VENDED has experienced rapid career growth significantly aided by their familial connections.
The presence of vocalist Griffin Taylor and drummer Simon Crahan, sons of SLIPKNOT‘s Corey Taylor and M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan respectively, naturally attracted attention. Furthermore, SLIPKNOT‘s extensive tours provided Vended with valuable exposure as opening acts, further propelling their visibility.
While VENDED‘s musical style reflects their familial lineage, the band has faced criticism and accusations of nepotism. This has led to detractors and those who dismiss their achievements based on their familial connections.
In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Griffin shared his thoughts on how that impacted him in the early days, offering: “I was a teenager with a lot of feelings and a lot of emotions and I didn’t know how to deal with it. It would just depress the f**k out of me.”
He mentioned that most of the criticism he faces comes from online comments. However, during performances, someone might occasionally shout something from the crowd or crack a joke, like, “Play ‘Duality’!” to which he responds into the mic, “Wrong band, dude.”
Simon Crahan also weighed in on the topic, bluntly stating that his father wouldn’t support the band if it lacked talent or merit.
He said: “My dad told me, ‘I would not put you on a tour if you weren’t good.’ We wouldn’t be playing festivals the way we do if we weren’t good. We’re a good band. We play good music. That’s why we’re here. We’ve discovered that talent ourselves. And everyone thinks it’s just been handed to us.”
VENDED released their self-titled debut album this past September.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.