Last week, Corey Taylor reignited his famed beef with Chad Kroeger. If you weren’t aware of the beef to begin with, here’s a rundown. Back in 2017 Kroeger made a few brave statements about Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor in retaliation to Taylor saying “nasty” things about Kroeger to the press. Kroeger boldly stated that “He [Taylor] talks about how easy it is to write a hit song. Well, show me. Show me. Write one. I have yet to hear one. They’re okay. But they’re not as good as Nickelback. They sound like Nickelback Lite.” To which Taylor responded, calling Kroeger “Captain Ego from Planet Douche”? It was truly spectacular stuff. 
 
Though last week marked a change of tone for Taylor. Who took away Nickelback’s long-held reign as “worst band of all time” and bestowed the title onto pop-rock juggernauts Imagine Dragons. In a recent interview, Taylor shared “They [Nickleback] are passing the baton to Imagine Dragons, and I love it.” 
 
“[Imagine Dragons are] awful, so that’s cool,” Taylor continued. “And they’re from Vegas so I’m gonna go home to protests. Can’t show my face in this town now. Yeah, people are slowly coming back to appreciate Nickelback and then just turning their irksome ire towards Imagine Dragons.” Yikes.
 
Well, Dan Reynolds, frontman of Imagine Dragons, is not backing down without a fight. Reynolds took to Instagram to address the negative criticism that his band has copped over the course of their career.

Watch: Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar

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“I’ve gotten over the fact that guys in other bands (the 1975, foster the people, smashing pumpkins, slipknot, etc) feel a need to talk badly about my band for whatever reason,” he shared. “I don’t feel anger towards them actually, just more of a sadness that this industry embraces, even celebrates this mentality.”

Read the full statement below:

For a decade now I’ve dealt with critics and other bands saying extremely harsh things about my band. Not what I would call “fair criticism” (which I always try my best to receive and learn from) but actual click-bait horse shit. Words filled with file and hate meant to feed humanities need to laugh at each other’s imperfections and fails.

I’ve stood silently and taken it for years. It has added to the depression I’ve dealt with since youth. I don’t say this in search of sympathy, but just as a fact.

It’s not the person that causes me the feelings of stress and depression, but what it does to the world we as a band have created. How could it possibly make a kid feel “not cool” listening to Imagine Dragons. I hate that thought. Wondering if my kids will be made fun of as they grow older because someone thinks my band isn’t cool.

I’ve gotten over the fact that guys in other bands (The 1975, Foster The People, Smashing Pumpkins, Slipknot, etc) feel a need to talk badly about my band for whatever reason. I don’t feel anger towards them actually, just more of a sadness that this industry embraces, even celebrates this mentality. I wish it felt like a place where artists stood by each other and supported one another – regardless of our different tastes and voices.

My bandmates are some of my best friends. We are authentically ourselves and strive to bring positivity and empowerment to the world.

We’ll continue to do just that.
X DR

Whilst Imagine Dragons are a particularly easy target, we can’t help but feel very sorry for them.

Earlier today, Slipknot launched a brand new website —WeAreNotYourKind.com—  with a mysterious countdown. There are a lot of theories doing the rounds trying to unpack what the countdown means. Is it a new album? Is it a tour? Read all about it now to find out more.

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