SLIPKNOT returned to Germany’s iconic Rock Am Ring festival this past weekend — but did so without one of their most recognizable members. Founding percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan was once again absent, citing a continuing family emergency that has kept him away from the band’s summer European tour so far.
Addressing a packed crowd of 90,000 at Nürburgring in Nürburg, Germany on June 7, frontman Corey Taylor acknowledged Crahan’s absence midway through SLIPKNOT’s set.
“First things first,” Taylor told the crowd, “obviously you can see we are missing one of our brothers. Unfortunately, Clown can not be here, he is back home, taking care of his family. He wanted desperately to be here, but he sends his f**king love from America.”
Taylor then rallied the audience: “Make some noise for Clown,” before declaring, “Now we are here to make up for that. And by god, we’re going to do it.”
Crahan has not appeared at any of the band’s shows since the start of their European run, which kicked off at Sweden Rock Festival on June 4. His absence at both Rock Am Ring and its sister festival, Rock Im Park, continues a string of missed performances due to what the band has described as a private family matter.
This isn’t the first time in 2025 that Crahan has had to step away from the stage. Back in February, SLIPKNOT launched their Knotfest Australia tour without both Shawn and his son, Simon Crahan — the latter being the drummer for VENDED. At the time, the band cited a family emergency as the reason for their absence, though no further details have been made public.
Despite the missing presence of their co-founder, SLIPKNOT delivered a ferocious 14-song set that leaned heavily on their seminal 1999 self-titled debut. Fan favorites such as “Wait and Bleed,” “Spit It Out,” and “Surfacing” were met with explosive energy, while newer cuts like “Nero Forte” and “Unsainted” kept the crowd in frenzy.
SLIPKNOT‘s tour is set to continue on June 10 at Expo Plaza in Hannover, Germany. It remains unclear whether Crahan will be able to join the band at any point during the rest of the European leg.
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