Leave it to Slipknot to kick over another table while everyone else is still arguing about the menu.
**Slipknot co-founder and resident chaos architect Shawn Crahan, better known to the world as Clown, has weighed in on the great AI panic… and surprise surprise, he’s not clutching his pearls.
Instead, he’s calling it “a professor in my pocket.”
And honestly? That’s one of the most Slipknot sentences ever uttered.
🧠 “A Professor In My Pocket” (But Louder)
Speaking recently, Clown explained that he’s not scared of AI tools creeping into creativity. He sees them as assistants, not replacements. Something to learn from, bounce ideas off, interrogate, then bend to your own warped will.
In his words, AI is knowledge on tap. A thinking partner. A shortcut to research, concepts, references and sparks of inspiration.
Not a bandmate.
Not a songwriter.
Not the thing bleeding on stage at 11pm.
Just a tool.
And if there’s one thing Slipknot have always been good at, it’s taking tools and turning them into weapons.
🔥 Metal Has Always Evolved (Despite the Screaming)
Every generation of heavy music has had its “this will ruin everything” moment:
- Distortion pedals
- Drum triggers
- Digital recording
- Pro Tools
- Synths
- Laptops on stage
And every time, metal didn’t die.
It mutated. Got angrier. Got smarter.
Clown’s stance feels cut from that same cloth. Use the tech, don’t let it use you. Learn faster, experiment harder, then go make something terrifyingly human with it.
AI didn’t write Iowa.
AI didn’t survive the road.
AI hasn’t earned the mask.
🤘 Slipknot Energy, Just With Wi-Fi
There’s something very on-brand about Clown embracing AI without romanticising it. No Silicon Valley waffle. No “this will save the world” nonsense. Just practical chaos.
He’s not handing over the keys.
He’s hot-wiring the engine.
And let’s be honest, the idea of Slipknot using AI as a research demon rather than a creative crutch is oddly comforting. Knowledge in the pocket. Rage still in the chest.
🧠 Final Thought From The Pit
AI might be clever.
Slipknot are experienced.
And if Clown sees it as another instrument in the noise arsenal, you can bet it’ll be twisted, abused, and thrown into the fire like everything else they touch.
Technology evolves.
Metal adapts.
Slipknot keep punching forward.
What do you reckon, butt?
Tool of the future or just another thing for metal to break? 🤘💬
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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