Corey Taylor

Corey Todd Taylor was born on December 8, 1973, in Des Moines, Iowa. Raised primarily by his mother in Waterloo, Iowa, Taylor’s early exposure to music, particularly Elvis Presley and Black Sabbath, cultivated his interest in rock music. A trailer for the 1978 film ‘Halloween’ also significantly influenced his early aesthetic. By age 15, Taylor experienced drug addiction, but found stability and support through his grandmother, who fostered his musical aspirations. He later earned his GED after attending Lincoln High School in Des Moines.

Taylor co-founded the hard rock band Stone Sour in 1992, recording demo albums in 1993 and 1994. In late 1997, he joined the metal band Slipknot as their lead singer, taking the moniker “Number Eight.” This led to a temporary departure from Stone Sour. With Slipknot, Taylor released their self-titled debut album in 1999, which achieved Platinum status and earned a place in “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.” Following Slipknot’s success, Taylor revived Stone Sour in 2002, releasing their debut album, ‘Stone Sour’, that same year. Throughout his career, Taylor has been recognized for his diverse vocal range, incorporating melodic singing, growling, and screaming.

His solo career began with various performances in 2009, including his first official solo show with Corey Taylor and the Junk Beer Kidnap Band. In 2020, Taylor released his debut solo studio album, ‘CMFT’, followed by ‘CMF2’ in 2023, the latter under a new global recordings agreement with BMG. Beyond music, Taylor has ventured into acting, appearing in films such as ‘Thunder Force’ (2021) and ‘Bad Candy’ (2020), and has authored four books, including “Seven Deadly Sins: Settling the Argument Between Born Bad and Damaged Good” (2011). He has also produced albums for other artists and contributed to various musical collaborations, demonstrating a broad engagement across the entertainment industry.