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Corey Taylor’s ‘Forum Or Against ‘Em’: Slipknot Frontman Books PPV Show Celebrating First Solo Album
Corey Taylor will take the stage Oct. 2 at the Forum in Los Angeles for a global pay-per-view livestream titled “Forum Or Against ‘Em” that will feature full production, the Cherry Bomb Dancers, pyro and more.
Produced in collaboration with management company 5B Artists + Media and festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents, the show will be the first to take place at the Forum since March, featuring cuts from Taylor’s Slipknot and Stone Sour categories, covers as well as a guest performance from “rock ‘n’ roll girl-gang dance squad” The Cherry Bombs. Presumably, it’ll also feature material from his new album, CMFT, which drops Oct. 2.
Taylor says in a statement, “I’ve been saying since the beginning I’d find a way to bring this music and this band to the people. And I’m honored that The Forum let us do just that. It’s CMFT in its entirety. It’s songs I’ve shared over the years. It’s a celebration, and I’m so stoked to party with all of you.” Special event merch and bundles will be available during the stream. Kicking off the event’s festivities will be a special pre-show event hosted by presenter/journalist, Beez that will feature exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
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Concert organizers are touting the show as a “world class rock show with a massive arena production” that will see 80 event staff working the event.
5B Artist & Media Founder and CEO Cory Brennan, longtime manager for Taylor as well as Slipknot, says in a statement, “When Corey sent me a text saying FORUM OR AGAINST ‘EM I knew we had something truly special and unique. The Forum is one of the most iconic venues in the world and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate his debut solo album!”
Brennan and his team have been busy despite the pandemic, releasing albums for Lamb of God, which has its own paid livestream events coming up Sept. 18 and 25, and Trivium, who did their own full production livestream selling 12,000 tickets.
“I’ve not laid anyone off or reduced anyone’s salary,” Brennan says in a Pollstar cover story from last month. “I’m very proud of that, but to do that, it means being really smart with the money we currently have in the bank but also trying to generate new money. The first month was focused on that – how can we do that, what do we have?”
The pandemic has seen 5B revamp its knotfest.com web portal, and sign MMA fighter and former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett.
The news is also another example of Danny Wimmer Presents remaining active and forward-thinking, just announcing a 13-date drive-in tour with Aaron Lewis & Sully Erna, and recently hiring industry veteran Joe Litvag as president of live events.