Stone Sour: “Much More Than Just Another Side Project”

If you’re a fan of rock or metal music on any level, you’re bound to have at least heard of the band Slipknot. Slipknot is a unique nine piece, mask wearing heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa that has skyrocketed to the forefront of hard music over the least few years. This massive popularity has not only resulted in huge album sales and sold out concerts, but it has also drawn attention to other projects that the members of the band are involved with. While Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison is currently busy playing and touring with Al Jourgensen and Ministry, Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor has been active with his other band Stone Sour. And even though some may like to pass Stone Sour off as just another side project, it might come as a surprise to know that the band has existed for even longer than Slipknot.

Years prior to the colossal fame he’s now experiencing, Corey Taylor was a kid working in an adult store called the “Adult Emporium” while on the side trying to make a name for himself in metal music. Around the year 1992, Taylor and his friend Joel Ekman, both huge fans of metal music, decided to form a band together. They agreed to name the band Stone Sour after the alcoholic drink that consists of whiskey, mixed with orange juice and some sour mixed in. Shortly after forming, Taylor’s long time friend Shawn Economaki agreed to join as the bass player, but it wasn’t until 1995 that the band’s lineup was solidified with the addition of guitarist James Root. Unfortunately, the band never really got off the ground as Taylor was approached and agreed to become the new lead singer of fellow Des Moines band Slipknot in 1997. At this point Stone Sour was thought to be finished as Root also ended up joining Slipknot while Economaki became the band’s tour manager and Ekman left music to form a family.

As the 1990s came to a close, Taylor and Slipknot were starting to become one of the premier metal bands in the United States while Stone Sour was just a distant memory of the past. Stone Sour remained inactive until the year 2000 when Taylor’s friend Josh Rand who had formerly been involved with Stone Sour, approached Taylor with some songs he’d been working on. Taylor ended up liking what he heard and the two got together to write and record songs over the next year and half. The result of this songwriting collaboration ended up being the reformation of the original lineup of Stone Sour in 2002 and the release of the band’s debut self-titled record the same year. The album was well received by fans as well as critics and produced a major hit single for the band with the song “Bother.” “Bother” ended up being a crossover radio hit and it made people take notice that Taylor could do more than just shout and scream. Stone Sour’s debut record ended up being certified gold and received two Grammy nominations, but the band was largely inactive for 2004 and 2005 because of the release of Slipknot’s latest disc.

Now almost exactly four years after the release of their debut album, Stone Sour is back with the release of Come What(ever) May. After a year and a half of touring with Slipknot, Taylor and the rest of the band regrouped to begin recording the new record in January, 2006. To take care of the production duties, the group employed Nick Raskulinecz, a well respected rock producer who has previously worked with the Foo Fighters and Velvet Revolver. The band had more time to write and craft songs for Come What(ever) May and it shows through on some of the more melodic songs on the record. Taylor describes the new album as different than anything he has ever done, largely because of the fact that he is doing more singing rather than the screaming that fans have come to expect from him with Slipknot. In the month that it has been out, Come What(ever) May has been receiving rave reviews for its musical originality. Taylor has also committed himself to playing and touring with Stone Sour for the rest of 2006 and much of 2007, a telling sign that Stone Sour is a full fledged band and much more than just Corey Taylor’s side project.