The ongoing battle between Chris Fehn and Slipknot seems to have hit another wall, as Robert Shore, the music manager for Slipknot says Fehn was only a “hired gun” and never a shareholding member of Slipknot.
An affidavit from Shore reads: “Mr. Fehn performed with Slipknot and received a fee for doing so. He is not a shareholder, owner or member of any business entity he names as a defendant in this action.”
The Details: About a month ago, Chris Fehn (no. 3) accused Slipknot of withholding money he thought he was owed. In official documents, he claims he was under the impression that all members received an equal cut of touring and merchandise money. But discovered there were other business ventures set up by the band that ALSO took money, and distributed it to specific members of the band. This led Fehn to believe that Corey Taylor and Shawn “Clown” Crahan were cheating him (and other members of the band) out of a fair share of the money.
Fehn filed a lawsuit against the band, and was then dismissed from the lineup. A statement issue by the band says they are disappointed in his actions, and that he “knows what he did” to be removed from the lineup.
“Slipknot’s focus is on making album #6, and our upcoming shows around the world, our best ever. Chris knows why he is no longer a part of Slipknot. We are disappointed that he chose to point fingers and manufacture claims, rather than doing what was necessary to continue to be a part of Slipknot. We would have preferred he not take the path that he has, but evolution in all things is a necessary part of this life. Long Live The Knot.”
On the one hand, I get it. It’s a business. Fehn didn’t contribute NEAR as much as Corey or Shawn in the business operations of the band (that I’m aware of), and as far as proper compensation, he was probably getting paid plenty for his work in the group.
ON THE OTHER HAND… it sounds like Fehn wasn’t fully filled in on the business operations of the band. He didn’t know certain members of the band were on a different level than he was. So either they didn’t tell him, or he didn’t pay attention when all the business of the band was laid out (which is kind of hard for me to believe).
Fehn has been with Slipknot since 1998, joining shortly after Corey Taylor, and just before Jim Root rounded out the core makeup of the group. So after 21 years on the road with these guys, he didn’t know Corey and Shawn had shareholdings that he wasn’t a part of? I don’t think so. Also, you would think the other members of the band (who also aren’t shareholders) would have jumped on board with Fehn’s lawsuit had they not known, either.
The bottom line is: this sucks. Visually, the band won’t quite look the same without “the nose” on stage. BUT, as we’ve seen, they have persevered past the loss of Joey Jordison on drums, and the death of Paul Gray on bass. They ARE still going to tour, they ARE going to release their 6th album this year… just maybe at “The 8” if they don’t find a replacement for Fehn.
