Michael Shawn Crahan (born September 24, 1969), also known as Clown, or by his number #6, is an American musician known as one of the two percussionists of Slipknot, and the drummer of To My Surprise and Dirty Little Rabbits. He is one of three members to remain with Slipknot since its founding, along with bassist Paul Gray and drummer Joey Jordison.
Birth name : Michael Shawn Crahan Also known : as #6, Clown, Kong Born : September 24, 1969, Des Moines, Iowa Genre(s) : Alternative metal, Experimental rock, Funk metal, Indie pop, Indie rock, Industrial metal, Nu metal, Pop punk, Progressive metal, Psychedelic rock, Rap metal Occupation(s) : Musician, songwriter Instrument(s) : Custom percussion, drums, backing vocals Years active : 1993–present Label(s) : Roadrunner, Big Orange Clown, Nuclear Blast, Pale One, -ismist Associated acts : Slipknot, To My Surprise, Dirty Little Rabbits, Heads on the Wall, One Cup Fat, Quan
Personal life and career
Crahan was born in Des Moines, Iowa. In his youth, he performed in bands such as Heads on the Wall, One Cup Fat and Quan. By the early 1990s, Crahan was an alcoholic, which he exacerbated when he purchased a local bar in Des Moines, called The Safari. Frustrated by his lack of success, he says he would have turned to suicide had he not met his future wife, Chantal. Crahan's parents financed Slipknot early in its history, and he professes nothing but the utmost respect for them.
As well as lending his percussion talents to the band, Crahan has also sung backing vocals on a number of songs Slipknot has both recorded and performed live. He also wrote the original draft of "Tattered & Torn", which appeared on the band's first album, Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.. Outside Slipknot, Crahan has founded Big Orange Clown Records, a vanity label within Sanctuary Records, which has so far signed the metalcore band Gizmachi. He also acted as director for, and assembled Slipknot's 2006 DVD, Voliminal: Inside the Nine, while the band engaged a brief hiatus.
He also performed with To My Surprise, recording drums and vocals for the band's self-titled debut. The band received little interest due to their album being released amidst the success of Slipknot members Corey Taylor and Joey Jordison's side projects, Stone Sour and the Murderdolls, respectively. To My Surprise was later dropped by Roadrunner Records. In 2007, Crahan began performing as drummer for Dirty Little Rabbits. The band was a supporting act for Stone Sour during their North American tour in Summer 2007, and has since released one EP, titled Breeding.
Crahan has two daughters and two sons, and has said of this, "I'm a perfect father and a fucking psychopath, okay? No contradiction."
Equipment
Two Anheuser-Busch beer kegs Baseball bat Dunnett-manufactured drums Four Surdo drums 16" x 20", 18" x 22", 20" x 24" and 22" x 24" Marching snare drum Microphone Vater Hammer sticks, or Vic Firth Metal sticks
Interesting about him
Crahan pioneered the band's use of masks and jumpsuits, though he did so for his own personal comfort; the look was shortly after adapted by the majority of other band members of the time, excluding then-vocalist Anders Colsefini. He also coined Slipknot's use of the term "maggots," a reference to the band's fan following.
