The Slipknot–Mushroomhead feud could be Cleveland’s greatest rock controversy of the modern era. And it just won’t die.
Long story short: Once upon a time, in a town called Cleveland, there was a masked band called Mushroomhead, with eight or nine members, dressed in jump suits, and the bassist wore a pig face. Metal label Roadrunner offered them a shitty record deal, and they turned it down. Soon, Roadrunner signed a band called Slipknot. Hailing from the Midwest cornfields of Iowa, this Slipknot band had nine members, wore masks and jump suits, and their bassist wore a pig face.
Pretty big coincidence, no? Slipknot blew up, went multiplatinum, and became one of the era’s definitive metal bands. But when they came to Cleveland, loyal ‘Head heads pelted the ‘Knot with bottles. Both bands talked some shit. Eventually, things settled down, and relations between the groups seemed somewhat cordial. Musically, they don’t have much in common. Mushroomhead developed a new look, and did well with its niche audience. Producer-drummer Steve “Skinny” Felton even produced Gizmachi, proteges of Slipknot mastermind Shawn “Clown” Crahan. Everything looked all good.
Then Mushroomhead shot a video with Chad Calek, a veteran of the Iowa scene who produced the documentary Slipknot: A Clown Short of Destiny, which accuses Slipknot not just of being pricks, but trying to destroy the scene that spawned it. Mushroomhead said it dug his work, said the beef was dead, said there wasn’t anything to say.
Then, making promotional rounds for the new Savior Sorrow album, Felton talked to Midwest Movement, a ‘zine that’s the online extension of the Minneapolis artist-management/record label of the same name, which rehashed the old feud angle. And for the first time, Felton really laid into Slipknot:
“We’ve kept our mouth’s shut for eight years,” says Felton, who quickly gets personal. “[Slipknot] traded a platinum record for dignity, honor and respect . . . So if you want to talk shit . . . you know where to find us. Whenever you’re ready, just bring your weak-ass shit to Cleveland and let’s see what happens. [Slipknot singer] Corey Taylor says ‘you cannot kill what you did not create.’ Maybe so. But I guess you can sure as fuck sell what you stole.”
Read the entire interview here. It’s long, and the good stuff’s toward the end. — D.X. Ferris
This article appears in Oct 11-17, 2006.
mushroom head is claiming that just cause they can slipknot didnt steal crap from mushroomhead my opinian is they both stole that stage image and image fromGWAR
Truth be told the music industry is filled with many would’ve, could’ve and not fair stories. Mushroomhead has every right to be pissed at Roadrunner and Slipnot. Truth is Slipnot has come to cleveland and here are some true facts not mentioned in your article bub.
1. Slipnot from a stage in cleveland said fuck XX and what happen batteries wizzed and a show stopped.
2. Cory Taylor self proclaimed homo of the year called at that time front man for Shroom and apoligized for the disrespect.
3. That front man played that Voice mail over a PA at a show.
Slipnot was a group put together like making the band. And they are bitches for that.
Who really gives a fuck who copied off of who thats like saying i hate the next guy just because he is wearing the same damn fruit of the looms as me and shit guess what everyone is wearing those and they are sold worldwide what someone is going to send out bad press just because of some masks and some jumpsuits i mean sure if they started it first it must of not of been that important if they stopped it
ok I just think that mushroomhead (no disprect to MHD i like there music but i love slipknot) is just pissed because slipknot is well….better cuz MHD has been around 4-5 yrs before them and slipknot made it big before them and obviously they didnt steal MHD mask idea cuz im sure they never heard of MHD when they started out and no Mr. Bane there nothing like a makeing the band, band these people are all friends from des moines asswipe…
this is so goddamn gay. slipknot didnt steal mhd’s image. and they got famous and popular because their music was better, sorry folks, but thats the plain truth. besides, its not like they were gonna be the only band with masks, someone else had to do it sooner or later. i aint bashin mhd cuz i think their ok, but as a member of slipknot once said,”you cant make it in the music industry if your music sucks” and i will end with this: slipknot fucking pwns mushroomhead!
u know what i think fuck mhd there nothing but a bunch of cry baby bitches. slipknot iS way beater then there gay asses slipknot over rules mhd so all u mhd fans can suck my dick and fuck mhd u lil bitches slipknot for ever all u maggots out there STAY SIC 6SIC6
Slitknot wipe their asses on MHead shit
Alright, first of all I like both bands. I listened to XX before Slipknot was around. But after I had seen Slipknot at Ozzfest in ’99 they’ve been my fave fukin band. And NUM is right, they both stole the mask idea from GWAR. And every band that wears makeup and so on and so forth stole it from some other band before them. Who gives a shit! Stop hatin, it’s about the music, and Slipnkot is just better. Stop the drama and start the music. See ya in the pits Maggots!
EVIL
Okay, first off, I’m going to say, I love Slipknot with everything in me. Haha.
So I’m going to say they are the better band. I think Mushroomhead is an alright, I really have nothing against them. But people say Slipknot stole from Mrh, sure, I’m probably the only fan that will say Slipknot might had stole some of the look. BUT what about Mrh? We could say they stole from KISS? Or Gwar? What about all that?
Music wise, I think Mrh is lacking alot of things and really I only like the songs ‘Solitaire Unraveling’ and ‘One More Day’, but I’ll admit those two are amazing. I personally like every song off every album by Slipknot.
I’m going to quite talking. But both bands, they’re not models, they’re muscians; stop worrying about the looks.
Stay (sic) maggots.
mushroomhead are obsessed with this argument cuz they know no one knows them and this is the biggest thing they have ever done, apart from this argument, no one knows or cares about mushroomhead. slipknot have had all the big interviews and are front paging the biggest music mags like kerrang!, and mushroomhead arent even vbig enough to get in it let alone headline it. when mushroomhead get interviewed by the loser networks that no one knows about all they talk about is the slipknot feud.
mushroomheads masks are all the same apart from the vocalist who hasthe fag assed face paint, slipknot masks are all different and change every album, at least they have a good imagination
then you get this reatrd who is sad enough to make a hate dvd about slipknot, shows how many friends he’s got lol
stay (sic) maggots
Mushroomhead is good, Slipknot is good, would you be pissed if you created a fad that revolves around wearing something special and other people used it and got way more popular with it? Yes you would, it is human to be mad about shit, so everyone shut the fuck up.
i think their both good. i like half and half. But from what ive read, slipknot did kinda steal MH’s idea.
Damn dude, i dont like the feud thats going on here with slipknot and mushroomhead. Their both great bands, that i enjoy listening to; but my opinion is that slipknot tried 2 become what they’ve already became, to first have the designs and the whole 8-9 member thing, because they probably knew it would be a big hit.
Little FYI for everyone keeping this drama going, Beastie Boys were the FIRST BAND to were jumpsuits and view did it back when view first started all the way up to mid 90s, view still where there orange jumpsuits off and on till this day when they play. Slipknot made it b4 other bands so view hot jealous and angry so came up with a bunch of bullshit drama to try and discredit them, view failed miserably just like that lyin piece of pigu that is in 35 inch mudder. Obviously slipknot was the better band that’s why they were signed and they weren’t. To much drama in music and kids now days, what happened to enjoying music for what it is and not acting like babys cause there band dint get what they wanted, its sad
WHAT THE FUCK MAN???? HOW THE BLOODY FUCKING FUCK COULD SLIPKNOT BE BETTER THAN MUSHROOMHEAD??? MUSHROOMHEAD HAVE WAY MUCH BETTER VOCALS, WAY MUCH BETTER LYRICS (WHICH AREN’T ALL JUST SWEARWORDS AND ARE REALISTIC) AND MUSHROOMHEAD ARE JUST WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY MUCH GENERALLY BETTER!!!
FUCK YOU SLIPKNOT, YOU USELESS CUNTS!!! ALL YOU DID IS STEAL MUSHROMHEAD’S IDEA WITH THE MASK! FUCK ALL OF YOU!!!
Soooooooooo many retarded ignorant fucks on here. Mushroomhead is 100x times better, more skillful, more loyal, more level-headed, ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR FANS, came first, didn’t steal from bands, but used what was around during their years of growing up. They stole from pop culture, not from bands. Not to mention Mushroomhead shows are 10000x better than Slipknot shows, specially when Slipknot runs off stage to go get paid, Mushroomhead comes out and talks with the fans, takes shots, signs stuff, and has a blast. Hell, every member of Mushroomhead is an amazing person,unlike the fuckin’ druggy ass douche bags in slipknot. Slipknot just used what works to get money and fame. They’re like the Lil’ Wayne of big metal groups. They just know what captures the majority of their maggots and bleed them dry. Mushroomhead enjoy what they do, write very truthful and thought-provoking music, and are overall a better band in almost every way. Only thing Slipknot has/had was money. Road Runner knew after Mushroomhead, if they didn’t get something similar, MRH would’ve taken off, just like they started to do before they used Slipknot to cock block them.
MUSHROOM HEADS LYRICS ARE MORE MEANINGFUL , AND J MANN AND JEFFREY NOTHING IS AWESOME WHEN COMPARED TO THE VOCALIST OF SLIPKNOT. STAGE PERFORMANCE OF MUSHROOM HEAD IS BETTER. BUT SLIP KNOTS MUSIC TUNES LIKE THE GUITAR TUNES ARE SLIGHTLY BETTER.. EXCEPT FOR THE MASK BOTH ARE EQUALLY GOOD BANDS. I WANT THEM TO PERFORM AS A TEAM AND GIVE US SOME GOOD MUSIC. 🙂
Slipnot stole from MHD, MHD stole from Gwar, Gwar stole from Kiss, and Kiss stole their make-up ideas from Marilyn Manson, lol. jk. But no one is innocent really, bands look at what works for other bands, or have inspirations and make them their “own”, hoping it will work for them as well. Whether or not anyone has a reason to be pissed is up to that person or persons. I don’t know how I’d feel unless I was in that situation. I do wonder tho, where does Mudvayne & the Misfits fit into all this? lol 🙂
Cleveland, Ohio; late 1990s: There was a band called Mushroomhead who was very popular in the local area. They wore halloween masks and matching jumpsuits. They had two vocalists, one who sang and one who screamed and rapped. The songs varied from very strange to very catchy with hooks and memorable sing-a-long choruses. Roadrunner approached MRH and offered them a deal, telling them their image and sound was very marketable. MRH felt they could do better, so they turned down the deal.
Des Moines, Iowa; shortly afterward. Roadrunner came across this weird little cult bad called Slipknot. Their image was pretty out there, and somewhat S&M oriented. Many of the guys performed shirtless and a few wore bondage masks, dog collars, leather and chains. A couple members did wear halloween style masks, though none of them were particularly identifiable other than the clown. The singer was a big fat guy named Anders who sang in a low growl, performed shirtless with a dog collar around his neck and a chain between his pierced nipples. The band’s sound was strange and not particularly catchy or marketable. Roadrunner approached them and was willing to sign them under a number of conditions. First and foremost the singer had to be replaced with a guy the label knew, Cory Taylor, who could sing in a radio friendly voice and also do a very intense variety of screams, and some rapping. Secondly their image had to be changed; they were to wear halloween masks and matching jumpsuits (ironically, some of the masks looked exactly like members of Mushroomhead, including a pig mask and a gas mask with nails coming out of it,) and their sound needed to be made more radio friendly. The songs had be structured as pop songs, with hooks and catchy sing-a-long choruses. Thus the Slipknot we all know and love was born.
When Slipknot stormed onto the scene in 1999 MRH decided they had to scramble to take the next record deal they could get and change their image to differentiate themselves from Slipknot. They ditched the style that had gained them so much success in the local region. Many original members left the band around this time, so the songs written after this point were never able to measure up to their three independant releases and what the band had once been. Mushroomhead went from a top-notch local/regional band to a mediocre and obscure national. Their image as well as their music went in a continual downward spiral.
Slipknot’s career went almost exactly the opposite. They went from an obscure, mediocre local band to a multiplatinum worldwide success. Mushroomhead understandably held a bit of a grudge, but their downfall was largely due to many bad decsions on their part, although Slipknot stealing their image was the catalist for much of this.
Slipknot is obviously the better band because it shows. I’ve asked so many people do you know Slipknot? Yes, ok what about Mushroomhead? “Who the fuck is that?” Mushroomhead is stupid for turning down the deal with Roadrunner. If they kept it they probably wouldn’t be a band not many people know about. I’m not a huge fan of them. I like Slipknot more, none of Slipknots songs sound bad but that’s just me. Mushroomhead is a band of retards because they turned down a record deal.
Haha everyone saying slipknot got bigger faster blah blah blah. Mushroomhead didn’t want to be big sellouts like them. They didn’t want to bite the first hook in the sea. Especially if they didn’t have control of their look and sound. Sorry but that’s the truth lol. Sellouts vs people who aren’t going to be bought…
(Yes I know this is old, and no, idc)
Bottom line, if people liked mushroomheads music more then they would be more popular, I really like mushroomheads music but I fucken love slipknot and every single song as well but I only like certain songs by mushroomhead, if they wanna get pissy about copying style they can be immature but when it comes down to it the music does the talking not your fucken image. Yes the image can add to a band but the music is what got me into slipknot before I heard the first album I though they looked stupid but I changed my mind very fast and Im a maggot 4 life now!!!!!!
Mushroomhead was there long before slipknot ever was and they did steal their look and the true fans know it sorry but slipknot isn’t all that and totally different sound the original Mushroomhead were some of the best albums I still listen to today not a slipknot fan and it made me sick to see them steal the look
Honestly, one difference between Mushroomhead and Slipknot is that one band is more Dark and Vicious, and the other is calmer. Slipknot was always been a very angry band and will always make songs about bitterness. Mostly, because of Corey Taylor knowing he had a shitty childhood. Mushroomhead on the other hand is calmer. The meaning of the songs are dark, but the songs in general are too calm to be metal. So, Slipknot did
not steal Mushroomheads career. Slipknot just had a crazy successful career. Mushroomhead got to bitter that they lost their spark. Everyone stops being popular at one moment. Later one, we wont think Eminem is cool anymore. Mushroomhead just was to jealous to know that it was, because that they were not the cool ones anymore.