10 Greatest Masked Bands In Rock History
1. Slipknot
Interplanetary warriors, demonic priests, singing dinosaurs, they all pale in comparison to the undisputed kings of masked rock.
As if you needed reminding, Slipknot formed in Des Moines, Iowa back in 1995. The idea to incorporate masks into their act was first dreamt up by Shawn Crahan, who used to bring a clown mask to rehearsals.
Now, Clown is the only name anyone knows him by.
Rather than being a gimmick, the masks fit perfectly with Slipknot's grim imagery. The darkness of their music matched up with the darkness of their outfits, making them one cohesive unit.
As their music grew in popularity, so did their headwear. The masks have taken on a life of their own, irrespective of who's wearing them.
When Slipknot bassist Paul Gray died in 2010, the band honoured his legacy by mounting his trademark mask on a stand on stage during their live shows.
This was how powerful these costumes had become; they could embody a man's entire life and not feel out of place.
They would have always been famous because the music was just too good, but its the masks that have really helped push Slipknot into megastar territory.