Reflecting on his early days in the music industry, Corey Taylor candidly shared his experiences as a member of STONE SOUR. He subtly hinted that his guitar-playing skills often surpassed those of the band’s lead guitarist.
Transitioning to Corey Taylor‘s personal journey, it’s a tale that’s sure to inspire. Born and raised amidst the challenges of Iowa, the musician, now 49, faced his fair share of hardship. The struggle against poverty and substance misuse was just as real as his aspirations to make a mark in Iowa’s underground rock and metal scene. Through sheer grit and determination, he managed to carve out a unique identity, turning his life’s trials into a testament of resilience.
In a new interview with “Feedback Def,” Corey reflected about co-founding STONE SOUR, saying: “I was homeless, but the guys in the band actually chipped in and got me a hotel room, for us to hang out [in]. That was my first [experience of being in] a brotherhood, first sense of a community, and a first sense of, ‘Okay, I can bring something these guys have never had before’, which is a clarity of musical voice, and something to take this even further than we want it to [go].”
Furthermore, Corey said that this is where he honed his skills as a guitarist, a talent he is currently showcasing on his second solo album, CMF2.
“I guess that was the first year where I really felt confidence in my skills as a guitar player. When STONE SOUR first started, not only was I playing guitar constantly, but I was also the lead guitarist. So I was not only the main writer, I was always the lead guitar player. That’s kind of been the throughline for my whole career; I would always fill in the weaknesses for whatever band I was in at the time.
“Like, when I first started, I was almost always better than the drummer I was in a band width. So, whenever we would do demos, I would play all the drums. But then, I had to make a choice. I wanted to sing, I don’t want to do both. I don’t want to be Phil Collins, I want to just sing.”
“With SOUR, I was, nine times out of ten, always better than the guitar player we had in the band, as a lead player,” he continued. “So I said, ‘F**k it, I’ll just handle it. I’m writing all the music anyway, I might as well be the guy who’s leading the charge.’ And then, we’ll just get a good rhythm guitar player kind of go with [it]. I’d say that was the genesis of my really diving headfirst down, just jumping off the cliff and praying to God the parachute goes off.”
STONE SOUR is currently on hiatus. The band has been inactive since the touring cycle of their last album in 2017. There is no planned timetable for their return, and the hiatus has allowed the band members to explore different projects. Taylor has expressed that his focus is now on his solo career and his work with SLIPKNOT, although he hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of a future reunion with STONE SOUR.
