Slipknot fans are in an uproar over a change to the design of the band’s iconic S logo.
The iconic heavy metal band, founded in 1995, has become synonymous with the ‘tribal S’ featured in the group’s branding since its inception.
It was designed by Joey Jordison, the band’s original drummer and one of it’s founding members. It’s long featured on SlipKnot merch and promotional material, with diehard fans even tattooing it on themselves to prove their devotion.
Jordison’s family posted an image of the S carved into wood on Instagram this summer with the caption: ‘The first tribal “S” drawn by Joey on the desk that was handed down to him by his dad. To the fans-thank you for always supporting and loving Joey. You guys meant the world to him. We love you Joey. Forever our #1.’
The drummer died in his sleep in 2021 after being previously diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a neurological disease that inflamed his spinal cord.
Now, it seems the band has launched a new version of the iconic design, posting an Instagram of merch featuring the changed logo.
Corey Taylor and his bandmates shared images of limited-edition pieces of merch they have released which include a variety of t-shirts, tank tops, and long sleeves.
The ‘S’ in the new logo is elongated and the edges are smooth, whereas the original has more jagged, barbed-like points on it.
Fans quickly took note of the change and many were horrified.
User JoshHogan666 commented: ‘Keep the classic tribal forever. Joeys original creation. This looks like a child’s interpretation.’
@fus_roh_dad agreed: ‘Do NOT change the S design to that, please.’
Fishmasta9 wrote: ‘What the f*** with the new S 👎 absolutely not’ while @atthefunctionwithagirlboner commented: ‘The first one HAS to be a social experiment.’
@monstre.ti agreed: ‘Oh god don’t change the S please, this new one s*cks, sorry love you guys❤️🔥’
@Futur3_cannibalzz posted: ‘I love slipknot and all but the new S is NOT it at all.’
A massive Reddit thread about the new logo featured many similar sentiments.
User igorneox wrote: ‘OMG that S!… Send it back wherever it came from 😓’
Tamezsus agreed: ‘Please keep the tribal S, the ritual S just isn’t good.’
Part of fan’s attachment to the logo is definitely because of its association with Jordison.
He told Kerrang! back in 2017 about the logo: ‘I have tons of folders of sketches, logos of pretty much any band I’ve been in. I drew the Slipknot logo and the tribal “S.”’
He continued: ‘I drew that logo on my dad’s old desk in the house I grew up in. I had this little piece of paper and drew it with pen and ink. It stained the desk! I took it to band practice and they loved it. The next thing you know, almost half of the band got it tattooed – this was before we got signed.’
Still, some fans like the new design.
@benn.sleim wrote: ‘I want it’ while @drh_themetal commented: ‘Long-sleeve red one is so cool.’
The friction about the logo likely represents a more significant source of conflict in the SlipKnot fanbase.
Earlier this year, Jordison’s estate announced that it had filed a lawsuit against Slipknot in June last year, claiming that the band was profiting off the late drummer’s name and belongings, despite firing him from the band in 2013.
The lawsuit was settled in September, but fans continue to argue about the rift between Jordison and his co-founders, late bassist Paul Gray and Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan.
The original lawsuit included a statement: ‘Perhaps worst of all, Crahan and [Corey] Taylor publicly lied to fans that they had contacted Jordison’s family to check on them and express their condolences and love for Jordison in the wake of his passing.
‘This was utterly false, and deeply upsetting for Jordison’s family to read such a blatant lie on the internet. It is clear that Taylor and Crahan did not actually care about Jordison or his family; they cared only about drumming up publicity and sales of the new album,’ it continued.
Some fans on Reddit attributed the change in logo to Clown attempting to erase Jordison’s legacy.
User Loose-Ad7401 wrote: ‘Hey Clown, I know you are reading this, please don’t go with this design, don’t be selfish, listen to your fans, also old S is something that Joey did, we love it and him too.’
While there is no objective evidence that the new logo has anything to do with past conflicts in the band, fans aren’t shy about speculating about the new logo.