Corey Taylor (born December 1973) is an American singer, songwriter and author best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Slipknot and the rock band Stone Sour. He is often identified by his stage number, #8, and by the mask he wears during performances with Slipknot. Taylor's public profile combines aggressive metal performance with melodic singing, spoken-word work and published writing.
Career and musical style
Taylor's voice is notable for its range and adaptability: he performs harsh screams and growls as well as clear, melodic lines. With Slipknot he helped popularize a theatrical, percussive form of nu-metal and extreme metal. With Stone Sour he explored more traditional hard rock and alternative metal songwriting. He has also released solo material and appeared as a guest vocalist across a variety of rock and metal projects.
Writing and other projects
Outside music, Taylor has written books that include memoir-style and reflective works, contributed essays and performed spoken-word tours. He has taken part in interviews, podcasts and occasional acting or cameo appearances, broadening his public reach beyond music. His work often addresses personal experience, the creative process and the culture around heavy music.
Legacy and notable facts
- Known for combining theatrical stagecraft with a strong songwriting sense.
- Recognizable for the mask and numeric identity used with Slipknot.
- Active in both aggressive metal and more melodic rock contexts.
- Author and frequent interviewee on music and culture.
For basic references and further reading, see these resources: biography reference 1, biography reference 2, interview archive, band page, Slipknot profile, Stone Sour profile, publisher or press link.