Shawn Crahan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shawn Crahan
Crahan performing with Slipknot in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Michael Shawn Crahan
Also known as	Clown #6 Kong
Born	(1969-09-24) September 24, 1969 (age 55)
Genres	Alternative metal nu metal
Occupation(s)	Musician director
Instruments	Percussion drums vocals
Years active	1992–present

Michael Shawn Crahan (born September 24, 1969), often known as "Clown", is an American musician. He is a co-founder and percussionist for the band Slipknot. He is the only original member still in the band. In Slipknot, he is known as #6.

Shawn Crahan helped start Slipknot in 1995. He formed the band with bassist Paul Gray and former singer Anders Colsefni. Crahan has been with Slipknot the longest. He also helps create Slipknot's music videos and other media. Outside of Slipknot, he was part of two other bands: To My Surprise and Dirty Little Rabbits. He also directed a movie called Officer Downe in 2016.

About Shawn Crahan

Shawn Crahan married his wife, Chantel, in June 1993 in Des Moines, Iowa. They had four children together. Shawn is also a photographer and filmmaker. In 2012, he released a photo album about Slipknot called "The Apocalyptic Nightmare." He also appeared as an actor in the 2012 film The Devil's Carnival. Shawn's son, Simon, plays drums in a band called Vended. Another member of Vended is Griffin, the son of Corey Taylor, who is also in Slipknot.

Music Career

Crahan performing in 2011

Starting Slipknot

In 1995, Shawn Crahan formed a metal band called the Pale Ones. He was the drummer. He wanted to add more percussion, so he brought in Joey Jordison to play drums. This allowed Shawn to focus on percussion. The first singer, Anders Colsefni, also played percussion. This gave the band a unique, layered drum sound.

In 1996, they released a song called "Slipknot." Joey Jordison suggested they change the band's name to Slipknot. They then released their first official album, which they now call their demo. Shawn felt the original singer's voice was too harsh. He thought this made it hard for the band to get a record deal. So, he brought in Corey Taylor from another local band, Stone Sour. Corey's singing was more melodic.

Slipknot signed a record deal a few years later. They released their first official album in 1999. The band became very popular that same year by touring with Ozzfest. In Slipknot's early days, Shawn sometimes brought dead cow heads onto the stage during performances.

Shawn's Role in Slipknot

Besides playing percussion, Shawn Crahan has also sung backing vocals on many Slipknot songs. He also wrote the first version of "Tattered & Torn." This song appeared on the band's first album, Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat., which featured the original singer. A different version of "Tattered & Torn" was later released on their self-titled album.

Shawn Crahan has also started his own record label, Big Orange Clown Records. This label is part of Sanctuary Records. It has signed the band Gizmachi. Shawn also directed Slipknot's 2005 DVD, Voliminal: Inside the Nine, when the band was taking a break.

Other Music Projects

Shawn also played guitar and sang for his band To My Surprise. They released their first album, To My Surprise. This band didn't get much attention. This was because other Slipknot members, Corey Taylor, Jim Root, and Joey Jordison, had successful side projects at the time. To My Surprise was later dropped by their record label.

In 2007, Shawn started playing drums for Dirty Little Rabbits. This band opened for Stone Sour during their tour in 2007. They released an EP called Breeding. They later signed a deal with The End Records.

Shawn has also remixed songs for other bands. In 2009, he remixed "Sleep With One Eye Open" for Bring Me the Horizon. He also remixed "Welcome Home" for Coheed and Cambria. In 2010, he remixed "This War Is Ours (The Guillotine Part II)" for Escape the Fate. In 2011, he remixed "Angels of Clarity" for Dead by April.

Shawn also formed a new band called The Black Dots of Death. They released their first album, Ever Since We Were Children, in 2011.

Masks and Influence

Shawn Crahan is known for many things that make Slipknot unique. This includes their large percussion section and their famous masks. Shawn started wearing a clown mask to rehearsals when the band was new. This led to the band's tradition of wearing masks.

Shawn has worn many different clown-themed masks during his time with Slipknot. One exception is his "death mask", which he wore in the music video for the song "Vermilion". His earliest and most famous mask was a happy-looking clown mask with orange hair.

Film Work

In June 2016, Shawn Crahan directed his first movie, Officer Downe. This film was based on a graphic novel. Shawn also directed music videos for other bands. These include "A-M-E-R-I-C-A" by Motionless in White and "We Are" by Hollywood Undead.

Discography

With Slipknot

• Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996)
• Slipknot (1999)
• Iowa (2001)
• Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004)
• All Hope Is Gone (2008)
• .5: The Gray Chapter (2014)
• We Are Not Your Kind (2019)
• The End, So Far (2022)

With To My Surprise

• To My Surprise (2003)

With Dirty Little Rabbits

• Breeding (2007)
• Simon (2009)
• Dirty Little Rabbits (2010)

With The Black Dots of Death

• 2011: Ever Since We Were Children

Filmography

• 1999: Welcome to Our Neighborhood
• 2002: Disasterpieces
• 2002: Rollerball
• 2006: Voliminal: Inside the Nine
• 2008: Repo: The Genetic Opera – percussion
• 2008: Nine: The Making of "All Hope Is Gone"
• 2010: (sic)nesses
• 2011: Goat
• 2012: The Devil's Carnival – The Tamer
• 2012: A Beary Scary Movie
• 2012: We Are (Hollywood Undead music video)
• 2013: A M E R I C A (Motionless in White music video)
• 2015: “The Vatican Tapes” - cameo
• 2016: Officer Downe – director
• 2017: Day of the Gusano – director
• 2020: Pollution – director (short film)

See also

In Spanish: Shawn Crahan para niños