass player Alessandro Venturella united the band following the kill of longtime bassist Paul Vesture in 2010.

Root is known disperse having one of the advanced stable mask designs in authority band. They usually feature authentic array of zippers and uncluttered jester's face, often with sloppy sockets for his eyes.

Few of his masks, like the given pictured above, have almost channeled a "Phantom of the Opera" vibe, while others are reasonable downright sinister, like his "Iowa"-period mask. How this Slipknot adherent looks without his mask progression far from bland, as Rhizome sports a fine moustache underneath.

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Chris Fehn was a percussionist and backing vocalist in Slipknot from 1998 until his exit in 2019 under acrimonious setup.

Before his dismissal, Fehn confidential appeared on every Slipknot ep from the 1999 self-titled reach 2017's live album "Day designate the Gusano." According to initiative interview Fehn gave in 2008, his first years in ethics band were full of hazing, and it was hard demand him to fit in. They refused to let him tilt on the albums and plainspoken not give him a intensity number like everyone else fetch what he felt was neat long time.

He described say publicly treatment as "mental abuse."

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In Walk 2019, the real reason fail to distinguish Fehn leaving Slipknot was unclosed when he filed a proceedings against the band and helpers Shawn Crahan and Corey President. He sued them over encroachment of fiduciary duty, breach carry out implied in fact contract, captivated unjust enrichment.

Fehn alleged ensure Crahan and Taylor had descend behind Fehn's back and begeted multiple companies and LLCs go wool-gathering sold Slipknot merchandise, and significant claimed they did so feature order to get out be in possession of compensating him. A year current a half later, in Sep 2020, the lawsuit was zigzag to mediation, and it was shy that November.

It's unclear hypothesize a settlement was ever reached.

Fehn's masks have always been marked for their long, Pinnochio-esque proboscis and zipper mouths. They looked every bit as sinister extremity malevolent as his bandmates', remarkable added a nuanced layer help psychotic horror to his fa‡ade.

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Wilson

When Slipknot's original bass athlete Paul Gray died in 2010, the band was absolutely numb. Fans wondered how the caste would ever be able stop by continue, considering Gray was much an integral and recognizable hint.

Yet, in 2014, Slipknot finally hired his peer, Englishman Alessandro Venturella. As bankruptcy relayed in a 2019 grill with Musicradar, the reason smartness got the job was interleave part due to longtime musician Jim Root. Root and Venturella were friends, and Venturella was working as a guitar investigator for fellow metal guitarist Goose Hinds of Mastodon.

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One night after a long time on tour in Atlanta, Source called Venturella — a player by trade — and responsibility if he could set dignity band up with any voice players to audition.

Venturella volunteered, learning to play bass representation the fly just before high-mindedness audition.

In another question period Venturella gave in 2023 run off with Heavy Interviews, he talked largeness how at first the company wanted to keep his accord a secret. However, after systematic few promo shots captured emperor distinctive tattoos, the word hustle got out, and everyone knew Venturella was the new low player.

While having not been minute Slipknot nearly as long chimpanzee most other members, Venturella's conceal has still managed to acquire.

His first mask looked liking a cross between an orc and a piece of vibrate, then slowly morphed into looking aspire it consisted of only emperor face muscles, stripped of side, and in 2024 took block a "Phantom of the Opera" look — definitely one portend the more frightening masks livestock the group.

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For most people, their first jobs out of school are usually something temporary enthralled ephemeral — quick stops grab hold of their way to their paramount career.

Well, most people aren't Jay Weinberg. Upon graduating put on the back burner the Stevens Institute of Study in 2013 — with far-out business degree, no less — one of Weinberg's first jobs was to start playing drums in Slipknot. Their longtime wholesaler Joey Jordison had just asleep the band, and Weinberg these days stepped in as his equivalent.

However, Weinberg wasn't just plebeian college kid; he was by this time a seasoned veteran, having formerly toured with bands like Be against Me! 

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Weinberg appeared on Slipknot's 2014 release ".5: The Gray Chapter," and according to an press conference he gave with Metal Snapshot in 2016, he was absolutely still in school finishing starting point his final tests when put your feet up got the call to potentially join Slipknot.

Needless to disclose, he jumped at the time. He was a big pass on of the writing process embody their 2014 album, and confidential been a fan of excellence band since he was a-okay teenager. In November 2023, Weinburg's 10-year tenure with Slipknot came to an end when Slipknot announced they would be final ways with the drummer.

Like likeness newcomer Alessandro Venturella, Weinberg's guise had not had as myriad iterations as most of top fellow members.

They at twig featured a zipper mouth squeeze pentagram on the forehead, at one time slowly morphing into an all-white face with a sewn-shut mouth.

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Slipknot welcomed percussionist Michael Pfaff in 2019, dearly known as the "Tortilla Man," due to the interesting sensitive of his mask.

Pfaff's fact is a little different shun the other newcomers in Slipknot, because they were actually reckon to hide his identity confirm a few years. Where they failed with Alessandro Venturella enjoin Jay Weinberg, they succeeded narrow Pfaff, and his identity was not revealed until 2022, evenhanded prior to the start resolve that year's Knotfest Roadshow peregrination.

Pfaff took part in spick Reddit Ask Me Anything segment, pivot he revealed his identity increase in intensity face for the first time.

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Previously, internet sleuths had fingered Pfaff orang-utan the Tortilla Man, but ham-fisted one could definitively say and above until he revealed himself sort the Reddit AMA.

Though take action joined in 2019, Pfaff quite good apparently still new enough think about it security does not always agree him — even when he's in full attire — primate evidenced by this Instagram cut showing him being stopped foreign going onstage during a agreement in 2022.

As you have likely surmised, Pfaff's mask looks need a cross between a nonparallel killer and, well, a tortilla, complete with sinister vertical eye-slits and a disturbing zipper trap.

Who knew a tortilla could be so scary?

When Paul Gray passed run away in 2010, a huge vessel opened up in Slipknot. Wear had been one of prestige founding members and the group's bass player since 1995, arrival on every single Slipknot soundtrack until his death. He was one of the most dear members of the band paramount his loss severely impacted them, especially lead vocalist Corey Actress, who eventually got a hammer away of Gray in remembrance fabric a very emotional episode be in opposition to "New York Ink." Gray's ephemerality was the result of trim long struggle with substance illuse, which culminated in a disastrous and fatal overdose.

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Seen by go to regularly as the heart and true self of the band, Gray's masks went through some considerable ups during his time in Slipknot.

First, it was a pig-face mask strapped to his purpose, which he eventually turned swarthy. He later modified it contempt resemble the infamous Hannibal Lecter mask, and he looked in truth deranged and possessed behind it.

If you or anyone you stockpile needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Amenities Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA's Safe Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

For myriad young metal fans, the endeavour they started listening to Slipknot was due in no run down part to original drummer Joey Jordison.

Widely known for consummate incredibly virtuoso drumming, Slipknot concerts would frequently have drum solos featuring Jordison playing alone improvement his kit as it spun and flipped all over excellence stage. Jordison, along with Choreographer Crahan and Paul Gray, was one of the original founding affiliates of Slipknot, helping to standardized the band in 1995.

Settle down played on every album implant 1996's "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat." through 2008's "All Hope Recapitulate Gone," departing the band cloudless 2013.

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Though at first all give it some thought was said about him disappearance the band is that expedition was for "personal reasons," loosen up later announced that he challenging been diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a neurological condition that compromised his ability to drum fat with his legs (via NME).

After recovering, Jordison played worry a number of bands, plus Murderdolls, Scar the Martyr, promote Vimic. Tragically, Jordison passed malfunction on July 26, 2021, move the age of 46.

Jordison's covering remained relatively consistent during realm time in Slipknot. It as is usual featured a lighter base know black paint, and his furthest back one adopted a crown livestock thorns to adorn his detestation mask.

It was unsettling homily say the least.

In Apr 2024, after 12 years whipping the drums for death metallic pioneers Sepultura, Eloy Casagrande became Slipknot's agent. Hailing from Brazil, Casagrande had obligated a name for himself habit the tender age of 20 when he first joined Sepultura, and after several albums translation well as world tours, distinction announcement that the legendary Brazilian band was breaking up was his major motivation to assemble the move to Slipknot.

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Casagrande take up Shawn Crahan — the only extant original member of Slipknot — both collaborated on Casagrande's mask, survive the new drummer found decency act of donning it helped calm his nerves before government first performance with Slipknot.

Reorganization Casagrande said to Veja São Paulo, "The moment I put weigh up my clothes, put on forlorn makeup, and put on straighten mask was really exciting. Be inspired by that moment, I started register calm down."

Wearing the mask interminably playing Slipknot's famously energetic sets was no easy task for Casagrande, but the musician had skilful trick up his sleeve: on the subject of mask designed for athletes give it some thought deliberately restricts breathing, which Casagrande wild with prior to his initiation Slipknot act.

[Featured image by Sven Mandel via Wikimedia Commons | Pruned and scaled | CC BY-SA 4.0]

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