Slipknot percussionist M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan has opened up about a serious health issue he discovered following the band’s most recent touring cycle. Speaking during a newly released episode of the ‘Tetragrammaton With Rick Rubin’ podcast, the longtime masked musician revealed that doctors informed him he would need heart surgery after experiencing alarming symptoms.
The conversation with legendary producer Rick Rubin covered much of Slipknot’s history and Crahan’s decades-long dedication to the band, including the physical and emotional toll that commitment has taken on him over the years. During the discussion, Clown also spoke candidly about chronic back pain, exhaustion, and the pressure of continuing to perform at a high level into his mid-50s.
According to Crahan, the heart issue was discovered after he sought medical attention when he began feeling unwell following the band’s last run of shows.
“You know Slipknot is good for me, always has been. And I hate that. I hate that it keeps me alive. You know what I mean, Rick? Like it keeps me alive. It makes me drink water. It makes me… It gets the bad smoke that I had once out of me. It gets the tox… you know, it keeps me alive. It gives me desire. It gives me will. Gives me purpose. And I can’t stand it. It’s such a priority of existence. And I have to do it.”
“I have a skipping heart and I got to get a surgery. And I found this out after my last tour. I went in, I wasn’t feeling good, and I went in and the nurse was trying to get an EKG thing going on me or whatever and it just wasn’t happening. I kind of fell asleep and I woke up. I’m like, ‘Are you going to get this thing?’ And she’s like, ‘Oh, it’s not working.’ They thought I was having a heart attack right there.”
Crahan explained that doctors discovered an irregular heartbeat and initially feared he might require a pacemaker. However, he said the procedure he ultimately needs is far less invasive and should improve his quality of life significantly.
“Anyway, my heart skips and apparently I’ve taught myself to be like a cross country runner.”
“So, I’m overweight and my brain is so strong that it tells this stuff what to do. So, my standing heart rate at night is 43 and during the day I get down to 33. [It] hasn’t happened since I’ve been here with you, which is good, because I’ll go from ‘on’, to just straight up I feel like I’m dying.”
“So, I got to get a surgery. It’s a very easy surgery. You’re usually out on the same day. It’s not like they rip you open. This is something about the electricity.”
Clown admitted that the possibility of needing a pacemaker initially made him fear his days of touring with Slipknot could be over entirely.
“But at first, they thought maybe I needed a pacemaker. And I was like, ‘Doc, listen, I get a pacemaker. I’m done, right? Touring, Slipknot?’ So he goes, ‘Oh, no. You’re going to feel better.’ And I just I lost it.”
“I was like, I can’t get out of this to save my life. I’m like, there is nothing, not even my heart. It’s going to be better because of Slipknot.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Crahan reflected on the origins of Slipknot’s iconic numbering system, explaining how each member chose their now-famous numerical identity during the band’s formative years. He also discussed the emotional impact of losing bassist Paul Gray and drummer Joey Jordison, calling them two of the greatest hard rock songwriters of all time.
Speaking on Gray’s passing and the difficulty of continuing the band afterward, Crahan shared:
“He’s the whole reason I’m sitting here. He hijacked me from my art career.”
“So many people innately wanted to say, so blindly, well, ‘You know, Paul would want you to go on’, and I wouldn’t say much. And then finally, I had enough. And I’m like, did anyone think that maybe I might not want to go on without my friend?”
He also acknowledged the band’s current lineup while admitting that recreating the chemistry of Slipknot’s early years is impossible.
“The new guys — They’re not new guys — They’re people. They’re my friends and I got them in and they’re great. They’re wonderful. I love them and we have such a great time and good things are happening.”
“But it’s no better than writing that song in a basement. It’s certainly no better without one of my best friends who was the genius. Him and Joey, they’re two of the greatest hard rock writers of all time.”
The full interview with Clown and Rick Rubin is available now via the ‘Tetragrammaton’ podcast.
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