Slipknot is a highly influential American heavy metal band that was formed in Des Moines, Iowa in 1995. The band was initially composed of percussionist Shawn Crahan, drummer Joey Jordison, and bassist Paul Gray. However, there were several lineup changes in the band's early years before they finally settled on a lineup of nine members for more than a decade. This lineup consisted of Crahan, Jordison, Gray, Craig Jones, Mick Thomson, Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn, and Jim Root.
Tragically, the band lost Gray on May 24, 2010, and he was replaced by Donnie Steele from 2011-2014. Additionally, Jordison was dismissed from the band on December 12, 2013, and Steele left during the recording sessions for the band's fifth studio album, .5: The Gray Chapter. Fortunately, the band found suitable replacements in Alessandro Venturella on bass and Jay Weinberg on drums.
Slipknot's music is characterized by its attention-grabbing image, aggressive style, and chaotic live performances. The band's rapid rise to fame followed the release of their eponymous debut album in 1999. The follow-up album, Iowa, was darker in tone but made the band even more popular. After a brief hiatus, Slipknot returned in 2004 with Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses), which was critically acclaimed. They then went on another hiatus before returning in 2008 with their fourth studio album, All Hope Is Gone, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
After another long hiatus, Slipknot released their highly anticipated fifth studio album, .5: The Gray Chapter, in 2014, which was a tribute to their late bassist Paul Gray. This album received positive reviews from critics and fans alike. The band's sixth studio album, We Are Not Your Kind, was released on August 9, 2019, and was yet another critical and commercial success.
In addition to their studio albums, Slipknot has also released two live albums titled 9.0: Live and Day of the Gusano: Live in Mexico, a compilation album titled Antennas to Hell, and five live DVDs. The band has sold an impressive 30 million records worldwide, and their music has had a significant impact on the heavy metal genre.
