Shawn “Clown” Crahan Explains Why Slipknot Won’t Play with Foo Fighters
“New fans? We don’t need no stinkin’ new fans!”
So goes the logic of Slipknot keg-banger Shawn “Clown” Crahan, who explained at a recent panel in response to Danny Wimmer (creator of Rock on the Range, Fort Rock, Rock Allegiance, etc. festivals) that the reason he doesn’t want to play at festivals alongside bands like Foo Fighters is because he isn’t interested in new fans, only catering to the current ones.
Explained Crahan:
“If we play alongside the Foo Fighters, we are going to get new fans, I agree with that. I love that. But I’m worried about the kid that won’t come to the show, because we’re playing with the Foo Fighters. He wants to know why we’re not playing with Nine Inch Nails. Those kids tell all of us what they want. So, don’t try to figure out ways of how to combine things for the new fan. I don’t need the new fan, I need the fan that has anxiety, parents are getting divorced, social problems, gender problems — I need them to come to the ultimate show. And they’re going to get that at Knotfest.”
On one hand, Crahan is right: there is definitely a segment of Slipknot fans who would be put off by the band playing alongside others that aren’t in line with the Slipknot brand. And Slipknot are certainly in a position of power where they can make those choices as they see fit; if they wanna hold their own festival, they can… and they do.
On the other hand, it can NEVER hurt to keep bringing in new fans: today’s angsty youth are tomorrow’s disinterested moms and dads who don’t have time to attend shows, so the band should always be looking to replenish that base with additional teenage angst. It’s also not as if a couple of festivals appearances will preclude the band from doing their own shows. And it’s not as if they haven’t done it before: shit, the last time I saw Slipknot — at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark in 2013 — the following night’s headliner was Rihanna!
In summary: Clown is just being Clown. Don’t be surprised if we see Slipknot headlining a Wimmer festival in 2019!
[via Blabbermouth]
