In a new interview with Billboard.com, Taylor would neither confirm nor deny that is the “known singer" who's working under wraps with Velvet Revolver.
"To be continued!" Taylor told Billboard with a long, hearty laugh, before declining to say anything further.
No word from the VR camp, despite comments that they expected to announce the new singer this month.
Taylor has been doing double duty between Slipknot and Stone Sour, and does fit the profile of a "known" artist whose style is a little "heavier" than what previous singer, Scott Weiland, brought to the band…qualities referenced by both Slash and Matt Sorum in recent weeks.
As for the future of Slipknot in the wake of bassist Paul Gray's sudden death in May, Taylor is more forthcoming but hardly definite.
"I go back and forth," he acknowledges. Though the group has three Sonisphere Festival shows this summer in Europe and is tipped to play at this year's Rock in Rio festival, Taylor says that "there are moments when I'm like, 'Let's keep going for (Gray),' and there are moments when I'm like, 'It's not the same without him.' Right now my main concern is baby steps. We lost a huge piece of our band. We lost a huge member of our family -- in my opinion the biggest -- and it's a different vibe now. So right now I'm just taking it step by step, and I can only hope that the other guys in the band are as well."
While other Slipknot members have spoken about starting a new album, Taylor says he's not nearly in that headspace.
"There's a lot of things I've got to figure out about myself before I can even contemplate that," he explains. "There's a big part of me that wonders if I'm the guy for that band anymore. I'm in such a different place in my life...musically, spiritually. I'm not the angry kid anymore. A lot of things don't mean the same to me anymore, and there's a lot of things I don't feel like saying anymore. Does it make sense anymore? We'll just have to see."
In the meanwhile, Taylor is having no problem staying busy. Stone Sour -- which also includes Slipknot guitarist Jim Root -- will be on the Nightmare After Christmas tour with Avenged Sevenfold until Feb. 13, then head to Australia for Soundwave Festival shows in late February and March. On March 24 it kicks off the first Avalanche Tour with Halestorm, Theory of a Deadman, Skillet and Art of Dying.
Check out more on this at Billboard here.
Slash with Corey Taylor – It’s So Easy
The Music Box - Los Angeles, CA - March, 28, 2009
Camp Freddy with Corey Taylor – Ace Of Spades
House Of Blues – Los Angeles, CA – September 10, 2009
See also:
Velvet Revolver: Matt Sorum discusses plans for 2011
Velvet Revolver record demos with new singer
Matt Sorum: Velvet Revolver “real close” to finding new singer
