Released on June 29th, 1999, Slipknot’s self-titled debut, now triple platinum, was an instant classic with fans and a smash hit with critics. It was, and is, a molotov cocktail signaling a revolution– embracing a creative direction that eschewed metal traditions in favor of fresh ideas. They’re celebrating the iconic album with its deluxe reissue, Slipknot (25th Anniversary Edition) which is available in stores and across digital retailers today via Roadrunner Records. This special release immortalizes the band’s creative process at the time when the Iowa nine went from a newly-signed fledgling metal act, to an unexpected and unstoppable cultural force that redefined heavy music for a new generation.
Slipknot (25th Anniversary Edition) was initially released to fans as a special box set edition. Limited to 100 blood filled self-titled LP vinyl copies via their secret site 742617000027.net, the edition sold out in seconds, crashing the website in the process. Its additional physical versions include a 6LP Box Set with blood splattered vinyl (limited to 1899 copies, which also sold out in minutes), 2LP editions in various limited edition colorways, and 2CD in addition to digital on streaming services. Depending on the format (see a full list and packshots below), this release includes the original Ross Robinson produced album, plus recordings which only the band and their inner circle heard at the time of the production. All collected from the original sources, these include unreleased takes, alternate versions, and mixes from SR Audio, Indigo Ranch and more, as well as ‘test mixes’ from alternate mixers. Not only are these recordings the full story behind the recording of this now-iconic album, they also chart the course of choices made and paths taken, and how the Slipknot the world knows today came to be.
As much as the debut album set the stage, Slipknot was also a band unleashed on live audiences in 1999, who had never seen anything like it. Performances on their first world tour cycle are legendary, and the band’s impact was swift as global audiences bore witness. Word-of-mouth spread like a virus. This deluxe package includes recordings of shows that bookend one chaotic year: the 1999 show in Hartford, CT captures the unbridled raw power of a small stage, while the 2000 UK recordings document the band’s ability to harness the small stage energy and deliver to a mainstage crowd. The audio was pulled from the soundboard’s digital audio tapes, carefully remixed and mastered for the first time – all chosen by the band to best represent the intensity and spirit of the band’s earliest days.
n case you missed it, Slipknot’s Here Comes The Pain arena tour sold out across the globe including performances in New York City (Madison Square Garden), Los Angeles (2x nights at the Intuit Dome), London (2x nights at the O2 Arena), Paris (Accor Arena), Amsterdam (Ziggo Dome), Mexico City (Parque Bicentenario), Toronto (Scotiabank Arena), and many more. The performances celebrated the heavy titans’ 25th anniversary and included an epic homecoming show in Des Moines at their own Knotfest Iowa. Each date saw a unique set drawing heavily from their cult classic debut album.
Slipknot’s 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 songcraft that moved the needle from “great” to “benchmark.” In the years following, Slipknot’s popularity nipped at the heels of elder statesmen and even the band’s heroes, eventually navigating this brave new world with unending drive, fresh ideas and a bloodlust for odometer clicks. Tens of billions of streams and tens of millions of subscribers and followers later, the accolades tell the story: 64 award nominations and 27 wins including a Grammy for “Before I Forget“ from Vol. 3. A seemingly endless number of tour dates. Headlining slots at the biggest festivals in the world such as Download, Rock In Rio, Hellfest, Wacken and many more. Not to mention RIAA certifications by the truckload– 15 platinum certifications and 40 gold across more than 30 million in record and video sales –the band retains its position as an alternative to the mainstream, offering another way to those who feel that pop culture cannot fully speak for them.
In addition, Slipknot positioned themselves for success with the creation of their own festival Knotfest in 2012, a traveling, multi-stage and experiential event that has appeared 28 times across several countries and locations. The festival has since spun off into a successful entertainment media hub – Knotfest.com, which became a juggernaut of its own making, giving a platform to young freethinkers and like-minded artists.
All of Slipknot’s achievements have helped them claim their rightful seat as pioneers and thought leaders, establishing them as a generational talent– loved by parents AND their children alike. And of course with all those incredible live performances, all that influence, and all that history of playing all those incredible SONGS, Slipknot has only attracted the most dedicated of fans, reaching all the way back to that fateful self-titled effort.
As the band moves forward, their mission remains unchanged: to connect with fans as deeply and viscerally as ever. “Every time I’ve walked on stage, it’s never been about how many people have been there because my culture, the maggots, always show up,” says founding member Shawn “clown” Crahan with a smile.
Thoughts Words Action 