Slipknot eventually signed to Roadrunner Records, and released their self-titled debut album in June of 1999. In an effort to be more commercially viable, Anders Colsefni was made a background singer, replaced by Corey Taylor, before leaving the band. Original guitarist Josh Brainard also left just before the band was done recording Slipknot, leaving James Root to record the final track. Despite receiving little airplay, the album was successful, due mainly to word-of-mouth. Regarding the album, one reviewer wrote "You thought Limp Bizkit was hard? They're the Osmonds. (Slipknot) are something else entirely. And it's pretty impressive."
Heavy touring (including an Ozzfest stint in 1999) greatly enhanced the band's fanbase.
2001's Iowa, the follow-up to their debut album, was widely anticipated and debuted at number three on the Billboard Magazine album charts. They again toured heavily to promote the record.
After an almost two-year hiatus, the band regrouped in late 2003 and began writing and recording with world-renowned producer Rick Rubin, who has worked with artists ranging from Johnny Cash to the Beastie Boys to Slayer.
The band released their third album, Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses) in May 2004. Reviews were mostly positive. New Musical Express noted, "At least two thirds of it is still comprised of head-spinning speed metal, but there are signs of genuine progression -- not to mention progressive rock -- from the off." It debuted at #2 on the Billboard albums chart.
Several members of the band have been photographed without masks: Vocalist Corey Taylor and guitarist James Root with their band Stone Sour, drummer Joey Jordison with his side-project the Murderdolls, percussionist Shawn Crahan with To My Surprise, guitarist Mick Thomson in Total Guitar magazine, and bassist Paul Gray in a police mugshot leaked through The Smoking Gun.
--Wikipedia
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