Photo: HELLE ARENSBAK / AFP / Getty Images
Slipknot percussionist Shaun Crahan, known to fans as Clown, is pushing back against criticism of artificial intelligence in music, calling it a powerful creative tool rather than a replacement for human artists.
In a recent interview with The Escapist, Crahan said he actively uses AI in his creative process, describing it as “a professor in my pocket” that responds only to his direction. He explained that he’s used the technology to rework thousands of poems he’s written over the years, experimenting with new ways to deliver his own words without altering them.
Crahan emphasized that AI doesn’t remove the human element, noting that it still requires an artist to interpret and perform the material. He compared using AI to working with a producer, arguing that it can offer more creative options without the high costs or limited input that sometimes come with traditional production.
“None of it works without the human,” Crahan said, adding that AI functions more like a tool or guide than a creator. While he acknowledged that no one is required to use the technology, he believes it can be valuable for artists who choose to embrace it.
Not everyone in Slipknot shares that view. Vocalist Corey Taylor has previously spoken out against AI-generated music, saying in a 2023 interview that he finds the idea discouraging and believes it undermines human creativity.
Separately, Crahan has continued to hint at progress on Slipknot’s long-discussed “lost” album Look Outside Your Window, which the band has teased for years but has yet to release.
SOURCE: Music News
