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Shawn Crahan

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Shawn Crahan
Crahan performing with Slipknot in 2019
Crahan performing with Slipknot in 2019
Background information
Birth nameMichael Shawn Crahan[1]
Also known as
  • Clown
  • #6
  • Kong
Born (1969-09-24) September 24, 1969 (age 54)[2]
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Percussion
  • drums
  • vocals
Years active1992–present
Member ofSlipknot
Formerly of

Michael Shawn Crahan (born September 24, 1969),[2] more commonly known by his stage persona "Clown", is an American musician. He is the co-founder and one of the percussionists for heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #6. Crahan helped form Slipknot in 1995 alongside bassist Paul Gray and former vocalist Anders Colsefni. Crahan is the longest-serving and only remaining original member of Slipknot, and also has extensive involvement with Slipknot's media production and music videos. Outside Slipknot, Crahan had two side project bands called To My Surprise and Dirty Little Rabbits. Aside from his musical activity, he also directed the 2016 action thriller film Officer Downe.

Personal life

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Crahan married his wife Chantel[3] in June 1993, in Des Moines, Iowa. They had four children together,[4] the second youngest of whom died in 2019 at the age of 22.[4][5]

Career

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Crahan in 2011

With Slipknot

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In 1995, Crahan formed a metal band known as the Pale Ones with fellow musician Paul Gray, which featured himself as the band's drummer. Wanting to expand the band's percussion section, Crahan brought in Joey Jordison to fill in as drummer while Crahan's efforts were focused on percussion. The lead vocalist, Anders Colsefni, played a second percussion kit, which gave the band a layered, distinctive drum sound. In 1996, they released a song known as "Slipknot", and through Joey's suggestion, the band changed their name to Slipknot and released their first official album. This album would later become known to the band as their demo. Crahan felt that the original vocalist for Slipknot was too guttural, and was the primary reason for Slipknot's inability to get a record deal. He brought in Corey Taylor from another local band called Stone Sour, whose vocals were more melodic. Slipknot got a record deal a couple years later and released their first official album in 1999. Slipknot gained major notability the same year by touring with Ozzfest. In Slipknot's early years, Crahan brought several dead cow heads on stage.[6]

He also performed with To My Surprise, recording guitar and vocals for the band's self-titled debut album. The band received little interest due to their album being released amidst the success of Slipknot members Corey Taylor, Jim Root and Joey Jordison's side projects, Stone Sour and the Murderdolls, respectively. To My Surprise was later dropped by Roadrunner Records. In 2007, Crahan began performing as drummer for Dirty Little Rabbits. The band was a supporting act for Stone Sour during their North American tour in Summer 2007,[7] and have released one EP, titled Breeding. They have since signed a deal with The End Records as of November 2008.[8]

In 2009, he contributed to Bring Me the Horizon's remix album, Suicide Season: Cut Up!, by remixing the track "Sleep With One Eye Open". Also in 2009, Shawn remixed Coheed and Cambria's "Welcome Home" and a Suicide Silence track on their Wake Up EP entitled "Wake Up (Clown of Slipknot Remix)". In 2010, he contributed to Escape the Fate's This War Is Ours deluxe edition, by remixing the track "This War Is Ours (The Guillotine Part II)," and in 2011, he remixed "Angels of Clarity" for Dead by April on their compilation album "Stronger." Crahan has confirmed the formation of a brand-new side project called The Black Dots of Death who released their debut studio album Ever Since We Were Children on March 28, 2011.[9]

He also featured as the carny "Tamer" in The Devil's Carnival, a full-length feature film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman which was screened on their tour beginning in April 2012.[10]

Film career

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In June 2016, Crahan made his directing debut with the film Officer Downe based on the graphic novel Officer Downe written by Joe Casey and illustrated by Chris Burnham.[11][12][13]

Production work

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Crahan has also participated in several other music-related endeavours, and acted as executive producer on L.D. 50 by Mudvayne and the self-titled debut album by downthesun. He was also briefly the owner of a short-lived record label, Maggot Recordings (also known as Maggot Corps.), which existed briefly between 2001 and 2002 as a subsidiary of London-Sire Records, a Warner Music Group label. The label's only signed act was downthesun. The label was rendered defunct following the collapse of London-Sire in January 2002.[14] Downthesun's self-titled debut album, which was scheduled to be released in February 2002 through the label, was eventually released through Roadrunner in October 2002.[15][16][17][18]

Discography

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Crahan performing with Slipknot in 2009

with Slipknot

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with To My Surprise

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with Dirty Little Rabbits

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with the Black Dots of Death

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  • 2011: Ever Since We Were Children

Guest appearances and remixes

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Produced albums

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Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "SLIPKNOT's Manager Says CHRIS FEHN Was A Hired Gun". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. April 23, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Childers, Chad (September 1, 2022). "Rock Stars Celebrating Birthdays in September". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "Slipknot's Shawn Crahan Mourns the Death of 22-Year-Old Daughter: 'The Deepest Pain'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Kielty, Martin (May 23, 2019). "Slipknot's Shawn Crahan Thanks Fans After Daughter's Death". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  5. ^ "Gabrielle Crahan, daughter of Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan, has died at 22". Des Moines Register. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?". YouTube/Loudwire. August 12, 2015. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  7. ^ "Slipknot Percussionist's Dirty Little Rabbits To Support Stone Sour". Blabbermouth. July 7, 2007. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  8. ^ Dirty Little Rabbits (October 14, 2008). "M.Shawn Crahan Interview". Headbanger's Blog. Archived from the original on October 18, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  9. ^ "Slipknot's Clown announces new album and free download". NME. January 18, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  10. ^ "Chiller". August 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "Slipknot's Shawn Crahan To Make Directing Debut With 'Officer Downe'". deadline.com. July 15, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  12. ^ "Slipknot's Shawn 'Clown' Crahan to Direct 'Officer Downe' Movie". billboard.com. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  13. ^ "Graphic Novel Officer Downe Coming to the Big Screen". superherohype.com. July 15, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  14. ^ Inc, CMJ Network (January 28, 2002). CMJ New Music Report. CMJ Network, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  15. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (May 3, 2003). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  16. ^ Blabbermouth (November 7, 2001). "Archive News Nov 07, 2001". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  17. ^ Archive-Joe-DAngelo. "Slipknot's Maggot Label Signs First Act; Members Moonlight With Others". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  18. ^ Blabbermouth (June 25, 2002). "DOWNTHESUN Officially Sign With ROADRUNNER RECORDS". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
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Preceded by
none
Slipknot drummer
1995
Succeeded by
Preceded by Slipknot percussionist
1995–present
Succeeded by
none