A few years back, there was a very public falling out between long-time Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn (aka #3) and the rest of the killing crew from Iowa.
When Fehn first left Slipknot, the band issued a statement saying: “Slipknot’s focus is on making album #6, and our upcoming shows around the world, our best ever. Chris knows why he is no longer a part of Slipknot. We are disappointed that he chose to point fingers and manufacture claims, rather than doing what was necessary to continue to be a part of Slipknot. We would have preferred he not take the path that he has, but evolution in all things is a necessary part of this life.”
Fehn went on to attempt to sue the band after apparently discovering “Slipknot-affiliated business entities in different states” that were earning some of the other band members money that he had no access to. Eventually, though, he dropped the lawsuit entirely.
An interview that first took place in 2008 (but is now recirculating again on YouTube), sheds light on the fact that Fehn appeared to have issues with the rest of his bandmates since the beginning of his tenure with the group. When asked about memories from making Slipknot’s self-titled album, he responds:
“That was pretty much the hazing part for me. Oh man, that was a rough time for me because they wouldn’t let me record. Half way through the record they just wouldn’t let me record on any of the songs. They weren’t just going to hand this to me. It was difficult. To understand Slipknot back then was really difficult because it was such mental abuse. Just never getting any love from the guys at all. It was just a really hard time but I really really loved music man, so I think that’s kind of what drove me. Just knowing that the song ‘Spit It Out’- I knew it was special. I believed in that song.” He goes on:
“I ‘d be driving with Paul [late Slipknot member Paul Gray] and I was like ‘so am I gonna be number three?’ because obviously, you know, like everybody else has a number except for three. And he’s like ‘I don’t know man, you’re not getting a number yet’ and just shit like that. I was like God, man, these guys just fucking hate me.”
As the interview goes on, Fehn seems to state that their relationship did slowly get better over time, but that he often felt like the ‘Jason Newsted’ of the group. You can watch the interview for yourself below:
Percussionist Chris Fehn’s Lawsuit Against Slipknot Has Been Dropped