Slipknot percussionist Clown, whose real name is Shaun Crahan, has voiced strong support for artificial intelligence in music production, likening it to a 'professor in my pocket' that assists without overriding human input. In a recent interview, he emphasized AI's role as an accessible alternative to expensive producers. This stance contrasts with his bandmate Corey Taylor's earlier criticism of AI-generated music.
Slipknot's percussionist Clown has defended the use of AI, describing it as “a professor in my pocket who only wants to do what I ask it.” In an interview with The Escapist, the artist—real name Shaun Crahan—revealed he is “employing AI 190 percent” and has been using it “my whole life” as a creative tool for musicians.
Crahan explained that he has applied AI to transform “thousands and thousands” of poems he wrote since he was young into new forms. “No one needs to use it,” he noted, stressing its optional nature. As an example, he said: “Here are my words. Don’t change them. Don’t alter them. But show me some different ways to sing it.”
He compared AI favorably to traditional production methods, asking: “What’s the difference between me pulling out my pocket producer… or me trying to get a famous producer that might not even work with me and could potentially cost me $150,000… who will only give me one or two ways – I’m not mentioning any names!” Crahan added: “It’s still going to take me to sing it. And it will never be like it was… None of it can work without you, the human. It’s a giant oracle… but it needs you.”
This perspective differs from Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor's 2023 comments to Kerrang! Radio, where he expressed disdain for AI-generated music: “I don’t care for any of that crap dude, to be honest… I don’t know what people are trying to prove. Are they trying to prove that computers can do things just as good as people? Because if so, then what’s the point?”
Crahan's advocacy highlights ongoing debates in the music industry about technology's role in creativity, especially as bands like Slipknot navigate their 25th anniversary and future projects.
