The horror film “Rucker” stars the metal frontman.
Corey Taylor doesn’t have to be afraid of many things, but, like many artists, the tragedy at Astroworld haunts him.
Ten people died in November at Travis Scott’s music festival, Houston, Texas. This was during a huge crowd surge. Many couldn’t move or breathe because of the crowd. Around 300 people were treated for injuries at the festival, while 25 were admitted to hospital. Nearly 400 lawsuits were filed regarding injuries and deaths from the concert. Many of these were against Live Nation and Rap Star Jay-Z.
NME said that the metal frontman spoke soon after the tragedy at Slipknot’s show. He addressed the crowd about how important it is to look out for each other.
The 48-year old is immersed in new projects. He plays a rowdy trucker named Taco Tuesday and is preparing for his band’s release of new music. He is also excited to start his new role as a filmmaker.
Fox News spoke with the singer about Slipknot’s 2022 plans, his role in Rucker as his wife and how Astroworld has impacted him.
Fox News – Slipknot will release a new album in the spring. What can fans look forward to? What can fans expect?
Corey Taylor This album really, really is great. We’ve hit a rhythm on “We Are Not Your Kind”, and I feel that we have. It was really fun to explore new musical sounds and textures that we hadn’t used in a while. This felt like an extension of “Vol.” 3.” While there are many great music vibes that people will be able to really get excited about, there is still so much great heavy metal. It’s a great album that people will love. This album is actually better than “We Are Not Your Kind”. It’s something I cannot wait to hear.
Fox News What misconceptions do you think people still hold about Slipknot What is the truth?
Taylor: God, where can you even begin? There are many. Many people still believe we are a satanic group, and that we’re demonic and all the other weird stuff. People can easily believe this and then try to discredit it. Many people think that this is all a gimmick. They don’t realize that this is art, and music has always been the number one.
It’s not about shocking. It doesn’t matter if it is exploratory or if the audience can be interested in it. It should be something that draws them in, even though it may seem shocking. People would have left us long ago if it were anything else than pure music and art. We are completely immersed in the art, music, lyrics, visuals, and everything else. This is why our fan base has grown to be more than in years. That’s my biggest mistake. There’s so much more than what people hear and see that you don’t know where to start.
Fox News: What keeps you motivated as an artist?
Taylor The need to surpass myself. The need to try new things. It’s not a good idea to become stuck in a rut or feel like you are repeating yourself thematically. As a writer, performer, and musician, you want to continue challenging yourself. Because I love making music, I have many projects.
I’d do it all in one band if I could. Sometimes, however, you need to do other things. This is also why I love Slipknot. Our musical boundaries have allowed us to accomplish so much. This has made our choices almost limitless. People love heavy music, but they also like it when we make left turns and try new things that push the boundaries of what we do. This is why I love my job as a songwriter.
Fox NewsYou paid tribute to the Astroworld victims, like many other artists, in November. What was the impact of this tragedy on you as an artist
Taylor: This is what scares performers. It’s not what you want for your audience to go through. As a band and as an organization, our goal has always been to make sure that our fans feel safe. Even in those days when we were insane and doing crazy stuff, if anyone ever hurt our fans, we stopped the show immediately and made sure that they were okay. Security was always our priority. Security is number one. This has not changed. This is the only thing we strive to be focused on.
Knotfest Mexico 2019 was plagued by an unsafe audience. Our security team and we didn’t feel safe going back out, knowing that there might be injuries. We couldn’t repair the broken barricade. It was impossible to fix. We had to close down. We did this and most people fled. The riot was quite violent, but no one was hurt. They were destroying the instruments, the grounds and all that was around them. That’s what makes us different from many other bands. Knowing that our fans could be in danger, we wouldn’t feel comfortable continuing to play. It all comes down to your priorities.
Astroworld is not a place I know. I also don’t know much beyond what I have read online. Therefore, I cannot make any judgements. I can only talk about where we are as a band and where I am. And I can only say that I hope this does not happen at one of our concerts.
Fox News Why did you choose to work in a movie like “Rucker?”
Taylor: It’s more than the story. Although the story was great. It was also about working with Aaron Drane, who was great. We met in Fear Clinic and we got along well. We kept in touch over the years and he made this movie with Amy [Hesketh]. He reached out to me to ask if I would like to be part of the film. It was a good thing that I had enough time. He sent me the script, and I rewrote it.
This story almost feels like an urban legend, based on real events. Truck driver who escapes from prison for murdering because he doesn’t live in one place. It’s like the I-95 serial killer. It adds an extra layer of the long-lost child that maybe he knew he was missing. Then there is this strange family reunion. It was amazing to see all that come together. There are moments of humor, but there are also moments of sadness. The actors and characters doing the acting were great at bringing out the best in each other.
Fox News –Fans are praising your performance in the film. What does it feel like to receive this kind of support for something as simple as acting?
Taylor:It is pretty cool. You know, I have never considered myself an actor. I am one of those people who gets extra stuff because of what they do. It’s something I take very seriously. Although I don’t consider myself a method actor, I enjoy the experience.
Maybe that’s why people take me seriously when I do it. They know that I only do things I love. I take everything very seriously. We were on the set in no time. It was a lot of fun. My wife was able to participate, which is awesome. She was a victim of a murder, which really bummed me. It was a great experience for us both.
Fox News: What was it like to work with your wife?
Taylor: It was so nerve-wracking. It’s still not something she wants to watch. However, I will always tell her that even if it’s really cringey, we get along so well that we can do almost anything together. This is one reason we travel together when I’m solo. This is why we collaborate on projects together. It’s also why I was so happy for her to be able get this part. It was great to see her. She did a great job, regardless of whether she believes so. It’s easy to be with someone who cheers you on all the time and cheers you on.
Fox News What scares and why do you fear the most?
Taylor:Oh, sharks, 100%. Sharks scare me to death. Since I was a child, sharks scared me. When I was very young, my mom took me to see Jaws. It was a movie that shaped my brain and made me crazy. Because I am a maniac and have seen every shark movie, I have only ever swum with them twice. For Christ’s sake, I was in “Sharknado”. This is me fighting my fear as much as I can.
Fox News What’s the one thing that you’d like to do this year but haven’t?
Taylor I’m currently working on the production for the first movie I wrote, “Zombie vs. Ninja.” It was written a few years ago. It takes a while to get this up and running. We have a director and financing. It’s also backed by a full production. We have a special effects crew. I’m gonna score it.
We just need to cast it and then book it. We are going to go for it. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. To see a movie from start to end. Hopefully, this year we can make it happen.
Fox News Are there going to any sharks?
Taylor:No. Not in this one *laughs* I hope not. Hire me to play the role of a shark attack actor if you want to experience real terror. I don’t know if I would be able get in the water. To get me, it would have to leap up into the boat because there is no way. It freaks me out. It’s not something I know. I don’t know if it is possible.