Shawn “Clown” Crahan revealed exciting details about the beginning of Slipknot alongside Joey Jordison and how seeing Joey play drums for the first time was a defining moment in the band's history.
In an interview on the Tetragrammaton, podcast Clown stated that he was impressed by Jordison's intensity and technique right from the first rehearsals [via Loudwire ].
“I remember going to see Joey because he had finished his set. He went out for some fresh air and I went out too. I was older than everyone and could buy a beer, so I went out and just stood there looking at him. We didn't know each other, and he looked at me and said, 'What?' And I replied, 'I just wanted to see if you were really human.' I was like, 'Wow, you're a real person. Wow, congratulations, man. In my life I've never seen… I didn't know you played drums like that,'” Clown recalled.
Joey Jordison's entry into Slipknot
Shawn Crahan also commented on Slipknot's early days and the initial idea of having three drummers in the band. Even before the classic nine-member lineup, the band's concept already existed and sparked the curiosity of Joey Jordison, who decided to go to the studio to participate in a jam session.
Clown was in Colorado when he received the news that Paul Gray had invited Joey Jordison to visit the band's studio. Curious to see the meeting happen, he immediately returned to Iowa. According to Clown, Joey had a unique approach to drumming. The musician combined speed, precision, and creativity, characteristics that became fundamental to the band's style.
“What I remember most, besides what he was doing, was his incredible ability to retain everything those guys had just played with me. It was like a tornado hit my life and I was like, 'I have no idea what's happening now.' But I was so impressed, and he'd only heard it once. I was the drummer, ignored and driven to a level of insanity,” shared Crahan.
Despite the good chemistry in rehearsal, Joey Jordison still showed doubts about joining Slipknot. Shawn Crahan recalled that he pressured the drummer to make an immediate decision. In the end, Jordison accepted the invitation and became a fundamental part of the band. Years later, according to Crahan, Joey revealed that he would have used the three-drummer idea in another project if he hadn't joined the group.
Joey Jordison died in 2021 at the age of 46. His work with Slipknot continues to be a reference for musicians and fans of the genre. “I miss my guys [Joey Jordison and Paul Gray]. Joey was always on my case, man. He was the guy and he made me be the best version of myself. I like to think I did that for him. I used to say we were rivals because we were always arguing, but it's only when someone is gone that you realize how much that person inspired you to be your best self,” Clown confessed on the podcast.
READ ALSO: Jay Weinberg comments on leaving Slipknot: “I was a scapegoat”
