There actually was a time when Slipknot and the Maggots (the loving name for their fans) did not completely rule the world. 25 years ago, the Des Moines band were just some guys trying to get their new LP noticed– a record that would start their metamorphosis into the most crucial band of the 21st century. That record would change rock as we know it, measuring success with a yardstick bigger than music, one for the influence on youth culture writ large. But these faceless demons from middle America would not only capture the hearts of the youth, they would help guide their tastes, and challenge them and their kin towards a new future.
Parents and their children love them. Their live performances are considered the best ever on the current metal scene. They are incredibly good at working the crowd, and their fans (Maggots) return the favor in the form of devotion and energy that radiates from the front row to the back row. Two years ago, this masked Slipknot band put on a flawless show at Rock for People that no one will ever forget. Now they’re heading out on tour for the 25th anniversary of their first album, and they return to the festival in full form and with a typically fiery show. Slipknot’s debut album, released on 29 June 1999, was an instant critical hit and immediately won the hearts of fans around the world. It was a feat that signaled a revolution – an embrace of a creative direction that eschewed metal traditions in favor of new ideas. Although the jaw-clenching riffs coupled with Ross Robinson’s venomous production were crucial to the album’s success, it was the care and attention to detail in the songs that moved the quality from “great” to “reference”.
In the years that followed, Slipknot’s popularity has kept them on the heels of their older colleagues, navigating this brave new world with undying vigor, fresh ideas, and a desire to put miles on the road. Tens of billions of streams and tens of millions of subscribers and followers later, the accolades speak volumes: 64 award nominations and 27 wins, including a Grammy for “Before I Forget” from Vol. 3. Collaborations with WWE, “The Boys” on Amazon Prime and Sony Playstation. They have played a seemingly endless number of concerts and headline shows at the world’s biggest festivals such as Download, Rock In Rio, Hellfest, Wacken, Rock for People, and many more.
