Guitars

James Root (4) uses Jackson SL2.  Mick Thompson (7) uses Custom King V Jackson, Ibanez.

Amps

4 uses Boogie DC10, Carvin Cabs.  7 uses Boogie 295 power amp though Carvin 100-watt cabinets.

"When I wear my mask," says 7," I'm nothing, I'm anonymous.  So on stage I can do anything."  And anything is exactly what you get when the nine members of Slipknot take stage.  

With their self-titled Roadrunner debut, they capture the chaos and energy that helped propel them from the almost nonexistent Des Moines, Iowa, music scene and onto the second stage of last summer's Ozzfest.  "With Ozzfest we finally had a stage that was big enough for the band," says 7.  Which still didn't prevent some of the members from ending up in the emergency room.  "6, one of our percussionists, once split his head open on a drum.  Even though blood was spraying from an eye socket, he stayed on his feet until we finished the gig," says 7.  

"With Slipknot," adds 4, "you're being pushed musically, emotionally and physically.  But what doesn't kill you just makes you stronger."  It's  this dedication that has made Slipknot one of the most talked about bands.  The fact that many of the discussions are tinged with fear doesn't bother the band at all.  "You know, people have many different sides," says 7.  " Slipknot is the scary one."