SLIPKNOT percussionist M. Shawn Crahan (better known as Clown) is featured in a new interview with PureVolume.com. An excerpt is available below:

Q: Knotfest, your first festival ever, will launch in Iowa in August. Talk a little bit about that—I read it was going to be a "dark festival experience."

Clown: "It’s something we’ve wanted to do forever. In the early days of the band, we did Ozzfest and one tour and that was that. We couldn’t get on any bills. Organizers could never make it work because there were nine of us, so we just started headlining our own shows. Then METALLICA took us out, and we started get on some festivals. We’ve headlined every single European festival—you name it—and we always thought they were great because their festivals would last four days, and one night it would be metal, another hip-hop, another pop. We thought it would be great if we could make our own festival with our own thought process. We just want to do what we want to do with things that we think should be brought to rock n’ roll. At Knotfest you’re going to get assaulted. You’re going to walk in and smell like Slipknot all weekend long. We’ve had a tragedy with Paul (Gray, Slipknot's bassist who passed away in 2010) and we’ve been trying to figure that out . . . it’s just bringing more than just the band. We’re bringing the band’s ideas."

Q: What pushed you forward after Paul’s death?

Clown: "What drove us … I think just the fact that our fans are so important to us. When it first happened, we didn’t know what to think or feel. I started the band with Paul and it’s hard to think of going on without him; I still have a lot of goals. But there’s always just going to be nine members. He’s #2, that was his number, and he’ll never not be with us. We’ll always be nine forever. If we ever decide to get another bass player we’ll worry about it then, but he won’t have a number. There’s only nine."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

As previously reported, Slipknot has announced that they will broadcast their final live performance of 2012 worldwide via Pay Per View, during the group’s first-ever Knotfest, a two-date metal and hard rock festival. The official broadcast site was launched on July 11th at this location.

Slipknot’s Clown commented: “One of our long-time dreams, is finally coming to fruition with the creation of Knotfest. Our goal was to create a festival experience which screamed our vision. It means everything for everyone to see the live spectacle we’re creating in the flesh, but we understand some fans around the world can’t be at the show. We've now made it possible for you to be there in spirit-so join us Live on August 18th.”

The Slipknot Live at Knotfest event can be accessed from any internet device at $14.95 for early bird fans starting today, July 11th through August 11th. The week before the event, the price will rise to $19.95. Fans who purchase early will receive full access to Slipknot Saturdays which begin Saturday, July 14th (and continue each Saturday until the event) and feature exclusive Slipknot performances and video footage documenting the road to Knotfest.

Day-of-show footage includes a behind the scenes tour of the festival grounds, pre-show interviews with Knotfest artists and Mistress Juliya, the high definition main stage performance of Slipknot as well as exclusive post-show interviews with the band. The entire Slipknot Live at Knotfest package is available to purchasers for on-demand viewing for 30 days following the event.

Knotfest dates are as follows:

August

17 - Council Bluffs, IA - Mid America Motorplex
18 - Somerset, WI, Minneapolis, MN - Somerset Amphitheater