Formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995, Slipknot was a nine-member alternative metal band whose members adopted numerals as performing aliases; the stabilized lineup, in order from 0 to 8, included DJ Sid Wilson, drummer Joey Jordison, bassist Paul Grey, percussionist Chris Fehn, guitarist James Root, sampler/programmer Craig Jones, percussionist Shawn Crahan, guitarist Mic Thompson, and vocalist Corey Taylor. In 1996, the group self-released an album titled Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. and attracted the attention of several labels, including Roadrunner, which signed the band the following year. Slipknot's eponymous official debut was released in 1999.