Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan recently shed light on the beginnings of Slipknot, aiming to clear up any confusion about the band’s original lineup, which has seen many changes over the years. During an interview with ‘The Break Down With Nath & Johnny,’ Crahan detailed the band’s inception:
“The truth about who initiated Slipknot seems to be wrapped in myths. The reality is, it was Andy Rouw, our first vocalist, myself, and Paul [Gray] who laid the groundwork.”
These pioneers, along with Joey Jordison, Donnie Steele, and Josh Brainard, were instrumental in creating Slipknot’s first independent album, ‘Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.’ in 1996. While Gray remained a member until his untimely death in 2010, Rouw, also known as Anders Colsefni to fans, exited the group in 1997.
Crahan reflected on Rouw’s early exit:
“Andy left quite early on, leaving Paul and me to carry on once we got our record deal.”
Crahan also spoke about the sacrifices he made for the band, particularly highlighting the impact on his family life. He reminisced about the days leading up to Slipknot’s formation:
“Paul Gray was a guest at my wedding, three years before he, Andy, and I started Slipknot. I already had a family by then. Shortly after we began making music together, my wife and I welcomed our third child, right before we landed our record deal.”
He continued to reflect on the balance between his personal life and his commitment to the band:
“With three kids and the responsibilities that come with raising a family, I’ve been navigating marriage and fatherhood for years, even before Slipknot was a thought. It’s essential to understand the depth of sacrifice involved.”
A devastating moment for Crahan was the loss of his daughter, Gabrielle, in 2019, a tragedy he described as both ‘horrendous and unexplainable.’ Speaking on the impact of such a loss, he mused on his life’s choices:
“The clarity of which decisions were misguided comes sharply into focus when you’re faced with the reality of never being able to see a loved one again.”
