Vended’s Simon Crahan Comments On Slipknot Nepotism Claims

Alternative metal band Vended has undeniably received a significant early boost in their career, largely thanks to their family connections. With vocalist Griffin Taylor and drummer Simon Crahan both in the lineup, the band’s ties to Slipknot members Corey Taylor and M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan have undoubtedly helped raise their profile. Their fathers’ involvement has opened doors for Vended, securing them multiple high-profile opening spots at Slipknot shows.

However, despite the noticeable similarities in sound between Vended and their famous fathers’ band, the group has often faced accusations of relying on nepotism, drawing criticism from detractors.

In a recent interview with Metal Hammer, Griffin opened up about the emotional toll these criticisms took on him early in the band’s journey. “I was a teenager with a lot of feelings and emotions, and I didn’t know how to deal with it. It would just depress the fuck out of me,” he confessed.

Griffin also recounted some of the heckling he’s encountered during live performances, recalling moments when audience members would shout things like “Play Duality!” To which he would respond, “Wrong band, dude.”

Simon, however, was quick to shut down any suggestions that their opportunities were solely due to their famous fathers. He firmly responded to these claims in the Metal Hammer interview, clarifying that the band’s success and live shows stand on their own merits.

“My dad told me, ‘I would not put you on a tour if you weren’t good.’ We wouldn’t be playing festivals the way we do if we weren’t good. We’re a good band. We play good music. That’s why we’re here. We’ve discovered that talent ourselves. And everyone thinks it’s just been handed to us.”

While many might assume that Griffin Taylor drew inspiration from his father’s vocal style, in the same Metal Hammer interview, he revealed that one of his biggest musical influences is actually David Gunn, the vocalist of the Flint, MI-based alternative metal band King 810. Griffin spoke about how Gunn’s impact shaped his own approach to music, saying:

“When I was in high school, I listened to him all the time. I did everything to emulate his screams and get deep and guttural and disgusting. Practising his music really helped me get that deep stuff.”

Vended released their highly anticipated self-titled debut album this past September. Looking ahead, the band is gearing up for their next major tour this Spring, where they will be opening for British metalcore acts While She Sleeps and Bury Tomorrow on their North American run

04/02 Cleveland, OH – The Roxy
04/03 Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
04/05 Montréal, QC – Olympia
04/06 Boston, MA – Paradise
04/07 New York, NY – Irving Plaza
04/09 Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
04/10 Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
04/11 Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
04/12 Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre – The Lyric
04/13 Lawrence, MO – The Granada
04/15 Denver, CO – The Oriental
04/16 Salt Lake City, UT – Soundwell
04/18 Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
04/19 Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre
04/20 Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater
04/21 Tucson, AZ – Encore
04/23 Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall
04/24 Dallas, TX – South Side Music Hall
04/25 San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
04/26 Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Midtown
04/28 Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
04/29 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade – Heaven
04/30 Charlotte, NC – The Underground

The entire video can be found at Metal Hammer.

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