Slipknot’s Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan recently opened up about a serious heart condition that requires surgery. He shared how his band literally keeps him alive during a conversation on the Tetragrammaton podcast.
The percussionist revealed details about his irregular heartbeat and the medical challenges he faces while touring.
“I have a skipping heart and I got to get a surgery,” Crahan said. “And I found this out after my last tour. I went in, I wasn’t feeling good, and I went in and the nurse was trying to get an EKG thing going on me or whatever and it just wasn’t happening.”
He described the concerning moment when medical staff initially thought he was having a heart attack.
“I kind of fell asleep and I woke up. I’m like, ‘Are you going to get this thing?’ And she’s like, ‘Oh, it’s not working.’ They thought I was having a heart attack right there,” he continued. “Anyway, my heart skips and apparently I’ve taught myself to be like a cross country runner.”
Crahan explained how his mental strength has helped him cope with the condition, despite being overweight.
“So, I’m overweight and my brain is so strong that it tells this stuff what to do. So, my standing heart rate at night is 43 and during the day I get down to 33,” he said. “[It] hasn’t happened since I’ve been here with you, which is good, because I’ll go from ‘on,’ to just straight up I feel like I’m dying. So, I got to get a surgery. It’s a very easy surgery. You’re usually out on the same day. It’s not like they rip you open. This is something about the electricity.”
The musician initially feared that getting a pacemaker would end his touring career with Slipknot.
“But at first, they thought maybe I needed a pacemaker. And I was like, ‘Doc, listen, I get a pacemaker. I’m done, right? Touring, Slipknot?’ So he goes, ‘Oh, no. You’re going to feel better.’ And I just I lost it,” Crahan explained. “I was like, I can’t get out of this to save my life. I’m like, there is nothing, not even my heart. It’s going to be better because of Slipknot.”
He expressed gratitude for having access to specialized medical care through his position in the band.
“I got a concierge doctor because I’m in Slipknot and I’m able to go to levels and they’re like, ‘No, you’re going to feel better. You better get in shape because you got to do more now at 56,'” he said. “And it’s just like I just can’t believe it, man, that this was me. It’s wonderful. I’m lucky.”
Crahan’s health revelation comes as the 56-year-old musician continues to balance his demanding touring schedule with necessary medical care. The timing of his diagnosis was particularly significant. It occurred immediately following Slipknot’s most recent tour cycle.
1057 The Point reported that Crahan’s condition involves a “skipping heart” that causes sudden episodes where he feels like he’s dying. The condition was discovered after Slipknot’s last tour. The procedure he requires is described as a “very easy surgery” that is typically performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to go home the same day.
The severity of Crahan’s symptoms became apparent during his medical evaluation. Chaos Zine noted that his heart issue was initially mistaken for a heart attack during a doctor visit. The musician describes experiencing dramatic shifts in his physical state, going “from ‘on’ to just straight up, I feel like I’m dying.” This appears to be directly linked to his exhausting touring schedule.
Despite being overweight, Crahan has developed an unusual cardiovascular conditioning. Chaos Zine documented that his “strong brain” maintains extremely low heart rates – 43 beats per minute at night and 33 beats per minute during the day. This conditioning, which he compares to that of a cross-country runner, demonstrates how his mental strength has helped him cope with the underlying cardiac irregularities.
The musician’s initial concern about potentially needing a pacemaker highlighted his deep commitment to continuing with Slipknot. His relief upon learning that the surgery would actually improve his performance capabilities rather than hinder them underscores the band’s central role in his life and identity. At 56, Crahan now faces the prospect of feeling better than he has in years. Doctors are encouraging him to get in better physical shape to handle increased activity levels post-surgery.
