That Time SLIPKNOT Sued Burger King Over “Coq Roq” Chicken Fries Commercial

While we “maggots” (a term used affectionately) impatiently await the arrival of a new Slipknot album sometime this year (rumored to drop in June), the folks at Loudwire are helping us pass the time by taking us on a stroll down memory lane. Remember back in 2005 when Slipknot had serious beef (pun intended) with Burger King?

The fast food chain released a controversial series of commercials featuring a faux band called Coq Roq (how they got that one past the FCC is a mystery to me); they were part of their promotional push for Chicken Fries. The “band” featured characters that bore more than just a passing resemblance to the masked members of Slipknot, specifically Sid Wilson, Corey Taylor, and Joey Jordison.

Slipknot filed a copyright infringement suit claiming Burger King misappropriated their images. The King fired back with a lawsuit reminding the band that Slipknot didn’t invent masked rock, gas masks, kabuki, or dreadlocks and, therefore, had no copyrights to claim. Ultimately, both sides dropped their suits.

Loudwire journalist Toni Gonzales recounts the events in the video above, which includes footage of the now infamous Coq Roq commercials. If it puts you in the mood to rock the fuck out to some powerful metal, give the video for “Dead Memories” a spin below.

Of course, we’ll keep you updated on all Slipknot-related news as details emerge. Stay tuned!

Share: 
Tags:

Categorized:

Sign up for The Harbinger a Dread Central Newsletter