Shawn Crahan

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Shawn Crahan

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Img_capt = Shawn Crahan performing in Slipknot at the Mayhem Festival in 2008
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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Michael Shawn Crahan
Alias = #6, Clown, Kong
Born = birth date and age|1969|9|24
Des Moines, Iowa
Instrument = Custom percussion, drums, backing vocals
Genre = Alternative metal, experimental rock, funk metal, indie pop, indie rock, industrial metal, nu metal, Metalcore, pop punk, progressive metal, psychedelic rock, rap metal
Occupation = Musician, songwriter
Years_active = 1993–present
Label = Roadrunner, Big Orange Clown, Nuclear Blast, Pale One, -ismist
Associated_acts = Slipknot, To My Surprise, Dirty Little Rabbits, Heads on the Wall,One Cup Fat,Quan
URL = (External links)
Notable_instruments =

Michael Shawn Crahan (born September 24, 1969), also known as Clown, or by his number #6, is an American musician known as one of the two custom percussionists of Slipknot, and the drummer of To My Surprise and Dirty Little Rabbits.

Personal life and career

Crahan was born in Des Moines, Iowa. In his youth, he performed in bands such as Heads on the Wall, One Cup Fat and Quan. By the early 1990s, Crahan was an alcoholic, which he exacerbated when he purchased a local bar in Des Moines, called The Safari. Frustrated by his lack of success, he says he would have turned to suicide had he not met his future wife, Chantal. ["Q Magazine", "My saviour, my hero", he says. "She saved my life."] Crahan's parents financed Slipknot early in its history, and he professes nothing but the utmost respect for them.

As well as lending his percussion talents to the band, Crahan has also sung backing vocals on a number of songs Slipknot has both recorded and performed live. He also wrote the original draft of "Tattered & Torn", which appeared on the band's self-titled album, "Slipknot". Outside Slipknot, Crahan has founded Big Orange Clown Records, a vanity label within Sanctuary Records, which has so far signed the metalcore band Gizmachi. He also acted as director for, and assembled Slipknot's 2006 DVD, "", while the band engaged a brief hiatus.

He also performed with To My Surprise, recording drums and vocals for the band's self-titled debut. The band received little interest due to their album being released amidst the success of Slipknot members Corey Taylor, James Root and Joey Jordison's side projects, Stone Sour and the Murderdolls, respectively. To My Surprise was later dropped by Roadrunner Records. In 2007, Crahan began performing as drummer for Dirty Little Rabbits. The band was a supporting act for Stone Sour during their North American tour in Summer 2007,cite web | title = Blabbermouth Article | author = | publisher = Blabbermouth | date = 2007-07-07 | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76314 | accessdate = 2007-07-12] and has since released one EP, titled "Breeding".

Crahan has a wife named Chantel and four children, two boys named Gage and Simon and two girls named Alex and Gabrielle. His eldest daughter Alex is currently working on an album, of which the release date is unknown.

Equipment

* Custom Pearl timpani style drums
* Pearl Competitor FFX-style marching snare (12x14)
* Vic Firth 2B American Classic drum sticks
* 2 empty beer kegs

Discography

;Slipknot
* 1996: "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat."
* 1999: "Slipknot"
* 2001: "Iowa"
* 2004: ""
* 2005: "9.0 Live"
* 2008: "All Hope Is Gone"

;To My Surprise
* 2003: "To My Surprise"

;Dirty Little Rabbits
* 2007: "Breeding"

Albums produced

* 2000: "L.D. 50" - Mudvayne
* 2001: "Invitation to the Dance" - 40 Below Summer
* 2003: "To My Surprise" - To My Surprise
* 2005: "The Imbuing" - Gizmachi

Filmography

* 1999: "Welcome to Our Neighborhood"
* 2002: "Disasterpieces"
* 2002: "Rollerball"
* 2006: ""
* 2008: ""

Trivia

. [cite web| url=http://www.metal-temple.com/interview.asp?id=159| title=Interview with Shawn Crahan a.k.a. Clown (No. 6) of Slipknot| publisher=Metal Temple| accessdate=2008-06-25]

* According to the Mayhem Festival Program, Crahan has some pieces of his deceased father's skull in a jar in his desk.

*Crahan plays drums on the bonus track Til We Die on their new release All Hope Is Gone.

*Crahan performed vocals onparts of the full length version of Danger - Keep Away from . The full length version is found on the special edition of the album.

References

External links

* [http://www.slipknot1.com Slipknot website]
* [http://www.tomysurprise.net To My Surprise website]
* [http://www.dirtylittlerabbits.com Dirty Little Rabbits website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/mshawncrahan Official MySpace]
*imdb name|id=0185749|name=Shawn Crahan
* [http://www.bigorangeclown.com Big Orange Clown Records website]