Corey Taylor: Clown’s not changing his name

Shawn 'Clown' Crahan of Slipknot
Shawn 'Clown' Crahan (Image credit: Getty)

Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor has confirmed he was joking when he said bandmate Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan had changed his stage name as a result of the current “killer clown” craze.

The phenomenon began in the US earlier this year, when police forces in several states investigated sightings of people in clown dress behaving suspiciously.

At least seven people have been arrested and charged with making terrorist threats – although further arrests have taken place as a result of fake reports being made to the authorities. Copycat incidents have been recorded elsewhere in the world.

You may like

Taylor told BBC2 topical comedy show No Such Thing As The News: “The effects have been such that even our dear Clown has downgraded himself to ‘Mime’ in order to distance himself from these hedonistic doppelgangers until the coast is clear.”

he added: “Remember, a real clown doesn’t need a knife to intimidate – just a bat and a good cold stare.”

But after some news outlets reported his comment as being serious, Taylor has published a denial via Twitter, saying: “Guys, no, Clown did not change his name. That was a fake statement that I wrote for humour’s sake.”

No Such Thing As The News co-creator Dan Schreiber reacted to the “joke statement” being reported as fact by saying: “This is fantastic.”

The show is a spin-off from the BBC’s QI, which returns on October 21, with Taylor appearing as a guest during the new series, and Sandi Toksvig taking over from original presenter Stephen Fry.

Slipknot complete their touring duties in support of 2014 album .5: The Gray Chapter in November.

Slipknot remaining tour dates 2016

Oct 15-16: Toluca Knotfest, Mexico
Oct 18: Lima Estadio Nacional de Lima, Peru
Oct 22: Bogota Hipodromo De Los Andes
Oct 26 Auckland Vector Arena, New Zealand
Oct 28 Brisbane Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Australia
Oct 29 Sydney Qudos Bank Arena , Australia
Oct 31 Melbourne Rod Laver Arena, Australia
Nov 03: Taipei New Taipei City Exhibition Hall, Taiwan
Nov 05-06: Tokyo Knotfest, Japan

Watch trailer for Slipknot man Clown’s film Officer Downe

Freelance Online News Contributor

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.

Read more
Slipknot in 2024
“I just want to roll into it with an energy like it’s all starting again”: Slipknot’s Clown teases new album (and Look Outside Your Window) coming soon
Eloy Casagrande in his 2024 Slipknot mask
“Two years ago, I was robbed in São Paulo. Two guys on motorcycles put a gun to my head”: Slipknot’s Eloy Casagrande explains the hidden meanings in his mask – including that gruesome bullet hole
Photographs of Slipknot’s Corey Taylor and Machine Head’s Robb Flynn
“We got pelted with glass bottles and dead rabbits. We stood our ground”: Slipknot’s Corey Taylor and Machine Head’s Robb Flynn’s wild tour stories of bust-ups, injuries and urine-soaked tobacco
Corey Taylor singing with Slipknot in 2024
“Some of the guys in the band are like, ‘**** that, we’ll never play it!’” Watch Slipknot play one of their deepest cuts for the first time ever in Melbourne on Friday night
Tobias Forge in 2024 and Ghost frontman Papa V Perpetua in 2025
“It made people feel uncomfortable. It made for a lot of misunderstandings and just made life hard”: Ghost’s Tobias Forge explains the struggles of being a masked, anonymous metal musician
Jay Weinberg in 2024
Watch Jay Weinberg drum Slipknot songs for the first time since parting ways with the nu metal icons in 2023
Latest in
Vera Farmiga in 2021
The Conjuring star Vera Farmiga announces debut album with her heavy metal band The Yagas
'Emo' Ed Sheeran busking
Watch Ed Sheeran cover Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club on the New York subway while disguised as an emo busker
A close-up shot of the Marshall Major IV on-ear headphones on a turquoise, blue and black background.
I’ve never seen the Marshall Major IV headphones this cheap before - get them for half price in Amazon’s big spring sale
Evanescence in 2025
Evanescence release new song Afterlife from Devil May Cry TV series soundtrack, have their next album in the works
Tony Banks
“You only have to hear the opening sweep to reach for your lighter and wave it in the air”: Tony Banks' greatest Genesis moments
The Horrors
Ghouls Aloud: The Horrors come back from the dead with "a dazzling nocturnal spectacle of sombre reflections and oozing catharsis"
Latest in News
Vera Farmiga in 2021
The Conjuring star Vera Farmiga announces debut album with her heavy metal band The Yagas
'Emo' Ed Sheeran busking
Watch Ed Sheeran cover Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club on the New York subway while disguised as an emo busker
A close-up shot of the Marshall Major IV on-ear headphones on a turquoise, blue and black background.
I’ve never seen the Marshall Major IV headphones this cheap before - get them for half price in Amazon’s big spring sale
Evanescence in 2025
Evanescence release new song Afterlife from Devil May Cry TV series soundtrack, have their next album in the works
Bruce Dickinson in 2024 and a painting of William Blake in 1759
“This deluxe edition contains actual soil from the grave of William Blake”: Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson is releasing a comic book compilation with dirt from the resting place of one of England’s most famous poets
Steven Wilson in 2015 and Playboi Carti in 2025
“I’ve been touring around indie record stores, and I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s even heard of Playboi Carti”: Steven Wilson comments on chart battle with superstar rapper