Radio Exile | Slipknot Goes Guerilla?

Slipknot Goes Guerilla?

By Jon Sevastra August 30, 2008 Post a comment | Email the author

I have always been excessively critical of Slipknot. I’m just barely a fan of their music. They’re not that great live, although the theatrics are respectable; nine guys in the band seems gimmicky if not ridiculous. I have yet to understand how they have made it as big as they have, I have seen them live twice (and I do actually own an album), but I just don’t get the hype. Which is exactly what I peg it as – hype.

Rants and videos after the jump…

Well, now I know where this type of unwarranted hype comes from. On the heels of their new album that dropped this past Tuesday the 26th, the band is trying to go number 1 on Billboard, I can’t fault them for that if they think they have a chance.

I guess they are still really miffed about only debuting at number 2 with 243,000 units first week for their last outing in 2004. I understand the need for unique and unusual marketing in this day and age to get your name out but this has gone too far. The band has promoted and called to arms all of their New York City fans to ‘guerilla style’ overrun national morning newscasts ABC’s “”GMA” and NBC’s “Today Show” dressed like dorks and sporting the band name to promote the new album. As far as I can count, it looks like two kids showed up in black t-shirts with a poster to “terrorize” the Today Show and I couldn’t see how many showed up at GMA to “wreak havoc” being that they film on the second floor. Wow, that will certainly make Slipknot number 1. High five guys, job well done.

What ever happened to addressing your target audience? Do we really think that tween and twentysomething mainstream metalheads are up watching the news at 7 am on a Saturday morning? Forchrissake people! Have you ever tried to convince your grandma to listen to Slipknot? This would get the same type of ridiculous outcome. Some people would laugh, most would be offended and some poor old lady might be overtly stunned and swallow her teabag or choke on a crumpet. C’mon you nincompoops, leave the “shocking crap” to Marilyn Manson; he’s mastered it and we all expect it. This is just a weak-ass cry for help in a flailing music universe and your label put you up to it. For shame.

Oh, did I mention they’re making this push for sales to stay ahead of rapper The Game who’s expected to move 250,000 units first week? (Who the hell made that prediction?) If they wanted to be really shocking they would pull this stunt at a taping of Showtime at the Apollo. That’ll steal away some of The Game’s fans for sure!

You know what, I feel so bad that no one came out to show support that I’m gonna go the extra step to help these guys out. I mean, I already promoted their release and I do feel a little bad for them. So here’s a video of them headlining Mayhem fest a few weeks ago. You might as well see them to know what you’re getting yourself into before you become one of the “maggots.”