For some of us, his name is synonymous with Slipknot, while others have fallen in love with him through Stone Sour and his other projects. I’m talking about Corey Taylor. This past January, Taylor had to cancel his tour due to health issues, only to make an unexpected comeback that delighted his fans. But the real surprise was the inclusion of Istanbul on his European tour.

For his first solo album “CMFT,” Taylor collaborated with artists like Kid Bookie and Tech N9ne. While some metal fans criticized him for this, Taylor brushed off the criticism with these words: “Don’t care! Love what you want, listen to what you want.” He argued that the superiority of music genres is arrogant and a waste of time, as there are so many amazing things in the universe of music waiting to be discovered.

Besides his musicianship, Taylor is also a talented author and a Marvel fan. His notable book “Seven Deadly Sins” has made quite an impression. Taylor once said about the book, “After you finish this book, there’s a phrase I want you to remember. It’s more of a mantra. Whenever you feel cornered spiritually, run it through your mind. It’s very simple: Live your life, no matter what it is. Carry it with you. Live your life, regardless of what it entails.”

A big fan of Apocalyptica, Corey Taylor featured on their “Worlds Collide” album with the track “I’m Not Jesus.” He has also collaborated with Korn, Soulfly, Zakk Wylde, and Sixx.M., reaching a wide audience.

During “The Gray Chapter” tour, Taylor famously called out a fan who was playing on their phone during a concert, signaling them to “listen to me.” This moment reflects his commanding presence on stage.

Later, in the music video for Stone Sour’s “Fabuless,” Taylor gave a nod to a fan who had a similar experience. Taylor’s attention to his fans, as well as his musical talents, is highly appreciated. During a tour, while facing a flight delay at the airport, Taylor met a fan wearing a Star Wars t-shirt and ended up having a heartfelt conversation about the movies until the flight arrived. This kind of personal engagement highlights not only his performance in the music world but also his approach to his fans.

Coming to Turkey for the third time, Taylor previously met metal fans at Sonisphere 2010 (with Stone Sour) and 2011 (with Slipknot). The 2011 concert holds special significance for both Slipknot and Corey Taylor, as it was their second show following Paul Gray’s death, with Istanbul being the venue. Corey’s unforgettable line from that concert was, “Brother Paul, I’m speaking to you right now from the center of the world.” This was one of the concert’s most memorable moments.

Corey Taylor will be taking the stage at Maximum Uniq on May 26th as part of his CMF2 tour, organized by Charm Music. The anticipated setlist for the concert is as follows:

– Post Traumatic Blues

– Tumult (Stone Sour)

– We Are the Rest

– Song 3 (Stone Sour)

– Before I Forget (Slipknot)

– Beyond

– Spongebob SquarePants Theme

– Snuff (Slipknot)

– Duality (Slipknot)

– Through Glass (Stone Sour)

– Don’t Change (INXS)

Get ready for a night filled with Taylor’s signature energy and a mix of his solo work, Stone Sour hits, and even some Slipknot classics. It’s going to be an unforgettable performance!

-Enes TAŞTAN