For years, the formation of Slipknot, the enigmatic Iowa metal band, was shrouded in mystery. Recently, in an interview with Fishman Music, guitarist Mick Thomson shed some light on the band’s convoluted origin story, shedding light on the tumultuous early years and dispelling misconceptions surrounding its creation.
Thomson’s story begins with his participation in a death metal band called Body Pit, alongside singer Anders Colsefni and bassist Paul Gray, now deceased. After the departure of their drummer, Thomson joined forces with Colsefni and Gray and began looking for a replacement. As fate would have it, percussionist Mr. Shawn “Clown” Crahan, a friend of Colsefni’s, entered the scene, igniting a creative spark that would redefine the band’s trajectory.
According to Thomson, “Clown came over… and started playing with Paul and Andy, jamming in the basement on Body Pit stuff… And that’s how it started”. This chance collaboration laid the foundation for Slipknot’s embryonic phase, characterized by experimentation and musical exploration.
As the group evolved, key members, including Joey Jordison and Jim Root, were recruited through disparate musical projects, further complicating the story of Slipknot’s formation. Thomson’s account highlights the symbiotic relationship between chance encounters and deliberate decisions, highlighting the group’s eclectic origins.
