Slipknot's iconic debut album might be known for its relentless energy and crushing riffs, but there's a story behind the absence of guitar solos that not many fans are aware of. Guitarist Mick Thomson recently revealed that he did lay down some solos for the album, though they didn’t make the final cut. In a new interview with Guitar World, Thomson shared his frustrations, explaining how "any kind of technical playing was mocked and frowned upon."
While Slipknot's self-titled debut is often discussed in the context of the late 90s and early 2000s shift away from solos in heavy music, the decision wasn't due to a lack of effort on Thomson's part. The guitarist recorded solos for several tracks, but they were ultimately removed, a decision he attributes to producer Ross Robinson and the band's late drummer, Joey Jordison:
"I actually had some solos in songs, but they all got cut out. Because between Ross and Joey, guitar solos are stupid now."
Reflecting on the broader trend of that era, Thomson explained how technical guitar playing was often dismissed: "Any kind of technical guitar playing was mocked and frowned upon. So, yeah, leads were stripped out. The song '(sic)' used to be called 'Slipknot,' and there was a lead in that, and then there were solos in some other shit. But they were just massaged out."
Thomson recalled how much effort he put into his craft, only to see it discarded: "I mean, I get it… but it sucked. Because it was one of those things where I'm like, 'I've spent my whole life playing, and now fucking here I am, and… nope! Never mind! It's all gone!' You know?"
"Like, 'Just take it all away from me. That's cool! Never mind that I sat in my room for years obsessing and trying to fucking do whatever, and then here I am and… nope!'"
Despite the disappointment, Thomson acknowledges the logic behind the decision, pointing out how the saturation of solos in earlier metal music contributed to a formulaic sound
"I learned a lot from Ross, and that was one thing. I mean, we grew up in an era where you heard one to two guitar solos in every goddamn metal song. And it's like, 'Why?' Just as a matter of course? It’s like paint-by-numbers. 'There's your template. There's where that solo goes.' Ding!"
