I don’t know if it’s due to the season of Halloween masks, but the band Slipknot has been on my mind as of late. Perhaps it’s also because their 20 year anniversary is coming up and frontman Corey Taylor recently revealed that he's begun lyric writing for a new Slipknot album. Whatever it is, I feels like the right time to look back at all the Slipknot live shows that I’ve survived and conquered.
 
Ozzfest June 30, 2001 in San Bernardino:
 
A pinnacle of metal concerts, in my opinion. Metal exuberance filled the Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion (that’s right, Blockbuster!) as metalheads bounced between the main stage and second stages. I vividly remember approaching the main stage with the sad knowledge that Drowning Pool’s last minute cancellation would prevent my own personal “let the bodies hit the floor” moment. But my frown quickly turned into upside down into a snarl as nine jumpsuited figures hit the stage. It was if a blinding light of metal fury was cast over the audience, cranking the mood from from eight to eleven. As the first notes rang out, I was actually nervous as opening acts Linkin Park, Papa Roach, and Nonpoint hadn’t quite warmed us up properly for such a heavy onslaught. It was like the metal equivalent of going from Kenny G to Slayer, you get what I’m saying?
 
As the show raged on, I witnessed a deranged clown smashing a trashcan with a bat, a gas masked DJ jumping from the stage-support into the audience, a long nosed gimp… you know what, I'll stop myself there. Suffice to say, it was the kind of that left me with a natural high and a ring in my heart (and ears) that started my love for a band I knew nothing about. I guess If you wanted to make it more poetic, that was the day I went from a young man to a maggot. 
 
Ozzfest July 31, 2004 in San Bernardino:
 
I returned to the now-called "Hyundai Pavilion," rocking the sweetest of Superjoint Ritual shirts that I won from a local rock radio booth. My friends were anchored to the main stage line up, but I had my eyes glued to that second stage. With the likes of Darkest Hour, DevilDriver, Unearth, Every Time I Die, Lacuna Coil, Atreyu, and Lamb of God… it was a veritable who’s who of amazing talent that would fight for my love on my “most played” on my IPod mini.
 
There was, however, one band that I was looking forward to the most. Dawning new masks and new black outfits, Slipknot hit the stage with a whole new level of polish. The insanity and crazy stage antics were still there, but it was different now, somehow even more pure and focused. At that point it was less of an embodiment of emotion and noise, and more like a singular drumline hellbent on unifying the audience with its music. And, sure, maybe I lost my left shoe in the pit, but it was well goddamn worth it for that experience!
 
And you can be that the mosh was unreal when “Before I Forget” dropped.
 
Mayhem Festival July 16, 2008 in Chula Vista:
 
Okay, this is one of the shows I actually wished was back in San Bernardino, because Chula Vista’s amphitheater was terrible. From the parking lot of horror to making me miss most of the side stage performances, to the staff frisking me three times because I was apparently the "most suspicious guy there.” However, for that night... I let it all slide.
 
After watching Five Finger Death Punch at the properly branded Jägermeister Stage, I took to my lawn seat watched the main stage as megaband after megaband came and went. To be fair the sound was great, but we felt so disconnected way in the back. This raised a serious question: would Slipknot suffer from this same effect? Will we not have the Slipknot experience if we were not front and center?! Will I ever remember why I thought it was a good idea to wear my dress shirt to a metal festival??!! All I knew at that moment was Slipknot was hitting the stage next and I wished I could be closer.
 
The sound cue goes off and the band hits the stage. Now brandishing newer, more morbid-er masks and a more military aesthetic to their black uniforms, they kicked off the proceedings. From a set list of ranging from big hits and deep dive charms, this performance blew away the prior disappointments. My bud and I headbanged in the back as “Psychosocial” blasted its way through the audience, giving us the biggest pop when we saw the turntablist, Sid Wilson, crawled on stage while having 2 broken ankles.

After that show, I had an epiphany: my love of the band was not just from their music and “crazy live” antics, it was also from the artistry and dedication they bring to the fans at every show making you feel a part of it, no matter if you are in the front or in the back. 
 
Knotfest October 25, 2014 in San Bernardino:
 
Back at the now "San Manuel Amphitheater," enjoying the array of mass talent that Slipknot brought to its self-branded festival. It was so refreshing to go to a metal festival that had such a huge lineup and had things to do at any time. It was like they created a festival that catered to the twisted minds of their fans by bringing upside down ferris wheel, a thunderdome, food trucks with appropriate names like “Grill Em All” and having lots of fire. The spectacle of this fest engulfed all who came and brought their senses to an overload, much like Sipknot's music. As day turned to night, it was time for the final act to hit the stage.  
 
Slipknot came on to an roaring crowd that had been fueled by the day devoted to stimulation and anticipation, waiting to hear the band that brought this festival to life. As I stood in the center in audience, the pit beginning in motion, I noticed some younger kids in the crowd. They reminded me that at one point I was just like them, wide eyed to the spectacle of the insane Slipknot live show. Having aged 13 years during the course of this journey just as I did, Slipknot might not be setting themselves on fire or smashing their heads into the audience at this point, but you can believe that still brought every ounce of the same intensity that I first witnessed in 2001. And that, my friends, is what will keep bringing me (and those kids) back to witness Slipknot over and over again.

Other highlights included Newjack Ella Mae, walking from the crowd to the stage during “Booed Up,” and Gladys Knight delivered an ultimate diva move by descending from Heaven to grace us all as she paid tribute to her friend Aretha Franklin. The 74 year-old was backed by nothing but perennial all-stars, Ledisi, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winas and Mary Mary. With a picture of a smiling Franklin angelically posted in the back of the stage, the Knight-led contingency erupted with a forceful and emotional medley of Gospel records that were stirringly soulful.
 
And of of course, one of the night’s most poignant moments occurred when XXXTentacion’s mom Cleopatra Bernard appeared onstage to accept her son’s posthumous win for Favorite Soul/ R&B album. “I’m so nervous, you guys,” said Bernard, who also was present to accept her son’s award Saturday at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Miami. “I am honored to accept this award on behalf of my son. I would like to thank the AMAs, his fans, and to everyone who made this possible. Thank you guys so much. I appreciate it.”

Click here for the full list of winners from the American Music Awards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Music_Awards_of_2018

Some things just sound right and make you feel that all is right in the hip-hop universe. Lil Wayne and Mannie Fresh working together is one of those things. The energetic MC and charismatic DJ have made for one of music's best tandems during two-plus decades, creating major hits and influencing culture.  While obviously the two have branched out since their Cash Money heyday, it was still special to see Fresh listed as producer on the recently released blockbuster, Tha Carter V.  The Mannie-helmed “Start This Shit Off Right” and “Perfect Strangers” were two bullseye-hits on the 23 song LP.

Last night in Atlanta, Fresh performed a DJ set right before Wayne hit the stage as headliner at A3C, spinning Cash Money classics and hits from notables including Wayne and Notorious B.I.G. The producer/ DJ said he’s not surprised Wayne has had longevity on top of the game.

 
“I always felt homie was gonna hold his own,” Mannie told us backstage after his set. “Big ups to him for always answering the phone no matter what was going on.  I can I always say my dude — low point for me, low point for him [or] when we was up— always answered the phone. Before I knew Wayne, I knew his dad. His das was always like ‘this dude got star qualities.’ When I met him, he was right. First one there, last one to leave. It’s still that way. When we worked on Tha Carter [V], people don’t know we got like 13 songs, we dumbed it down to two. And we did that in three days. So the chemistry is still there, still crazy. Dude was like, 'let this ride and you can put those out.' The world will get to hear Mannie Fresh/ Carter. It’ll be ‘The Fresh File.’”
 
Fresh is currently crafting a solo LP and one of the MCs he most wants to work with is Kool G. Rap. 
 
Tha Carter, hit with major velocity since it’s release two weeks ago. It went gold in just a few days after being streamed around half a billion times it’s first week out (the second highest in history). The opus, Wayne’s latest in the series that started 14 years ago also debuted number one on the Billboard charts.

In a time when Kanye West is arguably alienating a large portion of his fanbase with his MAGA hat and pro-Tump speeches on late night sketch shows, Taylor Swift has decided that it’s her turn to her first-ever public political stance. The iconic singer used social media to convey her support for the Democratic candidates in the upcoming midterm elections in her home state of Tennessee.

“I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee,” she told her 112 plus million followers. “In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.

I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love.”

Swift then outlined why she considers Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn to be the absolutely the wrong person to represent her state.

“Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn[,]” the multi-time Grammy winner expressed. “Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway.

So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting! 🗳😃🌈”

Her newfound public political stance has upset some of Swift’s Republican fans, many of whom took to social media with their rebuttals, admonishing the singer. Meanwhile, several celebrities jumped in the mix to support the hitmaker. One time Swift nemeses Kary Perry likes Swift’s post as did Avengers mega-villain Josh Brolin, legendary directors Rob Reiner and Joseph Khan, and of course Swift’s renaissance-man friend Todrick Hall.

Swift is slated to perform a slew of concerts around the world in this month, and will be open this week’s American Music Awards broadcast.