


Initially formed in 1992 by Corey Taylor and drummer Joel Ekman, Stone Sour is the product of ten years' worth of fortitude, persistence and creative expression. Long time associate of Corey Taylor's, bassist Shawn Economaki, joined the fold soon after the band's inception. With no real predetermined sonic direction other than writing high-quality songs.
Murderdolls began as The Rejects more than seven years ago, the brainchild of Jordison long before Slipknot became this millennium's metal revolutionaries. His lineup experienced substantial growing pains before he met Tripp Eisen (now of Static-X) while touring together in '99. Tripp (then of Dope) joined Jordison and recruited Wednesday as a bassist. Bringing new songs of his own into the fold, it wasn't long before the bassist made the shift to lead singer. Eric Griffin and Ben Graves rounded out the band's lineup. A garage band in every sense of the word, they'd played only four shows with Jordison and Eisen on guitars, and had yet to perform with their new front man upon the completion of the album. In fact, Jordison didn't even meet Wednesday until the day they entered the studio to record.
In February 2010, whilst embarking on a solo tour in Australia, Wednesday 13 spoke with Drum Media and told them he was tossing up whether to record another solo album or record another album. He stated that the idea was still in talks, but would be his number one priority if the opportunity arose. In March 2010, Jordison officially revealed to Kerrang magazine that the Murderdolls had officially reunited with him and Wednesday 13 working with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris. Jordison said about the reunion, "It's been an ongoing conversation between Wednesday and I from 2006 until now. We were bored with everything out there, and thought we had something to piss people off and shake things up. Everything is such a product or a fucking formula these days... Fuck formula! Fuck the norm!"
It was revealed on the band's official website that the band would feature a new line-up, without Slade, Griffin or Graves. Drummer Racci Shay joined the band alongside guitarist Roman Surman and bassist Jack Tankersley.
Outside Slipknot, Sid has made a following in Japan as a jungle musician, under the pseudonym DJ Starscream, and is currently signed to the Japanese record label N2O Records. He collaborated with The Mad Capsule Markets vocalist Hiroshi Kyono on a song called "HAKAI (Deathtroy)" released on The Songs for Death Note the movie 'the Last name Tribute', a tribute album dedicated to the live action movie for the second Death Note film. A remix of the track also appeared on the Wagdug Futuristic Unity mini-album Nu Riot and 2008 album Hakai.
The debut album was written by Joey Jordison and lead vocalist Henry Derek, and joining them in the studio were keyboardist Chris Vrenna (Nine Inch Nails), as well as guitarists Jed Simon (Strapping Young Lad) and Kris Norris (Darkest Hour) who collectively handled all lead guitars on the album.
On the 19th of September 2013, a free online only EP was released for download exclusively through Revolver Magazine's website requiring a password that can be found on Roadrunner Record's website. The EP contained 4 tracks 2 of which were the album tracks "Blood Host" and "Soul Disintegration". The other 2 were exclusive to the EP and not available anywhere else entitled "After The Fall" and "Trinity Of Lies".
Prior to Joey Jordison's departure from Slipknot, this was considered a side project, since he no longer a member of Slipknot, he stated that his primary focus is now Scar the Martyr, effectively making it his primary project. During touring, bassist Kyle Kokiel (formely of In This Moment) and keyboardist Joey Blush (from Blush Response) joined the band as permanent members.
To My Surprise is an experimental rock band, referred to as a side project of Shawn Crahan, a member/founder of band Slipknot. Originally called The Ornge, The band changed its name to To My Surprise for major label debut. The band had a long line of influences including The Monkees, John Lennon, Pink Floyd and Jim Morrison. The members were Brandon Darner (a percussionist who briefly toured with Slipknot and currently plays guitar with the Envy Corps) who was put on vocals and rhythm guitar, Stevan Robinson Jr. was put on lead and bass guitar, and Shawn played percussion, wrote most of the lyrics and took care of the artwork. All band members hail from Des Moines, Iowa. They released their self titled debut in 2003, produced by Shawn and Brandon and with Rick Rubin as executive producer. The album received little interest due to being released around the time of Corey and Joey's side projects.
In 2005, after Stone Sour had finished touring, Crahan and Robinson got back together to work on new material, enlisting the help of Dorothy Hecht, Jarrod Brom, Paul Thompson, Wade Thompson and Patrick McBride making the band twice its original size. The band were working on a second album which they planned to release through Crahan's own label Big Orange Clown Records. In 2006 it was announced that the band would release a limited edition 7" record, however the band began performing shows and this brought a halt to work in the studio. Most notably To My Surprise performed at South by Southwest, which Crahan described as "a dream come true". Prior to their performance at South by Southwest a track entitled "Jump The Gun" was released online as part of an e-card. They also planned to perform at festivals in Europe and tour the US, however the band canceled their appearances at European festivals and parted ways. Crahan said that the reason the band "died" was because it was unrealistic for him to be in this band and make it work and that "Slipknot made it impossible".
Dirty Little Rabbits is an indie rock band from Johnston, Iowa. They are referred to as a side project of Shawn Crahan, a member/founder of metal band Slipknot. They have also been listed as the following; experimental alternative and psychedelic rock.
The band is unsigned. When asked in an interview if they had plans for an album release responded in a negative way towards the record industry and Shawn Crahan said; "I'm so against the record industry, and I'm so against the way they will do it, that this band will not be stopped".
After writing together and developing the band they began performing shows in the midwest of the United States. On August 15, 2007 they released their debut EP, Breeding independently. Following this, through August and September they supported Stone Sour on a tour of the United States. Dirty Little Rabbits continued to tour in 2008, with their own shows through February and May and in support of Mindless Self Indulgence in June. Through July and August drummer Crahan was touring with Slipknot as part of the Mayhem Festival and as a result Dirty Little Rabbits temporarily went on hiatus. After signing with The End Records, Dirty Little Rabbits began working on an album at Sound Farm Studio in September while Crahan's other band Slipknot took a break from touring. They released their second EP; Simon on January 27, 2009, and they planned to release a full-length album in April.
On July 31, 2009 Dirty Little Rabbits were scheduled to perform their first show outside of the US with Lacuna Coil in Ireland, and then the United Kingdom. As well as appearing at the Sonisphere Festival in August, however the band canceled both appearances due to exhaustion. Drummer Crahan explained: "after weeks of going all over the world and playing some of the biggest shows of my career [(with his other band Slipknot)], and now being in the home stretch on completing the Dirty Little Rabbits debut album, I'm just mentally and physically drained."
Dirty Little Rabbits' musical style is considerably different to Crahan's most notable band Slipknot. Crahan explained in an interview in 2008 that he is an "alternative person in art and music" and that he didn't grow up obsessed with metal. He went on to explain that other members of Slipknot are obsessed with metal and that he "went with it" because it was different to him and he could introduce something different to them.
He describes Dirty Little Rabbits as the band he's been waiting his whole life for. He made a particular point about the fact that they have a female singer and that he's always wanted to be in a band with a female singer because he wants to "represent the whole world, male and female."