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When a Slipknot fan thinks of percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan, they picture him wriggling around the stage like a madman, slamming on metal barrels and constantly posing like a dangerous lunatic. It's hard to imagine the guy shuffling around his house with the lights dim, crooning sweet pop songs into the broom handle like some scene out of a John Hughes movie — but that depiction might not be far off from Clown's offstage reality.
In a new interview with the Independent, Slipknot's co-founding percussionist tepidly revealed that he actually has a deep affection for mainstream pop music, particularly the tunes of two of the 21st century's biggest Top 40 stars.
"My hardcore fans are gonna hate me for what I say," he said. "Well, not hate me, but they're gonna be upset. I'm listening to a lot of Ariana Grande, some Christina Aguilera. I have a real love of pop."
That's pretty surprising! Although Slipknot's music has incorporated many highly melodic sections over the years, they've never come close to sounding anything like Grande's "7 rings" or Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle." Of course, Crahan qualified that while he loves listening to that caliber of pop on his own time, he doesn't ever want Slipknot to switch up their sound and cross over into that realm.
"I don't necessarily want to be a big pop artist, but Slipknot at this point is pop culture," he said. "So for me I want to stand right next to those people because they need to know what is happening on this side of art."
