2023 has been a year of twists and turns for Slipknot.
The Iowa Nine split with longtime keyboardist-sampler Craig Jones and drummer Jay Weinberg, introduced a new mystery member, surprise-released the Adderall EP, continually teased their long-awaited "Radiohead vibe" album Look Outside Your Window, and announced 25th anniversary shows for 2024.
Naturally, Slipknot fans have questions — especially about Weinberg's sudden departure last month, which the drummer said left him "heartbroken and blindsided." In a new interview with NME, founding percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan provided (some) answers.
The chat with Crahan essentially served as a status update on the 'Knot's tumultuous year, and the main point he drove home to Maggots is that "this band has never been happier."
That said, he addressed Weinberg's departure directly, marking the first time a Slipknot member has openly acknowledged the split since the band's sudden (and since deleted) announcement on social media.
"We've moved away from things that don't belong and we are continuously moving away from what is in the way," Crahan said, speaking rather vaguely before getting more specific.
"There are no hard feelings. There's no anger or hate. Nobody's wrong. No one's mad, it's just that we're very aware of us. If you're a Slipknot fan, then you know what that means.
"The future is very very exciting. I'm excited, because no one really knows what we're capable of — as usual."
He continued: "As far as Jay goes, what people need to know is Jay did not leave the band, and what I want to say is that we're moving on. Like the statement said, we're choosing to do something different.
"This space that we're at right now is a very, very special space, thought about and generated mostly by the OGs [longstanding members Corey Taylor, Mick Thomson, Sid Wilson and Jim Root]."
The percussionist also talked about is Slipknot's big plans for 2024. First and foremost, he promised that the group's unreleased LP, Look Outside Your Window, will finally see the light of day next year.
As die-hard Maggots well know, Slipknot have been sitting on a whole album's worth of experimental material written and recorded during the sessions for 2008's All Hope Is Gone. Taylor once described it as having "much more of a Radiohead vibe," and within the last year, both Taylor and Crahan have teased that its long-awaited arrival is imminent.
"It's definitely arriving next year. You have my word," Crahan said in the new NME interview. "The art's been done. It's been mixed. It's been mastered. It is definitely coming out in 2024 and it's such a great album.
"Corey is my favorite singer ever, and you'll never hear him sing in the same way as on this album, so it's been worth holding it back. It's such a different, timeless project."
In addition to that archival release, Crahan also hinted that brand new Slipknot material is in the works. "As far as the new album, that's happening, but that's another plan," he said.
First and foremost, however, Slipknot will be focusing on their live show in 2024. Last week, the band announced a European tour celebrating 25 years of their landmark self-titled debut. A North American leg is in the works, and Crahan even teased the possibility of extremely intimate Slipknot shows in 100 and 500-cap rooms.
"We're going back to basics," he said. "I'm ready to kick everybody in the face again! I'm ready to do a 100-person venue again! I'm ready to do a 500-person venue.
"We want to play in front of 500 people, but there are a lot of factors that will mean it can't happen. We're at the point where we've got to ensure safety.
"Nobody knows truly what's happening. If I were a fan, I would [ask] 'Why wouldn't the band play the album in its entirety?' and 'Why wouldn't the band play some special events that seem intimate and fun?'
"I'd put money on it — I want to come full circle and get back to when the dream was only a dream. I can't promise you anything until it's happening though."
Lastly, Crahan also confirmed that a sort of Slipknot "film" is in the works — and a reissue of their self-titled album is on the table.
"I've harvested relics from our whole career, I've just collected and collected all of it," he said. "Let's call it a documentary, but really it could be a film. I've recently signed on with some forces for it and I'm going to get a director, too.
"A lot of the footage has already been captured, but there is a lot that still needs to be compiled for it to be what it needs to be. So yes, there's something like that coming, and there'll be a DVD, which would be behind-the-scenes too.
"Also footage for the 25-year anniversary, there would likely be a package for that, and there's going to be a reissue of the album, probably.
"I'm working on everything now and there's so much that we haven't honed down on exactly what we're selling! Songs from shows, radio performances, behind-the-scenes footage, live performances, tracks that were never released. Just about everything and anything you can think of."
