Slipknot is a 9 member band. Made up of the most talented musicians from the Des Moines Iowa area. They were considered a super group once forming the band. Made up of the members in other bands who usually wrote all the music and did all the work. They put together their knowledge and passion in the music industry and started slipknot. Slipknot was formed by custom percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan and bassist Paul Dedrick Gray. After some line changes after a few years in the making. The band was finalized with its nine man lineup. Unchanged for over a decade. This lineup consisted of Sid Wilson (DJ), Joey Jordinson (Drums), Paul gray (Bassist), Chris Fehn (Custom Percussion), Craig Jones (Samples, Keyboards), Jim Root (Guitar), Shawn Crahan (Custom Percussion), Mick Thomson (Guitar) and Corey Taylor (Vocalist). In 1999 the band released their first album titled Slipknot. The album was met with great success. Being certified double platinum in the US and platinum in Canada and Britain. They continued an extensive tour throughout the US and Canada. Touring as well on Ozzfest 99. In 2001 they released the album Iowa. It was certified double platinum and started off their Iowa tour. They went on hiatus for 3 years, starting off side projects until releasing their third album, Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses) in 2004. They again started off a tour in support of the release, afterwards going on another hiatus for four yeas. People believing that the band had split up and was not going to tour. But those rumors were broken once All Hope Is Gone was released in 2008. Their most commercially successful album to date. It was the #1 pick on top 200 billboard. Making it Slipknot's best debut album. Once their tour was over they went on another hiatus for 6 years. But in between those six years tragedy and misfortunes hit the band. On May 28, 2010 Paul Dedrick Gray, founder and bassist for the band passed away on an overdose of drugs. From this, the remaining 8 members of Slipknot held an unmasked press conference to express their feelings about the situation, and the future of Slipknot. The first time fans have seen all 8 faces unmasked in one area. Slipknot continued to tour in 2011, playing at large festivals such as Rock In Rio, Monsters of Rock. In 2012 they created their own festival Knotfest. A two day metal festival based in Iowa. In 2013 Slipknots long time rummer and founder Joey Jordinson was fired from the band for unknown reasons. Although recording still happened and after a long wait, they returned with the same energy in 2014 releasing .5 The Gray Chapter. Just 4 days before their 2014 KnotFest based in California. As of now (January, 2015) Slipknot is on their European leg of their Prepare For Hell tour featuring Korn.