One thing that Slipknot does--that kind of reminds me of sick industrial music--is the experimental noise terror.

#1: Yeah. Like "Tattered and Torn" or "Prosthetics" or "Scissors." It contains that hypnotic drive that boxes you in.

It's sort of a techno/industrial sound. What influenced Slipknot to have that element?

#1: Old Skinny Puppy, Godflesh and more jungle stuff like Roni Size. This is the sort of thing that influences that hypnotic drive, that pulse we like to have that sucks you in and hypnotizes you. The lyrics and riffs infect you and the songs bring out a yin-yang feeling that brings out emotions that range from hate to love, beauty to disgust, both positive and negative feelings. And it's because we're just as much into the industrial/techno/ambient thing as we are into metal.

How do you guys keep up the "we're killing something" sort of energy throughout the entire album?

#1: It has to do with the trials and tribulations that were forced upon us while we were trying to get signed. Our mission is based on being so frowned upon and outshined by all of these other bands because they were a certain type of music. People thought we were garbage and it fueled us to push harder. It just got sicker and sicker because there was no outlet for what we were doing and where we are from. It's just a barren wasteland as far as music is concerned.

Is Slipknot as angry as the album sounds, or is the anger something that most humans can basically understand?

#1: Well, it's like you said: "Listen to the album." The anger is so pure that it's as tangible as the music itself. There is nothing fake there. The fact that we had an album as an outlet is the only reason we are on an even keel with everything. This is our medication. If we don't have that then it's harder. If not for the album, all those years, shows, and being told "no" would have killed us by now. The baboon is one of the most mental animals on earth. If you put one in a cage for 24 years and then let it out, it's gonna have some shit to work out. And that's exactly what we are: nine baboons workin' some shit out every night. That question was a trip.

#1: We have done it two times so far, and I'll tell ya what, those people take us for granted. They don't appreciate us. When we come to Seattle, these kids have been waiting for so long for us to come--or a band like this to come out--that it's just a rush of emotion and they let it all out. We can create such a ball of energy between the band and the crowd. But when we go back home they have seen us before. They know what we look like without the shit on and we grew up with a lot of those people. So it's not necessarily special.

What do you mean: "A band like this?"

#1: A band that is not a trendy fashion show with mid-tempo riffs and all that shit. Using the same song structures as everyone. A band that MTV has not latched onto. We have nothing in common with that shit. I mean come on, we hide our faces and we don't have anything to do with rock star ego bullshit. We come out completely pissed off with weird song structures. We are completely nihilistic and apocalyptic towards the whole thing. And no one does that, as much as they try to.

Are you here to convert all of these kids to the church of Slipknot?

#1: Absolutely! That is what we do at every show. We want to get as many people into our legion as possible.

If you have or had kids would you permit them to listen to Slipknot?

#1: Um...no I wouldn't.

What age would they have to be before you would let them?

#1: You know that's kind of a weird question because I don't have kids. My opinion would probably change if I did. I was listening to some serious shit when I was thirteen and I think I turned out okay. My parents were always supportive of the heavy music even though they didn't understand it. I was wearing a Slayer shirt, so I think that 13 would be the age. But the thing is, Slipknot is a lot more vulgar than most bands as far as getting right to the point. Slayer would get gruesome with the lyrics; we just come out and say, "FUCK EVERYTHING!" Kind of how blatant 2 Live Crew would be about wanting to fuck bitches all the time. Maybe 15 years old.

#1: Honestly, no. We are all there to serve a purpose. And I don't feel like I should cheat the kids out. I'm there to give everyone a show and I'm gonna give everyone 150%. Blood, broken bones and all. We're getting hurt and not the kids. At least we give them something to talk about the next day at school.

Between the music and the way you guys look, which both are pretty diabolical, it seems like your fans would be a tad more rabid than the typical Coal Chamber or Deftones fan. Has a fan or fans ever done anything that freaked you guys out?

#1: Yeah...this one time a group of kids came in masks and coveralls, which is cool and happens all the time. [Laughs] I shouldn't laugh and I really don't know how to feel about this, but check this out: There was also a guy wearing one of the "People=Shit" shirts. The group asked the kid if he had the album and he told them, "No." So they took him into the bathroom, beat the shit out of him and went and bought Slipknot CDs with his money...just to add to their Slipknot shrine. You know, that's hardcore. That's not something we condone at all. It makes me question what in the hell we are doing. I can't be responsible for that. Rock and roll is not responsible. But the popularity thing has happened so fast that it's hard to not feel responsible. When we were doing this in the basement we felt lucky if we could sell 1000 records. Now it's 200,000. Where will we be in the next six months?

Will you stay with Roadrunner Records?

#1: Right now there are so many labels wanting to buy us out of Roadrunner. We'll see. Roadrunner treats us really well.

Letterman or Leno for Slipknot?

#1: I've met Leno and he's a real nice guy, but I prefer the sarcastic humor of Letterman.

Would you guys tie Paul Schaffer up and strap him to the van?

#1: I'll fuckin' smash his head into those keyboards.

Do you think that Ted Nugent is really a hunter?

#1: He's a hunter of the female gender. He was quite the ladies dude.

He's still got the "Wang Dang Sweet Poon Tang" attitude?

#1: Definitely.

#1: That is exactly what it's about.

What is the concept behind the costumes?

#1: When we were forming the band, we wanted to put components together that other bands weren't doing that wouldn't rob from our music. It was a way to not be involved in the ego-trippin' rock star bullshit. Think about it. We can get off of the bus and no one knows who we are. We're not about being recognized.

Has Chris ever broke his nose off?

#1: Yup. Five shows ago.

Where is Slipknot five years from now?

#1: I can't envision Slipknot in five years. How do you take something this extreme and keep pushing it? If any band can do it, we can, but after two or three records I think that's all there's gonna be. I'd rather break up than become a parody of ourselves.

Got any closing thoughts as we cross over into the next millennium?

#1: We'll still be around to infect everyone's mind and be as apocalyptic as possible. It's gonna be the year of Skipknot...everyone else can fuck off!

On the web:
Slipknot

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