Chris Fehn

Last updated

Chris Fehn
Chris Fehn (cropped).jpg
Fehn in 2008
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Michael Fehn [1]
Also known as
  • #3
Born (1973-02-24) February 24, 1973 (age 51) [2]
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Percussion
  • backing vocals
  • bass
  • drums
Labels
Formerly of

Christopher Michael Fehn (born February 24, 1973) [2] is an American musician. He was a percussionist and backing vocalist for the heavy metal band Slipknot from 1998 to 2019, in which he was designated #3. He was also the bassist for Will Haven from 2010 to 2012.

Contents

Career

Slipknot

Fehn performing at Roskilde Festival with Slipknot, 2013 Slipknot 13.jpg
Fehn performing at Roskilde Festival with Slipknot, 2013

Fehn grew up in Ankeny, Iowa. Prior to joining Slipknot, he played as a kicker on the Wayne State University football team. Fehn joined the band around August (or September) 1998, replacing percussionist Brandon Darner.

As well as lending his percussion talents to the band, Fehn has also sung backing vocals on a number of songs Slipknot has both recorded and performed live. Fehn describes himself as a "big fan of the band" and says of Slipknot, "the world needed something like this." [3]

In an interview with Face Culture, Fehn stated that the band members gave him a hard time during his early years with the band. He described that his time during the self-titled album era was his "hazing period." [4]

Slipknot bassist Paul Gray stated in an interview that Fehn "often brings humor to the band," and that they "definitely need that guy." Fehn would wear a Pinocchio-style mask and would frequently stroke the nose as if he was masturbating. [5] Prior to joining Slipknot in 1998, Fehn was close friends with Slipknot's percussionist Shawn Crahan. According to Fehn, he had originally asked Crahan if he could be drummer Joey Jordison's drum tech. Shortly after his request was made, Fehn was given an offer to play percussion in the band. Fehn was then given a rough demo that contained all of Slipknot's songs. Fehn has said that "Spit It Out" was the song that stood out to him the most. Fehn then tried out on percussion and was subsequently made part of Slipknot. Of the nine members, Fehn was the eighth to join the band.

His mask was featured in the movie Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay .

He was in the band Will Haven as bassist from 2010 to 2012.

On March 14, 2019, Fehn filed a lawsuit against Slipknot, citing payment being held back. Fehn specifically accused Corey Taylor and Shawn Crahan for what he felt was questionable business dealings. [6]

On March 18, 2019, Fehn officially split with Slipknot following the filing of his lawsuit. [7] However, a few days later, the message was removed from the website and according to Fehn's lawyer, the percussionist's employment status with the band had not changed since his initial filing. [8]

Personal life

In the early years of Slipknot before their signing with Roadrunner Records, Fehn was an electrician.

Outside Slipknot, Fehn is a very keen golfer, and shown on an interview he did on the band's 2006 DVD, Voliminal: Inside the Nine , where he is interviewed at a golf course.

Fehn has two sons, born in 2012, [9] and 2023.

Fehn has ornithophobia. [10]

Discography

Fehn at Allstate Arena with Slipknot in 2009 Chris Fehn at Allstate Arena 2009.jpg
Fehn at Allstate Arena with Slipknot in 2009

with Slipknot

with Will Haven

Other appearances

Filmography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slipknot (band)</span> American heavy metal band

Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, former vocalist Anders Colsefni and bassist Paul Gray. After several lineup changes in its early years, the band settled on nine members for more than a decade: Crahan, Gray, Joey Jordison, Craig Jones, Mick Thomson, Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn, and Jim Root. Slipknot is well known for its attention-grabbing image, aggressive style of music, and energetic and chaotic live shows.

<i>Iowa</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Slipknot

Iowa is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Produced by the band and Ross Robinson, it was released on August 28, 2001, by Roadrunner Records. The title derives from the band's home state, Iowa, which members have stated is one of their greatest sources of inspiration. With much anticipation for the album following the success of their 1999 self-titled debut, pressures on the band were high. Their relationships with each other suffered and this was later described as the darkest time of their career. It was also the first full album to feature guitarist Jim Root after only appearing on one song from their previous album. Despite troubles within the band and with Iowa's development, Slipknot promoted it for almost a year.

<i>Slipknot</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Slipknot

Slipknot is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released on June 29, 1999, by Roadrunner Records, following a demo containing a few of the songs which had previously been released in 1998. Later, it was reissued in December 1999 with a slightly-altered track listing and mastering as the result of a lawsuit. It was the first release by the band to be produced by Ross Robinson, who sought to refine Slipknot's sound rather than alter the group's musical direction. This is the only album to feature original guitarist Josh Brainard who left at the end of recording in late 1998 while the band was taking a brief break. Jim Root, who recorded two tracks at this point, would appear full time on subsequent albums starting with their next album Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Crahan</span> American percussionist

Michael Shawn Crahan, more commonly known by his stage persona "Clown", is an American musician. He is the co-founder and one of the percussionists for heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #6. Crahan helped form Slipknot in 1995 alongside bassist Paul Gray and former vocalist Anders Colsefni. Crahan is the longest-serving and only remaining original member of Slipknot, and also has extensive involvement with Slipknot's media production and music videos. Outside Slipknot, Crahan had two side project bands called To My Surprise and Dirty Little Rabbits. Aside from his musical activity, he also directed the 2016 action thriller film Officer Downe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Gray (American musician)</span> American bassist (1972–2010)

Paul Dedrick Gray, also known as The Pig, was an American musician who was the bassist, backing vocalist, and co-founder of the heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he was designated #2.

<i>Voliminal: Inside the Nine</i> 2006 video by Slipknot

Voliminal: Inside the Nine is the third video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released December 5, 2006 by Roadrunner Records, the 2-disc DVD set features an 84-minute movie created by band member Shawn "Clown" Crahan. The set also includes live performances, music videos from songs on the band's third studio album, Vol. 3: , and the first unmasked interviews with all of the band members. The movie featured footage recorded from the recording of Vol. 3: through the end of the tour in support of the album spanning a total of 28 months. The DVD was promoted on various websites for the weeks leading up to its limited theatrical release. Critical reception of the album was mixed. Dawn wrote the album has "a raw sound" calling it "an audible treat for thrash and speed metal fans"; however, Billboard would tell fans to "save your cash for the band's next tour". Voliminal would be certified gold, platinum, and double platinum in Australia, the United States, and Canada respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Nameless (song)</span> 2005 single by Slipknot

"The Nameless" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. The song was released as the only single from their first live album, 9.0: Live, while it is also included on their third studio album, Vol. 3: . A music video was released for the single in late 2005 and also was featured on MTV's Rock Top 10 as number two.

Dirty Little Rabbits was an American alternative rock band formed in 2007 in Johnston, Iowa. They are often referred to as a side project of Shawn Crahan, a member and founder of heavy metal band Slipknot. The band has not been active since 2010. Also known as the side project of Stella Soleil of Sister Soleil fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psychosocial (song)</span> 2008 song by Slipknot

"Psychosocial" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released as the second single from the band's fourth studio album, All Hope Is Gone (2008). The song entered airplay on June 26, 2008 and was originally planned for release as a digital single on July 1 but was delayed and released on July 7. Slipknot performed "Psychosocial" live for the first time on July 9, 2008, at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington. In 2008, the song was featured on the soundtrack to Marvel's Punisher: War Zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dead Memories</span> 2008 single by Slipknot

"Dead Memories" is a song from American heavy metal band Slipknot's fourth album, All Hope Is Gone. It was released on December 1, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Hope Is Gone World Tour</span> 2008–2009 concert tour by Slipknot

The All Hope Is Gone World Tour was a concert tour by Slipknot that took place in 2008 and 2009 in support of the group's fourth studio album All Hope Is Gone. The tour consisted of nine legs and took place in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. The tour started with the Mayhem Festival 2008.

<i>(sic)nesses</i> 2010 video by Slipknot

(sic)nesses is the fourth video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released on September 28, 2010 by Roadrunner Records. The double-disc release features a recording of their headlining performance at the 2009 Download Festival, along with a 45-minute behind the scenes documentary created by percussionist Shawn Crahan, and the four music videos from All Hope Is Gone. It is the band's first release since the death of the band's former bassist Paul Gray and is dedicated in his memory. On September 22, 2010, (sic)nesses premiered in select theaters across the United States. Entrance to the screenings were free and it included free giveaways. Reception was generally positive, with Artistdirect rewarding the album a perfect five out of five stars, and Blabbermouth.net giving the album eight and a half out of ten stars. The album peaked at number one on four charts: the Australian Top 40 Music DVD Chart, the Finland Top 10 Music DVDs, the UK Top 10 Music DVD Chart, and the US Top Music Video Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulfur (song)</span> 2009 single by Slipknot

"Sulfur" is the fourth single from American heavy metal band Slipknot's fourth album All Hope Is Gone. The single was released on June 15, 2009, after a video was released on April 18, 2009. This was the last Slipknot video to feature their full original lineup with both bassist Paul Gray, who died the next year, and also the final appearance from Joey Jordison who was fired from the band four years later, before his death in July 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snuff (song)</span> 2009 single by Slipknot

"Snuff" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released on September 28, 2009, as the fifth and final single from their fourth album, All Hope Is Gone, the song charted at number two on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, their highest chart placement to date, surpassing "Dead Memories".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memorial World Tour</span> 2011–2012 concert tour by Slipknot

The Memorial World Tour was a concert tour by American heavy metal band Slipknot in honor of late bassist Paul Gray who died on May 24, 2010. The tour was the group's first since the All Hope Is Gone World Tour which ended in 2009. The tour consisted mostly of festival dates and a small number of headlining appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Negative One</span> 2014 single by Slipknot

"The Negative One" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released on August 1, 2014, it was the band's first new song since the death of bassist Paul Gray in 2010 and the 2013 firing of drummer Joey Jordison. An accompanying music video premiered on Slipknot's official website on August 5, 2014; however, no band members were featured. Vocalist Corey Taylor told BBC Radio 1 that he saw the song as more of a "gift to the fans" than a regular single though it was still released as a digital single on iTunes and many other digital music retailers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Devil in I</span> 2014 single by Slipknot

"The Devil in I" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released as a single from the band's fifth album, .5: The Gray Chapter (2014). It is the second single for the album and the first to be released to radio and music channels, with the previous single "The Negative One" being a digital only single.

<i>Day of the Gusano: Live in Mexico</i> 2017 live album and video by Slipknot

Day of the Gusano: Live in Mexico is the second live album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. The album features the first concert in Mexico from the ensemble, which took place on December 5, 2015. Shown in movie theatres on September 6, 2017, the album was released on October 20, 2017 by Eagle Vision. It was the band's first live album since 2005's 9.0: Live, and the first live album to feature bassist Alessandro Venturella and drummer Jay Weinberg, after the death of original bassist Paul Gray in 2010 and the departure of drummer Joey Jordison in 2013. It is also the band's final live album to feature their longtime percussionist Chris Fehn before his dismissal from the band due to a lawsuit in March 2019.

<i>We Are Not Your Kind</i> 2019 studio album by Slipknot

We Are Not Your Kind is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Recorded at EastWest Studios in Hollywood, California with co-producer Greg Fidelman, it was released on August 9, 2019, by Roadrunner Records. The title is taken from a lyric in the song "All Out Life", which was released as a standalone single in 2018 and features as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album. We Are Not Your Kind is the only Slipknot album to be recorded as an eight-member band, as their former percussionist Chris Fehn was fired from the band in March 2019 after suing the group for alleged unpaid royalties.

Michael Pfaff, also known as Tortilla Man, is an American musician, best known as one of the two current percussionists of heavy metal band Slipknot. He was also a member of the alternative rock band Dirty Little Rabbits as their keyboardist with then future Slipknot bandmate Shawn Crahan.

References

  1. "It looks like Chris Fehn's lawsuit against Slipknot is finally over". AltPress. November 3, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Childers, Chad (February 1, 2022). "Rock Stars Celebrating Birthdays in February". Loudwire . Townsquare Media . Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. "Chris Fehn interview with Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
  4. "Faceculture.tv". Faceculture.tv. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  5. Bryant, Tom (August 22, 2019). "Slipknot masks: The Definitive History Of Every Mask | Louder". Loudersound.com. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  6. The Blast (March 14, 2019). "SLIPKNOT Drummer Chris Fehn Sues Band Over Money Dispute". theblast.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  7. KaydanHowison (March 14, 2019). "Huuuge News: Slipknot have parted ways with Chris Fehn". Wall Of Sound. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  8. "Chris Fehn Still Employed by Slipknot, Says Lawyer". Loudwire. March 23, 2019. Archived from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  9. "SLIPKNOT's CHRIS FEHN Is A New Father". Blabbermouth.net. March 27, 2012. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  10. Crahan, Shawn. "Slipknot - The Devil In I (Behind The Scenes)". YouTube. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
Preceded by Slipknot percussionist
1998–2019
Succeeded by
Michael Pfaff