COREY TAYLOR: If SLIPKNOT's Upcoming Tour Doesn't Work, This Band Might Be Over

SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor was interviewed on the WGRD radio station when STONE SOUR performed at The Deltaplex in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 27, 2011 during the Avalanche Tour. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow.

On SLIPKNOT's upcoming summer shows, the band's first performances since the passing of bassist Paul Gray:

"Honestly, I've tried to figure out how to prepare for it and there really isn't a way; you just kind of have to prepare yourself for what you're going to do, and the emotions will naturally come.

"Paul's funeral was last [May] and two weeks later I was on the road. So it was pretty heavy duty. I mean, the first time I stepped on stage with any band, it was pretty heavy, and the fans were there. So the emotions are gonna come; you just have to prepare yourself to be able to do what you're gonna do.

"The way that we've been approaching is that it's a celebration of Paul, it's a celebration of his music, it's a celebration of the band that he and [percussionist] Clown started and then we helped make what it is. So, to me, I'm gonna try to keep the positivity as much as possible.

"It's gonna be a little bittersweet at the end of the day. But, you know, for me, this is kind of a baby step towards seeing what's gonna happen later. And nothing is happening immediately; I can tell everyone that. We have no plans for an album, we have no plans to do anything other than this tour at the moment. But if it goes well, if everyone is able to kind of pull together and really do what's right for Paulie, then we'll see what happens."

On why there has been such an inconsistency to the various public statements from all the SLIPKNOT bandmembers regarding the band's future and whether they have sat down to discuss their long-term plans in detail:

"No, that hasn't happened. The only thing we've really sat down together as a band and talked about was the tour, and what we're gonna do and whatnot. But I'm not the guy who's gonna sugarcoat anything, I'm not the one who's gonna spoonfeed false hope to the fans, especially about something like this. If this tour doesn't work, this band might be over — straight up. And I'm not gonna lie; I'm not the guy that's going to lie to the fans. I'm telling people as it is, because people [keep asking me], 'Any U.S. dates?' I'm like, 'Slow down, Beavis. Can we get through this and see what happens?'

"It's still a shock, man. I'm gonna be getting on stage without my brother. So until things make sense for me, I'm not gonna be the cheerleader — I just can't be. First of all, the fans would see through it. Second of all, I would feel terrible being that guy. So as long as I just keep it real and keep it in perspective, we'll see what happens."

On whether he is still in the running to be VELVET REVOLVER's new lead singer:

"No, I'm not VELVET REVOLVER's new lead singer. There's been so much speculation that I think that was one of the reasons that it kind of went away. At the end of the day, we got together, we jammed, some guys were feeling it, some weren't. It is what it is. And the last thing I need is a 12th band. Between writing and recording and writing with other people and writing books and whatnot, I'm set, I'm fine. I'm not losing any sleep about it. Plus I made some great friends."

On his plans for the rest of the year:

"I'm gonna take some well-deserved time off; it will be the first time I've had more than three weeks off in a long time, so I'm pretty stoked about that. And we're actually starting to work on new stuff for a STONE SOUR album — something very grandiose, something that could freak out a lot of people. And if we get to do it, it'll be huge and it'll be everything that anybody has ever wanted us to do."

SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison told Artisan News Service last month at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles that the band will carry on "with or without" Taylor, who has expressed reluctance about making a new SLIPKNOT record following Gray's passing.

Asked about Taylor's ambivalence toward continuing to work with SLIPKNOT, Jordison said, "You know what?! That's for him to answer. As far as I'm concerned, SLIPKNOT's my baby and I have a bunch of [new] songs written. And I'm in rehearsal right now with all the guys and it's completely on fire . . . As far as SLIPKNOT's concerned, it'll always exist — with [Corey] or without him. So that's it."

Both Jordison and percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan have said they would like to make a new album.

Former SLIPKNOT guitarist Donnie Steele has returned to the lineup to take over bass duties for the band's summer gigs.