New Slipknot drummer and bassist won’t have their own individual masks

September 10, 2014

While we kind of already know what frontman Corey Taylor’s new mask looks like (pictured), we don’t yet know how the rest of Slipknot’s will look. We also still don’t know who the new band members will be, following the departure of drummer Joey Jordison and the passing of bassist Paul Gray.

But in a recent interview with Full Metal Jackie, Taylor revealed that both the new drummer and bassist of Slipknot will be wearing identical masks. Pimp Rock Palace reports:

“We wanted to make something that still looked unified but still stayed with the spirit of what the band is all about. Instead of trying to find something that was individualistic, we designed — well, Clown designed a mask that the drummer and the bass player will both wear. On one hand they get a mask but at the same time, it’s not the individual mask that we in the band use.

We knew that any attempt to do anything like that might be taken as disrespectful, but at the same time it’s part of the way of moving, getting past the hardest steps, which is just moving on. So, we decided that we would come up with a mask that works for both the bassist and the drummer and that’s what they’ll wear on stage.”

Taylor went on to talk about making a new album without Jordison and Gray:

“I don’t know if it was uncomfortable, but the big difference was that it was the first album that we were doing without Paul, without Joe, and you know when you find yourself in a situation like that you either fall back on your heels or you rise to the occasion and you ask yourself how can we kind of fill in those blanks and still make the kind of music we want to listen to?

So I think that the biggest thing for us was to just fill in some really big shoes. Luckily we really rose to the occasion and really kind of went above and beyond as far as musically. I’m loving this new album. I mean just as not only as a person who’s in Slipknot but just as a fan of music like this. I really love what we’ve done on this album.”

Is this a wise decision? Should the new members be given their own masks and individual personalities? Let us know your thoughts. Slipknot will release their upcoming fifth studio album, .5: The Gray Chapter, Oct. 21 via Roadrunner Records. The band recently announced the Prepare For Hell Tour with Korn and King 810.

Here's a better look at Corey Taylor's new mask: