Born from the metal-saturated streets of Des Moines, Iowa, Vended emerged in 2018 as a force determined to carve their own path in heavy music. The band features two members who are sons of members of Slipknot: singer Griffin Taylor is the son of Corey Taylor, and drummer Simon Crahan is the son of Shawn “Clown” Crahan. Vended was formed in 2018 by Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan when they were teenagers; the duo then recruited Jeremiah Pugh, Cole Espeland, and Connor Grodzicki. The five-piece has maintained a stable lineup throughout their career, with no departures or member changes since their formation.
Vended released the EP What Is It//Kill It in 2021, as well as several stand-alone singles. The band’s self titled debut arrives on September 20 and includes 13 tracks produced by Chris Collier. While specific chart positions and major awards have not been widely documented, the band has achieved significant milestones including sold-out shows and major festival appearances. Their name is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable: “ven-DEAD”, and is based on the word vendetta.
The band avoided touring during their first few years due to their young age. Their first live performance was in Des Moines in March 2020, just before being forced to go on hiatus by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since emerging from the pandemic, Vended has toured extensively, including major festival appearances and supporting tours with established acts like Jinjer and P.O.D.
Griffin Taylor
Griffin Taylor joined Vended as the founding vocalist in 2018 alongside Simon Crahan. As the son of Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor, Griffin initially faced uncertainty about pursuing music as a career path. Griffin Taylor didn’t even know if he wanted to be a musician before forming the band Vended. “People were like, ‘So are you gonna get into music just like your dad?’ I didn’t even know if I wanted to be a musician as a kid,” the vocalist confessed. “I wanted to be a florist, a video game designer and a police officer, and I think at least two of those things are still on the table.”
Griffin has been with Vended since its inception and appears on all of the band’s recorded material, including the 2021 EP “What Is It//Kill It” and their 2024 self-titled debut album. Vended released their first recording, the single “Asylum”, on September 21, 2021. Griffin’s vocal contributions to the band include powerful performances on tracks like “Asylum,” “Burn My Misery,” “Ded to Me,” and the more recent singles “Am I The Only One,” “The Far Side,” and “Nihilism.” He has been instrumental in establishing Vended’s aggressive vocal style, which combines elements of nu-metal and modern metal.
“I started learning how to scream in middle school and my dad was out in Vegas.” Griffin has emphasized his independence in developing his vocal technique, maintaining that he learned his screaming abilities largely on his own without extensive coaching from his father. Outside of Vended, Griffin has made notable appearances with Slipknot, including joining his father on stage to perform “Custer” during Slipknot’s European tour. frontman Griffin Taylor has actually shared a stage with the headliners, being invited onstage in Bucharest, Romania by his father Corey on July 20 to sing guest vocals on Custer. The younger Taylor has consistently worked to establish his own identity separate from his famous father, focusing on building Vended’s independent career and reputation.
Simon Crahan
Simon Crahan co-founded Vended in 2018 as the band’s drummer, partnering with Griffin Taylor to form the core of what would become the five-piece metal outfit. As the son of Slipknot percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan, Simon grew up immersed in the world of professional metal music but has been adamant about forging his own path. “My dad never showed me how to play the drums,” Simon Crahan continues. “Maybe he showed me little things, but I learned that shit by myself – we all learned this shit by ourselves.”
Simon has remained with Vended throughout their entire history and appears on all recorded releases, from their debut single “Asylum” through their 2024 self-titled album. His drumming forms the backbone of Vended’s sound, providing the rhythmic foundation for tracks across both their EP and full-length releases. With a rhythm section that uses the trifecta of speed, power and precision. Simon’s contributions to Vended’s albums include powerful percussion work that drives songs like “Bloodline,” “Antibody,” and “Overall,” demonstrating his ability to blend technical proficiency with raw energy.
“I started learning how to scream in middle school and my dad was out in Vegas. I understand when people say, ‘Oh, they got all of their musical talent from their fathers.’ I understand where people come from with that, because of genes or just the way a voice is built or someone’s reflexes are built, but we didn’t get our parents’ musical talent. We found that on our own.” Beyond Vended, Simon has had unique opportunities to tour with Slipknot, allowing him to spend time with his father while both bands perform. He has been vocal about addressing criticism regarding nepotism, consistently defending the band’s independent achievements and musical abilities. Simon’s career highlights include performing at major festivals like Knotfest and supporting established acts across international tours.
Jeremiah Pugh
Jeremiah Pugh joined Vended as their bassist in 2018, recruited by founding members Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan to complete the band’s rhythm section. Vended was formed in 2018 by Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan when they were teenagers; the duo then recruited Jeremiah Pugh, Cole Espeland, and Connor Grodzicki. As one of the original five members, Jeremiah has been part of Vended’s journey from their basement beginnings in Des Moines to their emergence as a recognized force in modern metal.
Jeremiah appears on all of Vended’s recorded output, providing the low-end foundation for both their 2021 EP “What Is It//Kill It” and their 2024 self-titled debut album. The core element at the band’s heart – in the music, message, and theatricality – is authenticity. His bass work contributes significantly to Vended’s heavy sound, anchoring tracks like “Burn My Misery,” “Ded to Me,” and the newer material including “Serenity” and “Disparager.” Pugh and Crahan have the rhythm section in vicious lock, demonstrating the tight musical partnership between the bassist and drummer.
While Jeremiah does not come from a musical family like Griffin and Simon, he has proven himself as an integral part of Vended’s sound and success. His background prior to joining Vended and specific musical training remain less documented in public sources, but his contributions to the band’s aggressive, precision-driven sound are evident throughout their catalog. Outside of Vended, Jeremiah has participated in the band’s extensive touring, including major festival appearances and support tours with established metal acts. He continues to be an active member of the band as they work toward their stated goal of “world domination” in the metal scene.
Cole Espeland
Cole Espeland joined Vended as their lead guitarist in 2018, completing the band’s five-member lineup as one of the original recruits brought in by Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan. Formed in February 2018 by Cole Espeland (lead guitar), Griffin Taylor (vocals), Simon Crahan (drums), Jeremiah Pugh (bass) and Connor Grodzicki (rhythm guitar) As the band’s lead guitarist, Cole has been responsible for crafting many of the intricate solos and melodic elements that complement Vended’s heavy foundation.
Cole has contributed to all of Vended’s recorded material since their formation, appearing on both the 2021 EP “What Is It//Kill It” and their 2024 self-titled debut album. Espeland and Grodzicki bring an enthralling combination of frantic, wah-laden lead work and freight-train thrash to the table. His guitar work is featured prominently across tracks like “Asylum,” their breakthrough single, as well as more recent material including “Am I The Only One,” “The Far Side,” and “Nihilism.” Ferocious and driving guitars with soul crushing solos. Cole’s lead guitar contributions help establish Vended’s modern take on nu-metal and heavy music.
While specific details about Cole’s musical background before joining Vended remain limited in public sources, his technical proficiency and creative contributions to the band’s sound are evident throughout their catalog. It’s a clever arrangement, too – leaving space for each of them to exert a little muscle. He has remained a consistent presence in Vended’s lineup throughout their growth from local Des Moines act to internationally touring band. Outside of Vended, Cole has participated in the band’s extensive touring schedule, including performances at major festivals like Knotfest and Bloodstock, as well as supporting tours with established metal acts across multiple continents. His continued involvement in the band demonstrates his commitment to their shared goal of becoming a major force in contemporary metal music.
Connor Grodzicki
Connor Grodzicki joined Vended as their rhythm guitarist in 2018, recruited along with Cole Espeland to complete the band’s dual-guitar attack. Vended was formed in 2018 by Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan when they were teenagers; the duo then recruited Jeremiah Pugh, Cole Espeland, and Connor Grodzicki. As one of the founding five members, Connor has been integral to establishing Vended’s heavy, rhythmically-driven sound that combines elements of nu-metal with modern metal aggression.
Connor appears on all of Vended’s recorded releases, contributing rhythm guitar work to their 2021 EP “What Is It//Kill It” and their 2024 self-titled debut album. Espeland and Grodzicki bring an enthralling combination of frantic, wah-laden lead work and freight-train thrash to the table. His rhythm guitar provides the chordal foundation for tracks across both releases, supporting songs like “Bloodline,” “Antibody,” and “Overall” from their EP, as well as newer material including “Paint The Skin,” “Going Up,” and “Pitiful.” Connor’s guitar work helps create the wall of sound that defines Vended’s approach to heavy music.
Connor Grodzicki (Rhythm Guitar) – With a rhythm section that uses the trifecta of speed, power and precision. While details about Connor’s musical background prior to Vended are not extensively documented, his partnership with lead guitarist Cole Espeland has been crucial to the band’s guitar-driven sound. He has remained a stable member of the band’s lineup throughout their evolution from teenage metal enthusiasts to internationally touring musicians. Outside of Vended, Connor has been part of the band’s extensive touring history, including major festival appearances and support slots with established acts like Jinjer and P.O.D. Connor continues to contribute to Vended’s mission of establishing themselves as a dominant force in contemporary metal, working alongside his bandmates toward their stated goal of “world domination.”