ABC/Randy HolmesSlipknot guitarist Jim Root says it “feels pretty awesome” that the band’s new album We Are Not Your Kind debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
“It’s sort of like a validation,” Root tells Billboard. “You work really hard and you hope it pays off, and [No. 1] is like feet on the ground. That’s the people speaking. So it’s a good feeling.”
For Root personally, the success of We Are Not Your Kind feels particularly good because he was nervous at first about the direction of the new material.
“I remember early on my opinion was, ‘This all sucks,'” Root admits. His fears were assuaged, though, by percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan.
“He’d just shake his head and be like, ‘Brother, let me tell you what we got here. It’s amazing. Just keep doing what you’re doing and it’s gonna be great,'” Root recalls. “And he was right.”
Slipknot recently wrapped a U.S. headlining tour in support of We Are Not Your Kind, and will play the upcoming Louder than Life and Aftershock festivals this fall. They’ll then head to Australia in October to open for Metallica.
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