h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh, oh dear... I can't help but cuss Slipknot for being utter rubbish.

I find their masks/suits a gimmik, their music acceptable, but not good enough to buy, and their whole demanour out only for so-called 'Shock value' (a la Mr Manson). I respect their stance on the music industry, but their copious over-merchandising is shameful. The thing I hate most about Slipknot is their attitude, and the way they are idolised by 14 year olds wearing oversized black hooded tops and abusing people from the back of the bus.

Hmm, so scary metal bands are interviewd by 'Heat' magazine. How odd. Doesn't really fit the image.

The problem is: they're [most metal bands] not even scary. I might be willing to give a few a chance... but it's psychotic fans who actually take the bands seriously who go too far.
Take Cradle of Filth, for instance. The band seem like fairly decent blokes - but some fans think they're REALLY doing all the 'evil' stuff they read about.

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I apologise for the above surge of the same message.
The server timed out, or somesuch.

Do you get abused on busses?

Not any more. Now I'm a scary college student. But we all used to - little pri- kids used to sit at the back of the bus, and using the old saftey-in-numbers trick, would make life hell for the rest of us. It's left me with a deep resentment of people that think it's "cool" to sit at the back of the bus, and will probably cause me problems in later life.

No no no brother...Slipknot are for real!

If you've read the interviews, known the band, you'll know what they're about. Yes, they have masks and scary attitude, but if you read the article then their drummer explains why.
As for the fans...well, of course a band like Slipknot are going to appeal to hyperactive teenagers like yours truly. What else do you think we'll listen to?

Any other questions?

Mr T. -

I understand where you are coming from with the way some underaged people react to the music. However this is not Slipknots fault. If you actually read the liner notes then you will understand that the music, just like metal several decades ago, is speaking about things that everyone can understand, just in ways that bother some people.

Young fans going overboard, well you need to remember that the same was said about Mozart, and then about Blues, and then about Elvis, and Rock and Roll and Punk, and Metal, etc. It's a case of the youth taking a music and getting rid of their problems through it. If it wasn't Slipknot it would be something else.

Courtesy

Could you point me in the direction of an online article about 'em?
I've visited their website a while ago, but was put off by the guestbook which had about 500 profanity-laced entries which all ran along the lines of:

"MAN!!! SlPIKNOT IS THE S**T!!! M***********S! I HATE YOUALL YOU GODDAMN M***********S! SEE YOU ANT THE NEXT SHOW!"
etc.

Unfortunatly, I had to post rather obtrusive messages telling said fans to grow up, and that swearing wouldn't particularly impress the band, or anyone else. I still feel they're listened to, like so much Nu-Metal, for the wrong reasons: that they're "bad", that people's parents will object - and not for the issues that the band themselves are trying to get across.

I'm a punk (NOT pop-punk) fan. I like issues. But NOT issues (ha ha!) of Kerrang! Magazine.

Well Mr T, you're on the forum of an online article about Slipknot right now. Congratulations.

No wonder those kids posted that. Slipknot are the s**t! They're the hardest thing to come out of S**tsville USA! Their music is ace! Their attitude is ace! Their shows are ace! Slipknot's got it all brother!
Anyway, why go straight to the guestbook? Do you normally go straight to a website's guestbook first? There's a whole website to be read, maaaaaaan!

What's wrong with liking a band cos they're "bad"? That's part of the fun of it! That miserable gits will get themselves wound up! LOL!

I didn't go there FIRST - I went there last, after perusing other stuff, like the Bios.

The point is that Slipknot AREN'T 'bad' they just like to look like they are, or at least play on the public's expectations (give them what they want, as it were).

People think it's 'alternative' but there's nothing alternative about Nu-metal - it's just as commercial and image-based as other pop.

You saying Slipknot are commercial?

Yes.
They're on a label I respect but which is filled with bands which I don't, except possibly Soulfly/Sepultura (a bit).

But they spend masses on videos, production and MERCHANDISE. Talk about milking. They're just a band, folks. No need to treat them like some clothing retailer at thirty quid per printed sweatshirt - I've got a so-called 'Alternative' clothing catalogue with a whole page of OFFICIAL gear - 'Band Approved'. So don't tell me they're not commercial. Add to that an entirely image based eithos, and you've got a nice marketable product - especially to mags like Kerrang! which just lap it up.

Next on the rant list: KoRn!

Mr. T, how many bands with international name recognition can you name who haven't ever printed a single t shirt in their name, nor ever granted a single interview?

85 (not really).

Hey, I never said interviews were bad (in fact I didn't mention them at all).
I didn't say that T Shirts are bad. I wear the odd band T-Shirt myself.

But the people I've come across who like Slipknot aren't that bothered about the MUSICAL side of things, more with the image. They like to wear the slogans, the logo, the ethos of 'being bad' which people like to attach to metal (I don't). They sell COPIOUS amounts of merchandise, not just the odd T-Shirt. Posters, too... and even CDs. [gasp]. Cashing in, commercialism - it's an issue of loads of bands/groups, not just Slipknot. They're not the only ones...

It's funny how so many Alternative/Rock fans are so quick to slate Pop bands, but don't realise how commerical their own industry is.
Offspring, anyone?

Lets face it, every band has an element of commercialness in them. If you don't male money, then you simply won't survive to keep on making your music. If you simply go by what your heart dictates, music-wise, then you simply won't last.

Hey, Iron Maiden started producing t-shirts in the 70s, before they even had an album out. Doesn't automatically make them commercial. THEY'VE got tonnes of merchandise, but it doesn't make them commercial. It's because the fans want these things. If Maiden tried to survive on music alone, we (the fans) would start to get pissed. When you're head over heels with band, you want to be able to own everything possible. The band satisfy our desires.
What I've said about Maiden applys to Slipknot.

Now, that sounds very commercial, but remember: these guys are very talented. They work their asses off. Unlike those pop 'stars'.

I'm listening to Slipknot right now. Do you think YOU could toss these songs up with merely a bunch of hopefuls? These stuff requires TALENT.

[Sigh]
Yes, it does, I agree.

We nearly had a good argument going then.

But I still think the music industry is too commericalised - you can do well JUST PLAYING MUSIC. Selling the albums by word of mouth and because people want to hear it, not be part of the fashion which surrounds it - just look at Fugazi.

Who?