Slipknot’s Corey Taylor loves ‘challenge’ of recent live shows

Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor
Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor (Image credit: Getty)

Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor says he’s relishing the challenge of performing live after his recent spinal surgery.

Last week, the vocalist accepted that he should have taken more time to recover after breaking his neck. But with the band’s tour with Marilyn Manson rolling along, Taylor reports that things are going better than expected.

He tells Billboard: “I’ve been damn near on, pitchwise. My stamina’s a lot better. It’s like I’m really kind of filling in all these weird blanks in the music I never even realised were there.

“I love the challenge of it. It’s being able to tune in even more to the music, really being in it, more than I ever was before.”

He says he’s had to reassess what he can and can’t do onstage, and adds: “Up to this point I didn’t realise how physical I am when I sing – even more than just headbanging or jumping or running or any of that stuff.

“I punctuate physically when I sing, and I never realised that before. Even the first few shows I was finding I had to hold myself back from more than just the headbanging. I would do something and it would be like, ‘OK, that hurts – we can’t do that for awhile.’ I’ve had to reassess what I do live. But the positive for me is I love the challenge of it.

“I love the fact that it’s like, ‘Well, OK, maybe I’ve relied on those things for too long. Let’s see if I can get through a show or a tour without having to go to these kind of mainstays,’ and the shows have been great, so it’s working.”

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Taylor would guest on Korn’s 12th album The Serenity Of Suffering. And Taylor says when the call came, he jumped at the chance to lay down a track with Jonathan Davis and co.

Taylor continues: “I knew they were working with Nick Raskulinecz and Nick hit me up and was like, ‘Dude, this fuckin’ shit’s going really well. We’ve got this tune, we’re trying to wrap our head around it but it might need you.’

I was like, ‘When do you need me? I’m getting on a plane.’ I literally booked the flight the next day and flew down and did it. I just belted it out and we just kind of went for it. It was cool.”

Slipknot’s tour with Marilyn Manson continues tonight in Bristow, Virginia.

Slipknot tour dates 2016

Jul 26: Bristow Jiffy Lube Live, VA
Jul 27: Camden BB&T Pavilion, NJ
Jul 29: Clarkston DTE Energy Music Theatre, MI
Jul 30: Burgettstown First Niagara Pavilion, PA
Aug 02: Charlotte PNC Music Pavilion, NC
Aug 04: Maryland Heights Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, MO
Aug 05: Des Moines Wells Fargo Arena, IA
Aug 07: Denver Pepsi Center, CO
Aug 09: Salt Lake City USANA Amphitheatre, UT
Aug 11: Auburn White River Amphitheatre, WA
Aug 13: Concord Concord Pavilion, CA
Aug 14: Inglewood The Forum, CA
Aug 17: Chula Vista Sleep Train Amphitheatre, CA
Aug 19: Albuquerque Isleta Amphitheater, NM
Aug 20: Phoenix Ak-Chin Pavilion, AZ
Aug 21: Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, NV
Aug 25: Dallas Gexa Energy Pavilion, TX
Aug 26: Houston Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, TX
Aug 27: Austin 360 Amphitheater, TX
Sep 25: San Manuel Ozzfest Meets Knotfest, CA
Oct 15-16: Toluca Knotfest, Mexico
Nov 05: Tokyo Knotfest, Japan

Slipknot’s Clown amazed by Corey Taylor’s resilience

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.