Corey Taylor calls Download the 'the daddy' of festivals and vows to play again in 2024
He even prefers Download to Knotfest
Last updated 30th May 2023
Slipknot and Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor has hailed Download Festival as his “favourite festival ever” and revealed his plans to play Donington yet again in 2024.
Following the announcement of his second solo album ‘CMF2’, which features the Kerrang! Radio playlisted single ‘Beyond’, Corey Taylor recently spoke to Kerrang! Radio’s Loz Guest.
During the chat, Corey looked forward to Slipknot’s headline performance at Download Festival on Sunday 11th June – their fifth bill-topping slot on the sacrosanct turf of Donington Park.
“Any time I get to be a part of Download is special man. It’s my favourite festival ever,” Corey enthused. “It's nothing against the other festivals that I've been a part of or even the one that I co-own (Knotfest), it's just Download is the daddy, man. For me it always has been.”
Reflecting on his Download Festival debut at the inaugural event in 2003, Corey said: “When I first played there was with Stone Sour in 2003 on the first album. I didn't even play there with Slipknot first, I played there with Stone Sour.
“And I remember I made this horrible wife beater (T-shirt) that I used a Sharpie and I tried to redo the Union Jack so it's just really crappy Sharpie marker and it's the Union Jack kinda. It said ‘Donington’. But I was so big at the time, and it was so messy that it was just kind of stretched.
“I just remember being on that stage going, ‘if nothing else happens, I can say that I was a part of this festival.’”
Corey added: “Luckily (Download have) had us back multiple, multiple, multiple times, and every time we take to that stage whether it's headlining with Slipknot or headlining the second stage with Stone Sour, or hopefully being able to play it next year maybe with CMFT, it's special, and it will always be special for me.”
Watch the full Corey Taylor interview below where he also discusses the difference between his solo career and his day job fronting Slipknot and Stone Sour, the making of ‘CMF2’ and how a third solo record is already in the works, the gloriously bonkers Mad Max-esque ‘Beyond’ video, and his loathing for AI-generated music.
Corey Taylor's 'CMF2' track-listing and artwork:
The Box
Post Traumatic Blues
Talk Sick
Breath Of Fresh Smoke
Beyond
We Are The Rest
Midnight
Starmate
Sorry Me
Punchline
Someday I’ll Change Your Mind
All I Want Is Hate
Dead Flies
Rock stars unmasked, including Corey Taylor:
Ghost’s Tobias Forge (aka Papa Emeritus) unmasked
Flanked by his band of Nameless Ghouls, Tobias Forge has adopted a number of papal guises over the years; from the various incarnations of Papa Emeritus through to Cardinal Copia and Papa Emeritus IV. On the right is Tobias Forge without his mask at the Grammy Awards in 2019.
Nameless Ghoul Aether unmasked
In May 2022, Yorkshire musician Chris Catalyst revealed he had been masquerading as the Nameless Ghoul Aetha on Ghost's tours. Following the final arena date of Ghost's European Imperatour at László Papp Budapest Sports Arena in Hungary, Catalyst shared a group photo backstage and wrote: "Amaaaazing tour with our wonderful Ghost family. I suppose that's that particular cat out of the bag. So great to be doing this again. Playing this fantastic music with these brilliant people makes me run out of superlatives." In June 2023, Catalyst confirmed he's no longer a touring member of Ghost.
Nameless Ghoul Fire unmasked
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John 5 unmasked
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Richie Sambora unmasked
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Slipknot’s Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan unmasked
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Slipknot’s Mick Thomson unmasked
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Buckethead unmasked
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Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg unmasked
Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg and his proper horrorshow burlap mask. On the right is the devilishly handsome Jay Weinberg without his mask. Weinberg joined Slipknot in 2014 replacing the departing Joey Jordison, who sadly passed away in 2021.
Slipknot’s Sid Wilson unmasked
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Limp Bizkit’s Wes Borland unmasked and without makeup
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Slipknot’s Corey Taylor unmasked
Slipknot singer #8 Corey Taylor's guise evolved into a sinister translucent mask in 2019. As the frontman of Stone Sour - and arguably the most famous member of Slipknot to boot - unless you've been living under a rock for the past two decades, you'll be well aware of what Corey Taylor looks like without his mask.
GWAR’s Blothar unmasked
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Slipknot’s Alessandro Venturella unmasked
Slipknot bassist Alessandro "Alex" Venturella's mask changed from a hessian fabric mask into patterned copper mask in 2019. The genial-looking chap on the right is Alessandro Venturella without his mask.
KISS’s Paul Stanley unmasked and without makeup
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Slipknot’s Jim Root unmasked
Slipknot guitarist #4 Jim Root has worn a Jester mask for the entirety of his career with only minor changes in its design. Why change perfection?! Jim Root is immediately identifiable even without his mask thanks to his luscious, voluminous beard.
Behemoth’s Nergal unmasked and without makeup
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Ex-Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn unmasked
Before he exited Slipknot in somewhat acrimonious circumstances in April 2019, #3 Chris Fehn wore a distinctive Liar Mask – aka the Pinocchio Mask. On the right is the Chris Fehn without his mask at the premiere of Shawn Clown Crahan's movie 'Officer Downe' in 2016.
KISS’s Gene Simmons unmasked and without makeup
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KISS’s Eric Singer unmasked and without makeup
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KISS’s Tommy Thayer unmasked and without makeup
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Ghost Nameless Ghoul unmasked
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Slipknot’s Tortilla Man unmasked
When Tortilla Man replaced percussionist Chris Fehn in 2019, Slipknot kept his identity shrouded in mystery. It didn't take fans long, however, to suss out that Tortilla Man was Michael Pfaff, the keyboardist for M. Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's side project Dirty Little Rabbits.