Slipknot’s Corey Taylor Talks Racism In Metal, Says It’s A ‘Bigger Problem’


Slipknot’s frontman Corey Taylor is opening up about racism in metal and is assuring his fans that they won’t ever have to worry about their band doing something idiotic like Pantera frontman Philip Anselmo did when he addressed a crowd at a festival with a Nazi salute.

“I don’t ever want our fans to feel like we’re judging them because of color, religion, culture, upbringing, etc. We welcome everyone, we always have and we always will,” Taylor told The Guardian during a recent interview.

Tayor’s interview came after Philip Anselmo was filmed at the Dimebash event, a tribute to Pantera’s late guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, on January 22 giving a Nazi salute and shouting “white power.” Anselmo initially said he was making a joke regarding the white wine that was served to him and his bandmates, but he later issued a statement apologizing for his behavior, and acknowledging that it was inappropriate.

Philip Anselmo Nazi salute
Philip Anselmo addresses festival crowd with Nazi salute
[Photo by Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images]
Read Anselmo’s apology statement in its entirety below:

“Philip H Anselmo here, and I’m here to basically respond to all the heat I’ve been getting that I deserve completely.

I was at the Dimebash, and it was extremely late at night. There was heavy-duty talk between myself and those who love Dime. And heavy emotions were flowing, jokes were made backstage that transpired upon the stage, and it was ugly. It was uncalled for. And anyone who knows me and my true nature knows that I don’t believe in any of that; I don’t want to be part of any group. I’m an individual, and I am a thousand percent apologetic to anyone that took offence to what I said because you should have taken offence to what I said. And I am so sorry, and I hope you just … man, give me another chance to … just give me another chance. I love all of you. And anyone who’s met me, anyone who knows me knows that I love all of you. Bless you.”


While Anselmo’s actions were definitely uncalled for, Taylor said that racism in metal is actually a bigger problem than what happened that night. Although Slipknot have dedicated their careers to fighting hate and racism, not all bands feel the same way, and many times people are discriminated against in the metal community.

“I will say this. This is a bigger problem than what happened that night. Slipknot has dedicated itself to bringing people together, to fighting racism, to fighting hate in general since the day we were started. I don’t have time for people who judge other people by the colour of their skin. If that in itself offends some of my fans, then I’m sorry, you’re wrong.”

Taylor also admitted that it’s not just the metal community that has a problem with racism. He said all genres have their own incidents with racism, and although he thought it was being phased out, he was wrong and will spend his time trying to combat it.

Corey Taylor on racism
Slipknot’s frontman Corey Taylor talks racism in the metal community
[Photo by Raphael Dias / Stringer/ Getty Images]
“I know there is a problem in metal, and it all comes down to, at least in America, where you grow up and what that culture is passed on from: parents, family members, friends, adults,” Taylor continued. “It’s a generational thing. I thought we were close to phasing it out, but unfortunately I was proven wrong. So I just dedicate myself to fighting it. It’s across the board in music, though – it’s not a specifically metal thing. But it has come up in the metal community. It’s risen its ugly head because of the incident we’re talking about.”

The metal community, according to Corey Taylor, is generally a very diverse group of people from all walks of life. He said his band welcomes all types of fans, including the misfits. He said racism is a problem, but not a very prominent one, and he believes it can be eradicated with some work from himself and others in the metal community.

[Photo by Michael Kovac / Stringer/ Getty Images]

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