The Gen Z Slipknot fans of Download Festival

Last weekend, around 100,000 people dressed in black made their way to a field in rural Leicestershire, UK. It’s a pilgrimage that metalheads and moshers have made for 20 years now, since Download launched in 2003 with Iron Maiden and Audioslave at the top of the bill. To celebrate the anniversary, the festival added a bonus day to proceedings and booked Metallica, Bring Me the Horizon and Slipknot to headline. Despite an increased capacity, tickets sold out for the first time ever, suggesting that metal is not just alive and well but thriving.

While there were certainly old-timers in attendance – clearly regulars since their teens in the early-00s – there were a whole lot of young people in the crowd too. We are, after all, fairly deep into an era of embracing hardcore aesthetics in the mainstream. Fashion has been co-opting metal fonts for years and even Phoebe Bridgers opens her concerts by walking out to the sounds of Disturbed’s “Down With the Sickness”. Nostalgia addicts Heaven by Marc Jacobs just collaborated with Deftones, and new fans are discovering older bands through TikTok and TV shows (Metallica had a surge of new followers last summer when “Master of Puppets” featured in a pivotal, Eddie Munson-centric Stranger Things scene).

Musicians breaking through today are a lot more genre-fluid too. With endless resources to take inspiration from and the freedom to experiment without constraints, the likes of 100 gecs and Frost Children are choosing to incorporate elements of hardcore and screamo into their sound. It’s a fitting evolution, given that metalheads are guaranteed to be the most accepting people around; having long been notorious for welcoming misfits and outsiders from all backgrounds with open arms. Very Gen Z of them.

It’s something epitomised by Slipknot and their fandom of “maggots”, a name originated by one of the band’s drummers, Shawn “Clown” Crahan. “You’re 14 and you feel that rebellion in you,” he said in a recent interview. “The world is telling you no; you listen to us, and we help you find confidence to say yes.” By promoting acceptance, inclusivity and self-confidence through a lens dripping in blood and gore, the Grammy Award-winning nine-piece mastered their change-making theatrical formula decades ago. 

Curious to meet some fresh-faced metal fans, we sent photographer Jody Evans along to Donington Park for Slipknot’s headline performance. Taking their portraits, Jody quizzed them on their favourite masks, what Slipknot means to them, and how they discovered the band in the first place.

Ebony, 18, Bolton

Why did you come to Download? For Slipknot. How did you discover the band? Through my friend two years ago. I love how expressive they are. Which is the greatest Slipknot mask of all time? Joey’s All Hope Is Gone mask. And what’s your favourite Slipknot song? “The Shape” from Iowa.

@ch3rryw4ves

Vincenzo, 18, Northampton

Why did you come to Download? For friends and music. How long have you been a Slipknot fan? Since I was 12. I’m excited to see a band that has had such an impact on the metal scene. Which is the greatest Slipknot mask of all time? Paul Gray’s. And what’s your favourite Slipknot song? “Pulse of the Maggots”.

Meg, 17, Birmingham

Why did you come to Download? To feel accepted.How did you discovered Slipknot? I heard “Psychosocial” and fell in love with them. What do they band mean to you? Crazy people being their crazy selves. Which is the greatest Slipknot mask of all time? Taylor 04. And what’s your favourite Slipknot song? “Eyeless”.

Kerry, 24 & Lara, 21, Brighton

Why did you come to Download?
K: It’s my 9th year anniversary here – I love it! How long have you been Slipknot fans? L: I found them on 8Tracks when I was 13. K: My sister Lara showed them to me and initially I was shocked but then I got into them. What are your favourite Slipknot songs? L: “Eyeless”. K: “Spit It Out”.

@kerrymoor @laramoor

Rohan, 14, Birmingham

Why did you come to Download? I feel at home here. How did you discover Slipknot? My friend showed me “Duality” and I loved it. I’ve been wanting to see them live for ages and I can’t wait. Which is the greatest Slipknot mask of all time? Joey Jordison’s in 2009 or Corey Taylor’s in 2004. And what’s your favourite Slipknot song? “Wait and Bleed”.

Nicki-Louise, 16, Folkestone

Why did you come to Download? To have fun. How did you discover Slipknot? Through my dad. What do the band mean to you today? Everything. Which is the greatest Slipknot mask of all time? Jay Weinberg. And what’s your favourite Slipknot song? “Surfacing”.

Lucie, 18 & Beth, 19, Northampton

Why did you come to Download? L: To discover new music and see people like me. B: To feel like a family. How did you discover Slipknot? L: My uncle has a Slipknot tattoo and I asked him about it. B: They were my gateway into metal about four years ago. Which is the greatest Slipknot mask of all time? L: Corey Taylor’s Iowa mask. B: Joey Jordison’s. And what’s your favourite Slipknot song? L: “Vermillion, Pt. 2.” B: “Eyeless”.

Ben, 19, Northampton

Why did you come to Download? To listen to my favourite bands. What do Slipknot mean to you? They revolutionised metal. Which is the greatest Slipknot mask of all time? Shawn Crahan’s. And what’s your your favourite Slipknot song? “Scissors”.

Renn, 19, Macclesfield

Why did you come to Download? To see my favourite bands and meet new people. How did you discover Slipknot? When I was a child my uncle played them and I thought it was the coolest music. What do the band mean to you? They turned me into who I am today. Which is the greatest Slipknot mask of all time? Corey’s in The Grey Chapter. And what’s your favourite Slipknot song? “Custer” or “The Devil In I”.

Scarlett, 17, Isle of Wight

Why did you come to Download? To see my favourite metal artists. How did you discover Slipknot? A school friend got me to listen to them when I was 13. “Psychosocial” was the first song I heard and I loved them instantly. Which is the greatest Slipknot mask of all time? Joey Jordison’s last mask. And what’s your favourite Slipknot song? “Killpop” or “The Nameless”.

Mia, 17, Manchester

Why did you come to Download? Slipknot. What do Slipknot mean to you? I love how their music makes me feel and I love the masks. Which is the greatest Slipknot mask of all time? Joey’s. And what’s your favourite Slipknot song? “Custer”.

Faux Boy, 23, London

Why did you come to Download? To party and forget the real world. How did you discover Slipknot? Tumblr and late night obsessions. What do the band mean to you? Liberation. Which is the greatest Slipknot mask of all time? The pig mask! And what’s your favourite Slipknot song?
“Before I Forget” and “Psychosocial”.

Credits

Photography Jody Evans