1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis. This is a 2 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 1: story about death, the smell of it, the feel of it, 3 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: the finality of it. It's a story about being bored 4 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: to death, about being beaten to death. It's about sudden 5 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: death and a death by a thousand cuts. Most importantly, 6 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: it's a story about death metal. Because this is also 7 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,599 Speaker 1: the story of a band. A band whose music was 8 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: so dark that one of their members quit rather than 9 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: risk eternal damnation. A band whose live shows were so 10 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: intense they nearly left one band member dead. A band 11 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: whose music was so disturbing, so evil, that some would 12 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: say it led to immer. This is the story of 13 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: slipknot the most extreme thing to come out of Iowa 14 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: since the taco pizza was invented there in nineteen seventy four, 15 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: a band known for their stage mass as much as 16 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: their music. Great music, unlike that loop I played for 17 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: you at the top of the show. That wasn't great music. 18 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 1: That was a preset loop from my melotron called ozembic 19 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: Face MK one. I played you that loop because I 20 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: can't afford the rights to get Busy by Sean Paul, 21 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: And why would I play you that specific slice of 22 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:45,680 Speaker 1: Down in Dirty Cheese. Could I afford it? Because that 23 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: was the number one song in America on May twenty third, 24 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: two thousand and three, And that was the day too 25 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: California teenagers committed a brutal murder, a murder they claimed 26 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: was inspired by slip Knot on this episode Death Metal 27 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: down in Dirty Cheese. In the dark world of slip Knot, 28 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 1: I'm Jake Brennan, and. 29 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: This this disgraceland. 30 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: He was screaming as he hit the water. Instantly he 31 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: knew he made a terrible mistake. The water was swirling 32 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: all around him, flooding into his mouth and filling his 33 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 1: throat and pushing into his lungs. Panicking, he tried to 34 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: his arms free, but they were pinned tightly to his side. 35 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: He couldn't move them an inch. As his body sunk 36 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: deeper and deeper into the murky water. His legs were 37 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 1: in the air. Kicking frantically, he prayed that someone, anyone, 38 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: would help him, but no one noticed, or if they did, 39 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 1: they were probably laughing. He was a clown, after all, well, 40 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: he was wearing a clown mask. At least the man 41 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: currently drowning in a metal barrel was Sean Kran aka 42 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: Number six aka Clown, the founder of Slipknot, and he 43 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: was about to die tragically choking to death in eighteen 44 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,119 Speaker 1: inches of water, stuck upside down in a trash can 45 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: in front of thousands of metal heads at oz Fest 46 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety nine. That summer, the band broke out on 47 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: their first nationwide tour as part of the oz Fest lineup. 48 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: Among bands like Slayer, Godsmack, and System of a Down, 49 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: slip Knot stood out first. There were the sheer numbers. 50 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: There were nine of them, like some kind of heavy 51 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: metal wu tank clan. Then there was the way they 52 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: looked like nine psychos wearing matching jumpsuits and creepy rubber 53 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 1: masks covering their faces. But none of that would have 54 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: mattered if this band didn't bring it on stage, and 55 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: that's exactly what they did. Their sound was massive, multiple percussionists, singers, 56 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: a DJ, a sampler, two guitars in a big, driving 57 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,559 Speaker 1: rhythm section, and they played with sheer force, brutal force. 58 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 1: The band leaped around the stage like animals, jumping onto 59 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 1: and over each other, leaping into the crowd and routinely 60 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: pushing themselves until they left blood, puke, or any number 61 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: of other bodily fluids dripping from their masks. By the 62 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: end of the show. As clown Sean Kran pushed it 63 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: further than anyone. A whole cow's heads for the butcher 64 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: and toss them on stage or into the crowd. He 65 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: stuffed dead birds into jars and left under rot so 66 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: the band could get the smell of death on them 67 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: before a show, just like Mayhem did back in Norway. 68 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: In the early days of black metal, Kran from Slipknot 69 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: would do anything to work the crowd into a frenzy 70 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: what it became his time in the late nineties, and 71 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: now it looked like he was going to pay the 72 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: ultimate price. The trash can stunt was one of his 73 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,799 Speaker 1: usual moves. He would find a trash can near the stage, 74 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: dive into it, and go rolling into the marsh pin 75 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 1: causing mayhem. It always made the crowd go crazy, Only 76 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: this time, when he jumped face first into the barrel, 77 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: it was half full of water. Whatever disgusting liquid might 78 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 1: be floating around inside an oz Fest trash can. Kran's 79 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: entire face was underwater, his arms were stuck tight in darkness, 80 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: was gathering all around him see black rings in the 81 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: corner of his vision, and they were growing larger and larger. 82 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 1: His legs quick kicking, preparing for the inevitable, and he 83 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: hoped that dying at Ozfest would at least make him 84 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: a legend. And just when he was on the verge 85 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 1: of blacking out, the crowd surged forward and someone slammed 86 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 1: into the barrel and tipped it over. Water went pouring everywhere, 87 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: and Sean Kran finally crawled free, gasping for breath and 88 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 1: puking up muthfuls of the foul smelling water. After a 89 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: few seconds to catch his breath, he jumped to his 90 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: feet and sprinted back to the stage, and there was 91 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: no time to recover. He started pounding on a metal 92 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: beer keg as the next song kicked in. It was 93 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: all in the day's work for one of the biggest 94 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: metal bands in America. Four years before that, when Kran 95 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:52,720 Speaker 1: pulled into an empty gas station parking lot in the 96 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: middle of the night, it would have been impossible to 97 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: imagine that it would lead here. It was one of 98 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: those cold des Moines Knights nineteen ninety five, A pair 99 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,720 Speaker 1: of twenty something metal heads pushed their way into an 100 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: empty Sinclair gas station. Fluorescent lights hummed over her head. 101 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: Sean looked around the empty store, at the aisles of candy, 102 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: beer and porno magazines, and standing beside him was a 103 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: friend and fellow musician, Paul Gray. Paul nodded at the 104 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: short teenager with the long hair working the counter, and 105 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: they bumped fists with a grin. That was how Paul was. 106 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 1: Everybody knew him in Des Moines, and everybody loved him, 107 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: including the guy behind the counter. His name was Joey Jordison, 108 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: and although he was only five to three, he was 109 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: a ferocious drummer, and Paul thought he would be the 110 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: perfect addition to the new metal band they were putting 111 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: together because Paul lived and breathed metal, unlike Sean. As 112 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: a teenager, Sean was into punk. He loved that it 113 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: had something to say and the way the music raged 114 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: against bigotry and conformity. Inequality. Metal to Sean was nothing 115 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: more than the hair spray bands that could play it 116 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: on MTV, bands like Warrant and Poison. But Paul showed 117 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: him a different side of heavy metal music that was raw, 118 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: angry music with a message. Soon Sean was slamming around 119 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: to bands like Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel. He and 120 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: Paul were determined to invade the de Moi metal scene 121 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: with a band every bit as heavy, over the top 122 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: and outrageous as their heroes, and once Joey, the little 123 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: dude behind the counter, agreed to join them on drums, 124 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 1: the pieces slowly began to come together. It was Joey 125 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 1: who suggested that they named the band slip Knot, after 126 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: a song they had been working out with the same name, 127 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: and not long after, Sean wore a creepy clown mask 128 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 1: he bought at a Halloween start a band practice as 129 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 1: a joke, but there was something so sinister that the 130 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: idea stuck, and soon everyone had a mask and a 131 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: number in place of their name. It was so dark, 132 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: so disturbing, and it was perfect too, because right from 133 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,319 Speaker 1: the start the music a slip Knot with some of 134 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: the most dark and disturbing music anyone in Iowa had 135 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: ever heard. It was so dark that, even though there 136 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: were filling clubs, they still couldn't find even a tiny 137 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: little indie label willing to take on the band. It 138 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,439 Speaker 1: was so dark that the band's first guitarist Donnie Steele, 139 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: a practicing Christian, quit the band rather than subject himself 140 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: to that kind of darkness. Not that Sean cared if 141 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: he was running people off. He figured their music might 142 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,439 Speaker 1: be touching a nerve. Besides, when he looked out into 143 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,959 Speaker 1: the crowd and saw massive kids writhing to the music 144 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: like maggots. The fact, that's when he nicknamed their fans 145 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: the maggots. He didn't think it was dark at all. 146 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: Darkness was already out there in the world, and people 147 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: needed something to release that darkness inside of them, something 148 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: to vent their frustrations, and that was the beauty of 149 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: a heavy metal show. The kids in the crowd went 150 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: nuts on each other for two hours, but they left 151 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: that darkness behind and then they went home in peace. 152 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: At least that's what Sean tried to explain Donnie. Placing 153 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,839 Speaker 1: Donnie on guitar, though, didn't worry Sean, and that was 154 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 1: the easy part. Who worried him was that, after the 155 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 1: band spent forty grand of their own money to record 156 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: a proper demo, he could hear that their sound wasn't right. Sure, 157 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: the sound was big, but it needed to be bigger. 158 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 1: It was also missing something for all the grunting, growling 159 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: and unhinged screaming. Sometimes they just needed someone who could 160 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: well sing, just that tiny bit of sugar to help 161 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 1: all the darkness go down. Because they had fans, every 162 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: show seemed to bring out more and more than maggots, 163 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 1: and they had an image, and they had the drive. 164 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: But if they're ever going to break out of. 165 00:10:46,920 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 3: Des Moines, they're gonna need a new lead singer. 166 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 1: The smell of death was everywhere. Sure, maybe not to 167 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 1: a human, but the rats, they could smell it, and 168 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 1: they were closing in from the shadows. They crept closer, 169 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: scurrying through the parking lot, trailing the scent, past gas 170 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: pumps and around piles of old tires. People think of 171 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: rats as a city problem, but the truth is that 172 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: they multiply everywhere. Rural areas mean farmland, and farmland means food, 173 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: and food means survival. Of course, country rats don't have 174 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: it quite as easy as rats in the city. While 175 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: you might catch a New York City rat dragging the 176 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: size of pepperoni pizza across the subway platform in Waterloo, Iowa, 177 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: in nineteen eighty eight, these rats had to scratch and 178 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: claw and kill each other just to stay alive. So 179 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: when the smell of fresh death hit their noses, they 180 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: knew they would have to act fast. There would be competition. 181 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 1: Some of the boldest rats weren't going to wait for 182 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: death to overtake the body lying in the dumpster. The 183 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: smell of blood was driving them into a frenzy, so 184 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 1: they began to climb onto the dumpster and they tested 185 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: the lids, and their claws made a tapping noise as 186 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:33,719 Speaker 1: they scurried across a thick black plastic looking for a 187 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: way in. Suddenly the lid flew open, sending rats flying 188 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: in every direction. A fifteen year old Corey Taylor sat 189 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 1: up with a shot. He let out a blood curdling scream, 190 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,320 Speaker 1: and speaking of blood, he was everywhere soaked into his 191 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: t shirt, caked onto his nose, covering his lips, and 192 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: his shoes were missing. He had no idea what day 193 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: it was, He had no idea where he was. All 194 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: he knew who said his friends, his so called friends, 195 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:09,119 Speaker 1: had left him for dead, Not that he was too surprised. 196 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: Even though he was only fifteen years old, he was 197 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: already living like somebody on borrow time. First, there was 198 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 1: his birthdate, December eighth. The date was seriously cursed. Jim 199 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 1: Morrison born on December eighth died. Young Sam Kinnison born 200 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 1: on December eighth died. Young Frank Sinatra Junior kidnapped on 201 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 1: December eighth. John Lennon shot on December eighth. You remember 202 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 1: that Vince Neil car crash where he killed the guy 203 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: from Hanoi Rocks. Want to guess what day that happened on? 204 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: You got it, December eighth. Corey's problem only began with 205 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: his birthday, though he was born in Iowa, but his 206 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 1: mom dragged him and his sister across the country looking 207 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: for a man, a payday, or perhaps both. But by 208 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: the time he was ten, Corey had lived in twenty 209 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: five different states and the paydays were hard to come by, 210 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 1: but his mom always seemed to find a certain type 211 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: of man. Guys with thick mustaches and cheap turquoise rings, 212 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: the kind who wouldn't hesitate to backhand a nine year 213 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 1: old boy with a big mouth. Grown up bullies. Corey 214 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: hated bullies, the kind who shacked up with his mom 215 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:18,599 Speaker 1: and put the scars on his face, The kind that 216 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: roamed the halls at school looking for victims to torment, 217 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: and the kind lured him in before taking advantage, like 218 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: the kid who lived next door. When Corey's mom dragged 219 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: him down to Florida, he was five years older and 220 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: he had a great record collection, so he started inviting 221 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: Corey over to listen to music Public Enemy Slayer, Metallica. 222 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: The music blew Corey's mind. He started dreaming about being 223 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: a singer, and the listening sessions also gave him a 224 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 1: safe place to be away from the chaos at home, 225 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: or so he thought. One day, while they were listening 226 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: to music, the older boy pounced on him. He pinned 227 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: him to the ground and took advantage of a ten 228 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: year old Corey, and then he made Corey swear to 229 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 1: keep it a secret, or else he would kill Corey 230 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 1: and his family. So Corey kept quiet. But by the 231 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: time his family moved back to Iowa, the rage inside 232 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 1: of him was burning out of control. He fought with 233 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: his mom, he got in trouble at school, he stayed 234 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: out late, ran with a wild crowd, and took every 235 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: drug that he could get his hands on. But getting 236 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: tossed in a dumpster and left for dead was too 237 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: big of a wake up call. To ignore. Corey knew 238 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: that something had a change, so he left Waterloo to 239 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 1: move in with his grandma and des Moines, and she 240 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: gave him love and stability, and she supported his musical 241 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: ambitions even though Elvis Presley was the heaviest thing that 242 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: she had ever listened to. And in des Moines, Corey 243 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: Taylor found a thriving metal scene, more kids like him 244 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: fed up than looking for a place to vent their 245 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 1: feelings and where they could slam into each other and 246 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: bang their heads and find something sort of like a family. 247 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: Corey started a band called Stone Sour and began packing 248 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 1: club's lows, but he was on the lookout for something bigger, 249 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: something heavier, something that could incorporate his love for both 250 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: Slayer and Public Enemy, something that could take over the world. 251 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 1: That's why he was standing in the front row of 252 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: a tiny des Moines club called the Safari in April 253 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: of nineteen ninety six. He was there to check out 254 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 1: the debut performance from a band of heavy hitters on 255 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: the local metal scene. They included Paul Gray on bass, 256 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: Sean Cran on percussion, and Joey Jordison on drums, and 257 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: they were called Slipknot while two hundred people were stomping 258 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: their feet and waiting for the band to emerge from backstage. 259 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: Corey watched in awe as a group of masked men 260 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: emerged from the back of the room and ran through 261 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: the crowd like a marauding gang on their way to 262 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: the stage. Once they were there, the tall bass player, 263 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: who Corey figured was Paul Gray, even with the pig 264 00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: mask covering his face, hit a thunderous low note. The 265 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: drummer pounded out of Phil and then everyone, the band, 266 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: the crowd, and Corey in the front row, went off 267 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,680 Speaker 1: Ninety minutes later. Corey was sure of him this band 268 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 1: could take over the world. They were only missing one 269 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: thing him. It took a year, but eventually Paul, Sean 270 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: Joey and guitarist Mick Thompson officially invited Corey to join 271 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: Slipknot as a lead singer, and Corey agreed. He picked 272 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: out a mask and adopted the number eight aka infinity 273 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 1: aka forever because that's how long you wanted his songs 274 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:42,440 Speaker 1: to be remembered. It may have seemed like a big 275 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 1: brag at first, but soon it was becoming reality because 276 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: with Corey in the mix, suddenly the band had a 277 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 1: totally new dimension. They had a singer who could growl, 278 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: who could scream, who could rap, and yes sing in 279 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,199 Speaker 1: honest to God melody. When the time came and with 280 00:17:56,280 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: Corey Taylor as lead singer, the band sound expanded dramatic. 281 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: They added a DJ, bringing their number to nine death metal, rap, 282 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: pump thrash that were throwing it all into the mix, 283 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: and all of it worked. Their self titled album became 284 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: the fastest selling debut in heavy metal history. Their pulverizing 285 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,919 Speaker 1: sets at oz Fest in nineteen ninety nine cemented their 286 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,159 Speaker 1: status as one of the heaviest bands on the scene. 287 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,119 Speaker 1: The pressure to go even further on their follow up 288 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:27,239 Speaker 1: was huge, so Corey dug deep into painful memories from 289 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: growing up to harness lyrics for the second album. He 290 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 1: spilled out grotesque revenge fantasies against the bullies who tormented him, 291 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: dark stories of his homeless years as a teenager. He 292 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 1: also laid down withering critiques of the fame hungry coattail 293 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: riders and clueless record executives who were beginning to circle 294 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: the band. It all made for haunting material, but it 295 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: also took its toll. Corey began drinking more and more 296 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:54,400 Speaker 1: as he dug deeper and deeper into the worst memories 297 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: of his life, and the alcohol made him feel numb. 298 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 1: In the recording studio, drank till he puked in order 299 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:03,679 Speaker 1: to take away the pain, but then he would resort 300 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,639 Speaker 1: to cutting himself with shards of broken glass just to 301 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: feel something so he could make it through a song. 302 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: The recording process was as brutal as the record itself, 303 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: but it all seemed worth it When Iowa was released 304 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: in two thousand and one, the album went all the 305 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: way to number three on the Billboard charts. But after 306 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: several years of intense touring and recording, the band was 307 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: coming apart of the seams, and the darkness that they 308 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: harnessed in the recording studio was leaking out into the 309 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: real world because Corey Taylor's dream of having his music 310 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 1: remembered forever was about to come true in the worst 311 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: possible way. We'll be right back after this word. We're 312 00:19:52,480 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 1: wre darkness stretched out like a blanket. It covered the 313 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: baseball fields, the playgrounds too, and also the palm and 314 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: pepper trees. In the late night hour. That darkness covered 315 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: every inch of Paris Hill Park in San Bernardino. It 316 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,719 Speaker 1: was a warm May night, and the wind rustled through 317 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: the leaves of the trees, and everything else was silent, 318 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: and from a walking path high up on the hill, 319 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: everything seemed still down below, everything except two barely visible 320 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 1: human outlines leaning against the tree. They were Jason Harris, 321 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: age twenty, and Amber Riley, age sixteen. From the path, 322 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: they wouldn't have looked too suspicious, maybe a young couple 323 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: of for clandestine late night mina, or just some friends 324 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: sneaking a smoke and sharing a pair of headphones hooked 325 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 1: up to a CD Walkman. And that was the problem 326 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: for Jason. Were he and Amber friends or were they 327 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: something more? Amber knew he was obsessed with her, but 328 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,399 Speaker 1: she toyed with him, she acted like his girlfriend, and 329 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: then she would flirt with their friend Terry, and it 330 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:16,399 Speaker 1: drove Jason fucking mad. Besides, he and Amber had so 331 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: much in common. They both loved horror movies, death metal, horror, 332 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: core rap. The more gruesome the better, and they couldn't 333 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: get enough of that shit. And Amber talked all the 334 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 1: time about wanting to see a dead body. Jason had 335 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:35,199 Speaker 1: practiced on a few neighborhood pets. But tonight they're going 336 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: to go further because Jason had a plan that would 337 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: bind him and Amber together forever. They were going to 338 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 1: find out what it was like to kill someone. As 339 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: a lone figure emerged on the walking path far in 340 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:54,440 Speaker 1: the distance, Jason hit the back button on the CD player. Instantly, 341 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:58,199 Speaker 1: a squealing guitar riff kicked the song to life. He 342 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: and Amber locked eyes and they started chanting along with 343 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:07,120 Speaker 1: the singer, words about vengeance and brutal violence. Jason pulled 344 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 1: the knife out, and the blade glinted in the moonlight 345 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: as he set it down behind his back. A moment later, 346 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: their friend Terry emerged from the shadows. He nodded to Jason, 347 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:18,919 Speaker 1: but his face lit up with a smile when he 348 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,680 Speaker 1: saw Amber. Jason could tell Terry had a thing for Amber. 349 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: Fucking Terry. Terry sat down next to Amber and began 350 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 1: to chat without a care in the world. Jason laid 351 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:34,400 Speaker 1: back for a few moments, waiting. Then he started having 352 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:38,919 Speaker 1: second thoughts. Maybe they should call it off, but Amber 353 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 1: locked eyes with him and he couldn't resist. He could 354 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: hear the song playing on repeat in his mind. Then 355 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:47,880 Speaker 1: he picked up the knife and plunged it down into 356 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:52,679 Speaker 1: his friend Terry's chest, again and again. The next morning, 357 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 1: police found the body of Terry Taylor with his throat 358 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 1: slashed and more than twenty stab wounds in his body. 359 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: Jason's mother called the police when he and Amber asked 360 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: her for help getting bloodstains out of their clothes. When 361 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: the police questioned them, the song the pair said they 362 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 1: were listening to and repeat was Disaster Piece by slip Knot. 363 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: It was two thousand and three and darkness was everywhere 364 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: as the members of Slipknot were moving into Rick Rubin's 365 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: house in studio to begin working on their third album. 366 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,680 Speaker 1: Corey Taylor may have written Disaster Piece as a fuck 367 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: you to the bullies of his childhood, but in two 368 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 1: thousand and three, no one wanted to hear it. In 369 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: the media firestorm that followed, radio stations quit playing the 370 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: band's music, high schools band kids from wearing their shirts. 371 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:46,679 Speaker 1: Paul Gray was concerned darkness was starting to engulf the 372 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 1: band from the inside. The pressure from their success, the 373 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 1: media frenzy from the murders, all combined with the physical 374 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 1: toll of constant touring and recording, it was driving the 375 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: band apart, anseled a European tourist, citing tensions within the band, 376 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: and then they announced the hiatus. Corey Taylor and guitarist 377 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:10,879 Speaker 1: Jim Root reformed Stone Sour and had an immediate alternative 378 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: rock hit. Joey Jorison started his own band, Murder Dolls. 379 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:17,919 Speaker 1: Sean Kran was busy with a new record label he 380 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: was starting, but Paul Gray didn't take on any side projects. 381 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,399 Speaker 1: As one of the founders of slip Knott, Paul had 382 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,200 Speaker 1: been there since the beginning and ever since he put 383 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:31,159 Speaker 1: on the mask. Paul knew that slip Knott was his 384 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 1: band for life, so he tried to hold the rest 385 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: of the band together, and as the rest of the 386 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 1: band slid further apart, Paul slid further and further into Heroin. 387 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:46,919 Speaker 1: Because for a band with big appetites, Paul Gray aka 388 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:51,120 Speaker 1: Number two aka Pig had the biggest appetite of them all. 389 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:56,120 Speaker 1: He loved the Maggots. After shows and anywhere he would 390 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:58,880 Speaker 1: come across them, he would always find time to chat 391 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:02,919 Speaker 1: with fans, and he loved to write songs. In fact, 392 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 1: he and Joey had recorded dozens of demos for the 393 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: new Slipknot album, and he loved Heroin, especially when he 394 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 1: had nothing to do, which is exactly what Paul had 395 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:16,399 Speaker 1: been doing at Rick Rubin's Laurel Canyon mansion for the 396 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:21,120 Speaker 1: last three months. Nothing. When he arrived in la Paul 397 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,920 Speaker 1: was eager to get to work, so he was disappointed 398 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 1: when he pulled up to the mansion and everyone was gone. 399 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 1: Corey split for the Rainbow on the Sunset Strip almost 400 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: as soon as he dropped his bags, and Sean was 401 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:37,119 Speaker 1: still finalizing details for a band on his label, and 402 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: Rick Rubin, well, nobody knew where Rick Rubin was. Paul 403 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,160 Speaker 1: woke up every day hoping the band would start recording, 404 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: but with all it goes around, it became impossible, so 405 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 1: he spent his days sitting on a couch in the 406 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:57,120 Speaker 1: recording studio with nothing to do except Heroin. After three 407 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: months of shooting dope and sitting on a couch, things 408 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 1: were trending in a seriously bad direction for Paul. When 409 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: Rick Rubin finally made his appearance, it was a normal 410 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: day and Paul stumbled out of bed at two in 411 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: the afternoon. He grabbed his bag and headed down to 412 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,880 Speaker 1: the bathroom, fully prepared to get high and to zone 413 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: out for another pointless day while the band he loved 414 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 1: fell apart around him. But just as he reached the 415 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:23,440 Speaker 1: bathroom door, Rick Rubin stepped in front of his path 416 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 1: and calling a band meeting. That was all he said, 417 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 1: and then he handed Paul a cup of tea downstairs. 418 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 1: Paul was shocked to see the rest of the band 419 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:34,560 Speaker 1: all in the same room for the first time in weeks. 420 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 1: He had to give Rick Rubin credit for that much. 421 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: At least. There was no equipment, no microphones, and nothing 422 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 1: set up at all except nine chairs. Paul is expecting 423 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: a recording session, but instead he got a group therapy 424 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 1: session with Rick Rubin as counselor. It never should have worked, 425 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 1: it was so predictable, and they were a metal band 426 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 1: after all. But no matter how awkward it was, Rick 427 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 1: Rubin stuck with it. He got them hockey, he got 428 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 1: them vending, and soon they were releasing all that darkness 429 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 1: that they'd been holding inside, the grudges, the resentments, the anger, 430 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 1: the guilt. No one pulled any punches for hours. They 431 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: went at it, bashing each other like the kids in 432 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:19,640 Speaker 1: the wash pit. It was exhausting, but it was also 433 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 1: cathartic and whatever it was, it worked. Paul swore that 434 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:27,399 Speaker 1: he only saw Rick Rubin five more times during the 435 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:29,920 Speaker 1: making of the album, but he'd done the producer's most 436 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: important job. He got them making music again and then 437 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 1: he was gone, but not before he helped the band 438 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:40,679 Speaker 1: stage in an intervention with Paul, and they'd given him 439 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:44,720 Speaker 1: an ultimatum, go to rehab or quit the band. Paul 440 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:48,120 Speaker 1: chose rehab. He would do anything to stay and slip knot. 441 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 1: He even finished his bass parts while living in a 442 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:54,920 Speaker 1: halfway house, and it worked. Paul managed to get off drugs, 443 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 1: and after a few close calls of his own, Corey 444 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:02,439 Speaker 1: Taylor was sober well. When Volume three, The Subliminal Verses, 445 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 1: came out to rave reviews in two thousand and four, 446 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 1: it seemed like the band was locked and loaded for 447 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: the second era when two thousand and eight's All Hope 448 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: Is Lost debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. 449 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: But after that album came another grueling world tour and 450 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 1: Joey was starting to complain about pains in his legs, 451 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: and Corey was eager to take off the mask and 452 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:24,959 Speaker 1: get Stone Sour back on the road, and Sean had 453 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:28,439 Speaker 1: a million different projects that he was diving into, and 454 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:32,359 Speaker 1: by twenty ten, it seemed once again like Paul's makeshift 455 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 1: family was scattering in every direction. He was the bass 456 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: player for slipping on it, and no more and no 457 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: less than his calendar looked empty. Maybe forever, all he 458 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: could see again was the endless boredom. Paul knew about 459 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: one cure for boredom, but sometimes, unfortunately, the cure is 460 00:28:54,080 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 1: worse than the disease. It was a beautiful sunlit day 461 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 1: at England's Nebworth Park, one hundred thousand metal fans stretched 462 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 1: out as far as the eye could see. Everything looked 463 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 1: just like it should, and there was a massive tower 464 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: of speakers stretching up into the sky, and the sponsors 465 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 1: banners flapping in the breeze, and of course seeing an 466 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 1: escapable smell of middle grade grass floating through the air. Still, 467 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 1: something was strange and something was off. Something was wrong, 468 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:50,720 Speaker 1: because despite the beautiful weather, despite the massive festival crowd, 469 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 1: despite the decent bud and the overpriced beers, despite all 470 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 1: the bands on the bill, the park was dead silent. 471 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:01,880 Speaker 1: Someone walked toward the front of the stage. On a 472 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: stand they placed a red jumpsuit and a mask. A 473 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 1: bass guitar rested in a stand nearby, and the crowd 474 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: stood in silence as the seconds ticked on for two 475 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,360 Speaker 1: full minutes before they finally let out a deafening roar 476 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:18,760 Speaker 1: from the wings of the stage. The members of the 477 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: band's Slip Knots stood unmasked, waving to the crowd with 478 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 1: tears in their eyes, all eight of them. Because Paul 479 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: Gray was dead, many people believe that Paul Gray had 480 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: been able to stay clean after a stint in rehab 481 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 1: in two thousand and three. Unfortunately, many people were wrong. 482 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 1: It turned out that as far back as two thousand 483 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:43,520 Speaker 1: and five, Paul's personal physician was writing in prescriptions for 484 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 1: heavy doses of morphine and xanax. His doctor did this 485 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:51,280 Speaker 1: despite knowing Paul's history with drug addiction. In fact, the 486 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 1: doctor would be tried for manslaughter in twenty twelve, although 487 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 1: he was eventually found not guilty. For Paul Gray One 488 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 1: Slipknots two thousand and nine world tour ended, he quickly 489 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:05,600 Speaker 1: spiraled out of control. His wife, who was pregnant with 490 00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 1: their first child, attempted to stage an intervention with their 491 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:11,959 Speaker 1: immediate family. On May twenty third, twenty ten, rather than 492 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:15,240 Speaker 1: submit to another round of detos, Paul fled in his 493 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 1: car and he drove to a hotel room in Urbandale, Iowa. 494 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:21,120 Speaker 1: The next day, the hotel manager discovered him in his 495 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 1: room with a needle in his arm. The members of Slipknot, 496 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 1: a band that had been together for more than fifteen years, 497 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:31,360 Speaker 1: had been growing apart before Paul's death, but the tragedy 498 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: reinforced their bond with each other and with their fans. 499 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 1: Every show became an outpouring of rage, of grief, of frustration, 500 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: and just like it had been when the band was 501 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:44,320 Speaker 1: playing tiny clubs in Des Moines, it was incredibly cathartic. 502 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 1: For the next year, the band took the stage with 503 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 1: eight members, leaving Paul's jumpsuit and mask on stage as 504 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 1: a tribute. As for the basslines themselves, the band kept 505 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 1: it in the family. Original guitarist Donnie Steele, the one 506 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:01,240 Speaker 1: who had been scared off by the darkness of the 507 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 1: band's material in the beginning, returned to the fold to 508 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:07,200 Speaker 1: fill in the gap on bass, although he played off 509 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:09,640 Speaker 1: stage to better help the band and the fans grieve. 510 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:14,680 Speaker 1: In twenty fourteen, the band released five, The Great Chapter 511 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:18,360 Speaker 1: and Tribute to their falling bandmate. The album once again 512 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:22,360 Speaker 1: topped the Billboard charts, but troubles continued to follow the band. 513 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:25,560 Speaker 1: Original drummer Joey Jordison was forced to leave the group 514 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:28,200 Speaker 1: after a rare neurological disease robbed him of the use 515 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: of his legs. Guitarist Mick Thompson was nearly killed when 516 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:33,440 Speaker 1: his brother stabbed him in the back of the head 517 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:37,160 Speaker 1: in twenty fifteen. That's how crazy the stories are about 518 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:39,240 Speaker 1: this band, all right. The guitarist get stabbed in the 519 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 1: back of his head by his brother and it only 520 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:46,200 Speaker 1: got one line in this episode. Joey Jordanson died in 521 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one as a result of transverse malitis, the 522 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:52,960 Speaker 1: disease that took the use of his legs, which left 523 00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:55,480 Speaker 1: Sean cran as the only founding member of the band 524 00:32:55,640 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 1: left as of this recording. That's the thing about a band, Slipknot. 525 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:04,960 Speaker 1: The faces can change, but the mass remain, and so 526 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: Slipknot keeps thrashing their way into the future, taking on 527 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 1: the darkness, embracing it, owning it, and then destroying it. 528 00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:19,440 Speaker 1: Because metal is all about release and Almost everyone knows that, 529 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:25,040 Speaker 1: but some people take the darkness way too literally, and 530 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 1: that's a disgrace. I'm Jake Brennan in this is Disgraceland. 531 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 1: Disgraceland was created by Yours Truly and is produced in 532 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:52,520 Speaker 1: partnership with Double Elvis. Credits for this episode can be 533 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:56,160 Speaker 1: found on the show notes page at disgracelambpod dot com. 534 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 1: If you're listening as a disgrace Land all Access, remember 535 00:33:59,120 --> 00:34:01,640 Speaker 1: thank you for supporting the show. We really appreciate it. 536 00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:04,200 Speaker 1: And if not, you can become a member right now 537 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:08,759 Speaker 1: by going to disgracelampod dot com Slash Membership. Members can 538 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:12,680 Speaker 1: listen to every episode of disgracelan ad free, Plus you'll 539 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: get one brand new exclusive episode every month, weekly unscripted 540 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:21,000 Speaker 1: bonus episode, special audio collections, and early access to merchandise 541 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:26,040 Speaker 1: and events. Visit disgracelampod dot com slash Membership for details, 542 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:28,920 Speaker 1: Rate and review the show, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, 543 00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:33,000 Speaker 1: Twitter and Facebook at disgracelampod and on YouTube at YouTube 544 00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:42,360 Speaker 1: dot com slash at disgracelampod, rock a rolla he then 545 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:42,799 Speaker 1: Man