How did the band members of Slipknot meet?

The members of Slipknot initially met in the late 1990s in Des Moines, Iowa, through a combination of local music scenes and mutual friends. Founding member Shawn "Clown" Crahan and bassist Paul Gray were instrumental in forming the band, with other members like Corey Taylor and Jim Root joining later. They bonded over a shared passion for heavy music and a desire to create a unique sound and theatrical live performances. This collaboration eventually led to the formation of Slipknot, which debuted their self-titled album in 1999.