Corey Taylor On Almost Fronting Velvet Revolver 'I Was So Into That'

More of our Q&A with Slipknot's Corey Taylor

September 10, 2015

So tell me about you almost fronting Velvet Revolver? That short-circuited my brain. I couldn't even ?

Corey Taylor: I was so into that. And it just didn't happen, you know. It was cool getting to jam with those guys, getting to work on music and stuff. It just seemed like it was kind of being forced on a lot of people ? not that I was there, but that they were trying to make something work. You know what I'm saying? So when word came down the pike that I didn't get it, I wasn't surprised.

And honestly, I wasn't even bummed, because apparently, Slash had said something in an interview, and then realized that I was going to read the interview before he had a chance to tell me. So he immediately got a hold of me and said, 'Hey, I feel like an ass. This is going to hit the whatever. I just wanted you to know this is what's going on.' And I was like, 'Ah, dude, it's fine. It's all good.'

Did I want the gig? Sure. But, you know, at the same time, I only wanted it if it made sense. I only wanted it if people were really, really into it. There was enough going on with that band at the time, that it didn't seem like they wanted to jam with each other, let alone jam with me.

So, for me, it was just a matter of it were meant to be, it would've happened. And I'm still friends with all those guys. So, where do I lose? You know, like, Slash knows me by name. Duff knows me by name. I talk to those guys all the time. You know, like, it is what it is. I had a really good time doing it. I got to jam with some of my heroes.

That's pretty insane. The 18-year-old you would probably be crapping himself right now.

Oh, dude, 14 ? 14-year-old me. I saw Guns N' Roses open for Aerosmith in '86. And it was probably one of the greatest concerts I ever saw in my life. They were the ? they were my Rolling Stones. You know, they were my rock 'n' roll band. And they always will be, even as Axl tries to kill the name. Um, it is what it is, but there you go.

You heard the latest, that him and Slash have buried the hatchet?

I will believe it when I buy the ticket. Let's put it that way. I mean, because nobody gets more excited about the thought of the "Appetite" lineup coming back together.

Oh my god!

That would be ? I mean, there you go. I mean, dude, I would retire from touring, because I wouldn't want to go up against that. You know what I'm saying? And then I would follow them like I was a Deadhead. Like I would just go to every show. But that's only if it's the "Appetite" lineup ? or even if it's those guys with (Matt) Sorum.

Right.

Because I know that Steven (Adler) has some physical issues, but he can still play, man. I've seen him play. He can jam, dude. That dude knows how to pound.

I think that might be one of the singular greatest rock 'n' roll albums of all time.

Oh, dude, it's, top to bottom ? yeah, it's one of those albums that you cannot listen to and not go, 'Holy s---!' Like you put it on, and you feel it, even if you're not into the music, you feel it. There's something so dirty and so raw and so amazing about that album. And the songs are amazing. You know, people like to talk about the production or the attitude ? those f------ songs are ridiculous!

And do you remember how much of a paradigm shifter that was when it came out, because it sounded like nothing else. It literally sounded like nothing else.

It destroyed!

I remember when I got that cassette. I think I was a sophomore in high school. It literally blew my mind.

It was the one album that all my metal friends, all my skater friends, all my punk friends, all my hard rock friends could agree on.

It was the one album that you could throw on at a party and no one complained ?

? and everyone would love it. There were no complaints whatsoever.

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