Corey Taylor
As the masked, manic voice of Slipknot, he channels primal rage and vulnerability, becoming a defining figure in modern heavy metal's sonic and emotional landscape.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American musician·Birthday: December 8·Generation X
Biography
Corey Taylor's story is one of survival forged into sound. Growing up in Iowa with a tumultuous family life, he found refuge in music, fronting local bands before his life changed with an audition tape for a mysterious Des Moines collective called Slipknot. Donning mask #8, Taylor became the furious, articulate heart of the band's chaotic live spectacle. His voice, capable of shifting from a guttural roar to a clear, melodic tenor, gave Slipknot's aggressive music an unexpected depth of feeling. Simultaneously, he led the hard rock band Stone Sour, a vehicle for his more traditional songwriting and singing, proving his versatility was no act. Beyond music, Taylor has authored candid books about his life and thoughts, hosted TV shows, and emerged as a sharp, often humorous commentator on culture and his own industry. He represents a rare bridge in metal: an artist whose intensity is matched by his intellect, who transformed personal demons into anthems for millions, all while refusing to be pigeonholed by the masks he wears.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Corey was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Corey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Corey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As lead vocalist of Slipknot, he helped propel the band to worldwide fame with albums like 'Iowa' and 'Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses),' which debuted at number one on the Billboard chart.
- Led the rock band Stone Sour, whose single 'Through Glass' became a major crossover hit, topping the mainstream rock charts.
- Authored several New York Times bestselling books, including 'Seven Deadly Sins' and 'You're Making Me Hate You.'
- Won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for the Slipknot song 'Before I Forget.'
Did You Know?
He is an avid collector of horror memorabilia and rare books.
He has a large tattoo of the Green Bay Packers 'G' logo on his left shoulder, reflecting his Wisconsin fandom.
He was a guest vocalist on the Roadrunner United album 'The All-Star Sessions,' contributing to multiple tracks.
He has voiced characters in several video games, including 'The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon' and 'Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard.'
““I'm not here to be a rock star. I'm here to be a musician, to be an artist, and to be a good father.””
