Welcome to The Electric Theater, a conversation series hosted by M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan.
After mentioning his love for Genghis Tron on a previous podcast, clown and founding member Hamilton Jordan connect for an in-depth conversation about the band’s cult classic ‘Board Up The House’ and what it’s been like to come back to music after stepping away for more than a decade.
The founder of Hollister Cannabis Co. details the collaboration of Clown Cannabis and emphasizes the medicinal qualities of the flower. Addressing the continued stigma pertaining to the plant, Saling reveals the personal experiences that convinced him of the obvious health benefits and inspired him to invest in the industry as a means of truly helping people holistically.
The metal icon shares the start of his latest project, Go Ahead and Die, with his son Igor Amadeus, revisits the lasting impact of Sepultura, and emphasizes that his love for the music is as strong as ever. 0:00 - First meeting Keepsake 2:45 - Significance of personal gifts and explains that when Dana Wells passed, Ozzy actually gave Max a crucifix 5:00 - Being a Family Man Rockstar 10:00 - Defying the cliche of rock n roll debauchery 11:45 - Max confides he and Igor went 10 years without speaking 13:35 - Go Ahead and Die 17:30 - Spending time in a Brazilian jail with his son 21:15 - Paul Gray's influence introducing the bigger picture of metal to Clown 25:50 - Clown confirms Slipknot is the process of recording 29:14 - The inaugural Kerrang! 'Best Band In the World' that happened that led to broken glass to flipped over tables and napkins being lit on fire 35:00 - Soulfly buries their tapes while recording with Ross Robinson with Chino from Deftones as a witness 40:43 -Recording Chaos A.D. at Rockfield Studios in Wales, the same place that Bohemian Rhapsody from Queen and legends like Black Sabbath recorded 42:29 - Korn & Indigo Ranch 47:18 - The purity of the music 49:18 - Max doesn't haven't a cell phone 50:18 - Connecting Conversations 54:13 - clown's family 55:32 - Earning your own stripes 1:04:45 - Best compliment: "music got me through a rough part of my life." 1:06:18 - Max's U2 Influence#TheElectricTheater #MaxCavalera #Sepultura #Soulfly #CavaleraConspiracy #KillerBeKilled #GoAheadAndDie
Planetary scientist Tom Wagner and clown discuss how research and planning are helping humanity find new and exciting ways to combat global problems in 2021. 0:00 – Tom Wagner: studying melting poles, volcanos both on Earth and Mars and deciding new missions to explore the solar system. 5:43 – Climate Change Issues 12:41 – CO2 Emissions 14:39 – Rising sea levels, changing weather patterns, the decimation of crops in weather specific regions16:39 – Solutions 23:58 – Humanity isn’t at critical mass yet, but we are getting there. 26:10 – NASA Isolation Rooms 29:19 – The Science Behind Veiled Antartica (Truth is always stranger than fiction)41:23 – Bigfoot 44:15 – The Role of Science 53:50 – Wagner's "off time" 54:41 – The Future
The architect behind Behemoth checks in with clown to dissect the era of Covid, assess what normal will be post-pandemic, and celebrate the silver lining in being able to hit the reset button during the downtime on this episode of The Electric Theater with Clown (Slipknot)0:00 - Time Off 8:00 - Gardening 11:57 - Time to Decompress 15:17 - A 15 year cycle of write, record, tour, repeat. 17:35 - Slowing the f*ck down 19:11 - Post-covid normal 27:45 - Light at the end of the Tunnel 30:43 - Getting the vaccine 34:59 - Covid Passport 40:35 - Growing Impatient 47:25 - A New perspective. 55:38 - Nergal's final tour was with Slipknot, an era he defined as the peak of Behemoth's career.
The master craftsman shares what he loves most about the process of making whiskey and connects with his collaborative partner clown in a conversation that touches on everything from their shared love of Iowa to important role of Paul Gray.
When not on tour with Butcher Babies, Carla Harvey works as a grief counselor and an end of life specialist. In a candid conversation with clown, the multi-talent talks finality, closure, and dealing with loss in a way that is healthy and productive. :00 – Grief Counseling through Zoom 2:49 – Art & Death 10:22 - Indoctrination In Upbringing 12:49 – Aging & Life 15:34 – Understanding Death 28:04 – Inevitability of death30:35 – Gratitude for Hospice Workers 36:00 – Preparing and Celebrating Death 40:06 – Dealing with Death 45:22 – Experiencing Grief 48:20 – Butcher Babies New Music 52:39 – Post Pandemic Reset. Wearing a mask Moving Forward for Good 58:34 – “I love fear but I don’t like being scared. I like fear because I know I can overcome it.” – clown
On the first video interview of The Electric Theater, clown welcomes the iconic frontman for a discussion that ranges from free love, to politics, to making the world a better place through art and music. 0:00 - Record Stores 5:16 – Creating lasting, impactful work of art 5:53 – ‘Nothing’s Shocking’ stemmed from Farrell's love affair 7:58 – True Love 10:10 – Self discovery. Following in the footsteps of legends like Jim Morrison and Darby Crash 11:48 – “God didn’t want me to die, he wanted me to testify” – Farrell recalls overdosing 14:58 – Political Line in the Sand & Joe Biden 17:24 – clown confides in Farrell that he looks up to the frontman. 19:02 – Being a good man, a good father, and a good partner 22:36 – Coming Together 28:24 - “Most of us should be ashamed of our fucking selves.” 32:33 – "We know enough now…you don’t need to have anymore wars.” Poor political leadership 34:24 – Poor political leadership 36:55 – The Pandemic 42:13 – “Wish I was ocean size”Subscribe to the podcast for the most up to date episodes
4:45 - Being exposed to Japanese manga and anime at an early age 8:45 - Seeking out art with an edge 11:50 - Traveling to Japan 15:05 - A unique time to release music 22:05 - Connecting with fans in a digital space 25:45 - Side-stepping the internet trolls 32:09 Deciphering intent from text 37:05 - The forecast for Brand of Sacrifice 45:00 - Living and working in lockdown 49:40 - Using downtime to create 'Lifeblood' from Brand of Sacrifice arrives March 5th via Blood Blast Distribution. Order the album - https://brandofsacrifice.indiemerch.com/
The revered composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist shares how his enduring love for music is so deeply rooted, that he feels like it's something he needs to defend in his interview on The Electric Theater with Clown of Slipknot. A creative contributor that has had a profound impact on the contemporary climate of music, Hynes' ability to challenge expectations and blur genre lines has made him a force that has permeated throughout the sphere of music as well as film and television - which as of late has consumed his workload. 0:00 Rewards11:50 Family Support18:20 Discussion on what "pop" music means40:52 Staying creative in the pandemic 55:24 Current movie/show scoring
Heavy culture ambassador Jamey Jasta weighs in on projecting positivity, appreciating the simple details of life, and expanding his perspective to include more than just the tunnel vision of work.
The first solo female artist to sign to Roadrunner Records discusses mentorship with Kanye West, her unashamed sexuality, and how provocative performance art helped her to purge the weight of real life toxicity.
The patron saint of heavy metal reflects on the earliest years of his career and details how music, since the very beginning, has been an all consuming obsession.
Caleb Shomo of Beartooth checks in for a conversation with the clown that touches on the musicians’ shared love of AC/DC, the collective culture of Japan, and gratification of making music the good old fashioned way.
The multi-talented Brendon Small steps into the Electric Theater to share how learning play guitar offered an enduring life lesson from a very early age - you get outta life what you decide to invest into it.
One of heavy music's most intriguing vocalists talks anthropocentrism, aliens, and how being a front woman in metal challenged her to embrace her femininity.
Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy and Doyle Von Frankenstein join the clown in the Electric Theater for a candid conversation that explores the psychology behind dressing for the job you want, the tribal subconscious of online naysayers, and the double standard that exists between men and women in metal.
Accomplished chef, restauranteur, and metal enthusiast Chris Santos joins clown for a session in the Electric Theater. Discussing his tenure as a judge on The Food Network’s Chopped, his humble start in the kitchen in his early teenage years, and his lifelong love for metal music, the conversation provides a unique glimpse into the work ethic and creative vision of the respected celebrity chef.
The Electric Theater welcomes Ice Nine Kills frontman Spencer Charnas for a conversation with the clown. Exploring Charnas’ ska-punk roots and his lifelong fascination with the horror genre, the veteran musicians discuss evolving sound, stage spectacle, and how the energy of a good show makes the genre almost irrelevant.
Fieldy of KORN joins clown of Slipknot for conversation in the Electric Theater that touches on the rigors of touring, navigating the downtime in between the chaos, and how constantly being creative is a fundamental part of their DNA. Fieldy details his current work with his project StillWell, shares what’s happening with KORN, and explains how being ‘rock-ready’ means being able to artistically multi-task.
Addressing the stigma of the word and the misconceptions of the practices, author/teacher/podcaster Pam Grossman details the reality of being a witch and the magic that exists in being a conduit between the physical and invisible world.
Published author, cultural commentator and professor Laina Dawes paired with the clown of Slipknot for an honest conversation about identity, adversity, and ultimately finding solace in music in what has become an especially uncertain world. Sharing their personal experiences, both good and bad, the duo find common ground in challenging the expectations and thriving outside of the confines of the general pubic considers typical. The highly personal conversation examines counter culture from an intellectual perch.
Big air skater Elliott Sloan drops in on the latest installment of The Electric Theater with clown of Slipknot to discuss the completion of his mega ramp that has been years in the making, The conversation details the ups and downs of the passion project and the kind of fulfillment Sloan now gets in being able to ride what he had envisioned from the very beginning.
Artist Adam Wallacavage began his career as a photographer for the likes of Thrasher Magazine and would eventually find his passion for sculpting. Over the course of the last two decades, he has become revered for his work making octopus chandeliers. The artist sat in for a discussion on the Electric Theater that revisits his earnest beginning, his earliest inspiration, and explains how art can become pretentious if it's missing authenticity.
Connecting with filmmaker, publisher, and graffiti culture historian Roger Gastman, clown explores the subversive origins of the art and unwritten rules that maintain the integrity of the craft. As both an artist and a vandal, Gastman details his passion for the culture and how his thirst to learn while participating resulted in a unique expertise that cemented a career rooted in credibility.
Fred Armisen connects with clown of Slipknot for a conversation in The Electric Theater that covers everything from Saturday Night Live to how the pandemic has transformed reality. Exploring the parallels of performing in a band and performing as an actor, the two share their personal experiences and find common ground in their appreciation of art, the value of communication, and the ability to geek out when talking drums.
The latest installment of The Electric Theater translates like a long ride on the tour bus between collaborative brothers and bandmates, clown and Corey Taylor. Discussing Taylor’s solo debut, their shared love (and distaste) for various movies, and the concept of exploring their many avenues of creativity, the casual conversation between two of rock’s larger than life figures brings into focus a truly unique connection.
The latest entry of The Electric Theater pairs Slipknot’s clown with renowned illustrator Tim Doyle. Exploring concepts like influence, originality, and integrity as it pertains to art, the two conclude that the best contributions are the ones that find the balance of artistic vision and creative spine.
Professional skateboarding sensation Nora Vasconcellos and Slipknot’s clown convene in the latest installment of The Electric Theater. In what becomes a very personable, endearing conversation, the two discuss what it’s like to have big aspirations in a small town, the perseverance to see their ambitions through, and how starting late is better than never starting at all.
Competitive surfer Albee Layer joins clown of Slipknot for a conversation about chasing adrenaline and finding the full human potential in the latest episode of The Electric Theater. Though worlds apart professionally, Layer and clown find common ground in dodging the dangers of their chosen career and devoting themselves completely to the pursuit of perfecting their craft.
One of hip hop’s most intriguing voices, ZillaKami of City Morgue steps into the Electric Theater to connect with clown of Slipknot. Though separated by genre and generation, the two find parallels in making heavy music, explore their shared love of the hardcore breakdown, and agree that aggression can make good art great.
Actor Joe Manganiello connects with Slipknot’s clown to discuss how he spent time with real wolves to prepare for True Blood, his early love for fantasy role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, and his streetwear passion project that marries the world of heavy metal and fantasy art called, DEATH SAVES.
Clown of Slipknot connects with marriage and family therapist Jeffrey Kashou for a conversation about the importance of mental health and well-being. Sharing personal losses and break through moments, the worlds of international musician and mental health professional intersect an a very illuminating way.
Daniel P. Carter of BBC’s Radio 1 joins clown of Slipknot for a conversation about the importance of staying creative during uncertain times on the latest installment of The Electric Theater. The guys revisit Slipknot’s landmark BBC performance from earlier this year, discuss Carter’s segue from visual art to music, and clown’s decade-in-the-making Look Outside Your Window project.
Clown welcomes festival producer and music industry veteran John Reese into The Electric Theater. During his tenure as an artist manager, Reese recalls listening to a demo of “Spit It Out” and the impromptu trip to Des Moines, Iowa that ensued shortly after. Recounting his first Slipknot experience and the inevitable signing of the band to Roadrunner Records is an essential piece of rock music history that makes this installment of the series particularly meaningful. Continuing on to discuss the current climate in the wake of Coronavirus and the future of live events, the discussion deals with unfortunate realities and genuine optimism.
Clown drops in with Dez Fafara of Devildriver for a discussion that explores the frontman’s connection to the Native American community, his continued passion to create compelling music, and the first time Slipknot toured with Coal Chamber. Fafara is regularly regarded as one of heavy music’s most engaging frontmen. His conversation with clown doubles down on that. From tour stories with Pantera to the fallout from the current pandemic, the exchange is an entertaining 80-minutes that passes all too quickly.
Lamb of God's Randy Blythe and clown dig deep into their shared passion for photography, chasing the adrenaline of doing something new artistically, Randy's time in the Czech Republic and more.
Clown talks with Matt Heafy of Trivium about streaming on Twitch and how the band began broadcasting their shows while on the road, their involvement and ongoing support from fans in the gaming and metal communities, moving on to discuss how the practice of Jiu-Jitsu and other fitness exercises come to be an alternative outlet for seeking mental and physical balance, his reactions and responses to negative commentary, and the importance of communicating and maintaining a level of empathy amongst one another.
"The brick will drop." This conversation was recorded on April 27, 2020, but it feels even more relevant today than ever before. Fletcher & Clown discuss COVID-19's economic impact on society and the inevitable tensions & social unrest it has played a part in globally.
Welcome to the Electric Theater. In this debut episode, Clown talks to Code Orange's Jami Morgan about the transition from drummer to frontman, opening for Slipknot on the road, performing in front of hostile crowds and more.