List of Slipknot band members

Three line-ups of Slipknot 2005, 2012 and 2022.

Slipknot is an American alternative metal band, founded in 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, bassist Paul Gray and vocalist Anders Colsefni. The band currently consists of Crahan alongside guitarist Mick Thomson (since 1996), vocalist Corey Taylor (since 1997), DJ/keyboardist Sid Wilson (since 1998), guitarist Jim Root (since 1999), bassist/keyboardist Alessandro Venturella (since 2014), percussionist/keyboardist Michael Pfaff (since 2019), an unknown touring musician who plays samples, keyboards, and percussion (since 2023) and drummer Eloy Casagrande (since 2024).

History

Members of Slipknot had played together in various metal bands since 1991. In January 1995, Colsefni, Crahan and Gray decided to form a new band. ^[1] They were soon joined by guitarist Donnie Steele and drummer Joey Jordison, with Jordison also inviting rhythm guitarist Josh Brainard. ^{[2] [3]} In late 1995, the group changed their name to Slipknot. ^[4] In February 1996, after recording their debut album Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. , Steele left the band over disagreement over lyrical content. ^[1] Craig Jones joined as Steele's replacement, although he soon moved to samples, media and keyboards. ^[5] Mick Thomson joined as Jones' replacement on guitar. ^[6]

In early 1997 Corey Taylor joined as lead vocalist, and Colsefni moved to backing vocals, ^[7] although he would depart by September 1997. ^[8] Greg Welts joined as Colsefni's replacement. ^[9] In Early 1998, DJ Sid Wilson also joined the band, bringing the number of members to nine. ^[10] Welts was fired in July 1998, shortly before the band signed a record deal. ^[11] Brandon Darner was Welts' touring replacement although he departed soon after and was replaced by Chris Fehn. ^{[12] [13]} Brainard left during Christmas 1998, ^{[14] [15]} his replacement was Jim Root who joined the following year. ^[15] This line-up would stay together for over 10 years.

In May 2010, Paul Gray died. ^[16] In March 2011, former guitarist Donnie Steele rejoined as his touring replacement. ^{[17] [18]} In December 2013, Jordison was fired from the band. ^{[19] [20] [21]} In October 2014, the band began touring with a new drummer and bassist, replacing Jordison and Steele respectively. ^[22] These musicians were later revealed to be Jay Weinberg and Alessandro Venturella respectively. ^{[23] [24]}

In March 2019, Chris Fehn filed a lawsuit against the band due to withheld payments. ^[25] He was fired from the band later that month. ^[26] He was replaced by a musician that was later revealed to be Michael Pfaff. ^{[27] [28] [29]} Craig Jones parted ways with the band in June 2023, ^[30] he was replaced the same day by a musician whose identity has not been revealed, although they are rumoured to be either Zac Baird (ex-Korn), Nathan Church (ex-Downthesun) or Jeff Karnowski (ex-Dirty Little Rabbits). ^{[31] [32]} The band also parted ways with Weinberg that November. ^[33] Eloy Casagrande joined as drummer the following year, leaving Sepultura to do so. ^{[34] [35] [36]}

Members

Current members

Image	No./Int.	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	#6	Shawn "Clown" Crahan	1995–present	percussion backing and occasional lead vocals occasional drums samplers (1995–1996)	all releases
	#7	Mick Thomson	1996–present	lead and rhythm guitar	all releases except Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996)
	#8	Corey Taylor	1997–present	lead vocals
	#0	Sid Wilson	1998–present	turntables keyboards (2008–present)
	#4	Jim Root	1999–present	rhythm and lead guitar bass (studio 2010–2014)
	V	Alessandro "Vman" Venturella	2015–present (touring 2014)	bass keyboards (studio 2018–present) [37]	all releases since .5: The Gray Chapter (2014), except Live at MSG (2023)
		Michael "Tortilla Man" Pfaff	2022–present (touring 2019–2022)	percussion backing vocals keyboards (2022–present) [38]	all releases since The End, So Far (2022), except Live at MSG (2023)
		Unknown musician	2023–present (touring)	sampler media keyboards percussion	none to date
		Eloy Casagrande	2024–present	drums

Former members

Image	No./Int.	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	#2	Paul Gray	1995–2010 (until his death)	bass backing vocals	all releases from Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996) to All Hope Is Gone (2008) Live at MSG (2023)
		Kun P. Nong	1995	lead guitar	none
		Anders Colsefni	1995–1997	lead vocals (1995–1997) backing vocals (1997) percussion samples (1995–1996)	Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996)
		Donnie Steele	1995–1996 2011–2014 (touring/session)	lead guitar (1995–1996) bass (2011–2014)	Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996) .5: The Gray Chapter (2014)
	#1	Joey Jordison	1995–2013 (died 2021)	drums	all releases from Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996) to All Hope Is Gone (2008) Live at MSG (2023)
	#4	Josh "Gnar" Brainard	1995–1998	rhythm guitar backing vocals keyboards percussion (1995–1996)	Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996) Slipknot (1999)
	#5	Craig "133" Jones	1996–2023	lead guitar (1996) samples media (1996–2023) keyboards (2004–2023)	all releases from Slipknot (1999) to Live at MSG (2023)
	#3	Greg "Cuddles" Welts	1997–1998	percussion backing vocals	Slipknot (1999)
		Chris Fehn	1998–2019		all releases from Slipknot (1999) to .5: The Gray Chapter (2014) All Out Life (2018) Live at MSG (2023)
	J	Jay Weinberg	2014-2023 (touring 2014–2015)	drums	all releases from .5: The Gray Chapter (2014) to Adderall (2023)

Touring musicians

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Notes
	Brandon Darner	1998	percussion backing vocals
	Mark Morton	2005	bass	fill in for Paul Gray at The Subliminal Verses North American leg. [39]
	Phil Sgrosso	2012	guitar	fill in for Jim Root at Mayhem Festival. [40]
	Nick Hipa

Timeline

Line-ups

Period	Members	Releases
September 1995 (The Pale Ones)	Anders Colsefni – lead vocals Kun P. Nong - guitars Donnie Steele – guitars Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Shawn Crahan – drums	none – rehearsals only
September – October 1995 (The Pale Ones)	Anders Colsefni – lead vocals, percussion Donnie Steele – guitars Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals
October 1995 – February 1996 (The Pale Ones, Meld for November debut show, Slipknot from c. December 1995)	Anders Colsefni – lead vocals, percussion, samples Donnie Steele – lead guitar Josh Brainard – rhythm guitar, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, samples, backing vocals	Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996)
February – July 1996 (Slipknot, Pygsystem for two shows in June)	Anders Colsefni – lead vocals, percussion, samples Craig Jones – lead guitar Josh Brainard – rhythm guitar, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, samples, backing vocals	none – live performances only
July 1996 – early 1997	Anders Colsefni – lead vocals, percussion Mick Thomson – lead guitar Josh Brainard – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals
Early – September 1997	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – lead guitar Josh Brainard – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Anders Colsefni – percussion, backing vocals
September 1997 – early 1998	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – lead guitar Josh Brainard – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Greg Welts – percussion, backing vocals
Early – July 1998	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – lead guitar Josh Brainard – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Sid Wilson – turntables Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Greg Welts – percussion, backing vocals	"Spit It Out" on Slipknot (1999) and Antennas to Hell (2012)
July – September 1998	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – lead guitar Josh Brainard – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Sid Wilson – turntables Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Brandon Darner – percussion, backing vocals (touring only)	Slipknot (1999) all but two tracks
September – December 1998	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – lead guitar Josh Brainard – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Sid Wilson – turntables Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals	Slipknot (1999) one track Antennas to Hell (2012) four tracks
January 1999 – May 2010	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – guitar Jim Root – guitar Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals	"Purity" and "Me Inside" on Slipknot (1999) Iowa (2001) Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004) 9.0: Live (2005) All Hope Is Gone (2008) Antennas to Hell (2012) remaining thirteen tracks Live at MSG (2023)
May 2010 – March 2011	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – guitar Jim Root – guitar Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals	none
March 2011 – December 2013	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – guitar Jim Root – guitar, bass Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Donnie Steele – bass (touring) Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Joey Jordison – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals	.5: The Gray Chapter (2014) unspecified tracks
December 2013 – May 2014	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – guitar Jim Root – guitar, bass Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Donnie Steele – bass (touring) Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals	none
March 2014 – March 2019	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – guitar Jim Root – guitar Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Alessandro Venturella – bass, keyboards (touring only till 2015) Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Jay Weinberg – drums (touring only till 2015) Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals	.5: The Gray Chapter (2014) unspecified tracks Day of the Gusano: Live in Mexico (2017) We Are Not Your Kind (2019) one track
June 2019 – June 2023	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – guitar Jim Root – guitar Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Alessandro Venturella – bass, keyboards Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Jay Weinberg – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Michael Pfaff – percussion, keyboards, backing vocals (touring only till 2022)	We Are Not Your Kind (2019) The End, So Far (2022) Adderall (2023)
June – November 2023	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – guitar Jim Root – guitar Unknown musician – samples, media, keyboards (touring) Alessandro Venturella – bass, keyboards Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Jay Weinberg – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Michael Pfaff – percussion, keyboards, backing vocals	none – live performances only
November 2023 – April 2024	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – guitar Jim Root – guitar Unknown musician – samples, media, keyboards (touring) Alessandro Venturella – bass, keyboards Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Michael Pfaff – percussion, keyboards, backing vocals	none
April 2024 – present	Corey Taylor – lead vocals Mick Thomson – guitar Jim Root – guitar Unknown musician – samples, media, keyboards, percussion (touring) Alessandro Venturella – bass, keyboards Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Eloy Casagrande – drums Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Michael Pfaff – percussion, keyboards, backing vocals	none to date

References

1. Arnopp 2001, p. 40-41.
2. "Slipknot Biography". MFKR1.com. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
3. "2001 JB". MFKR1. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
4. Arnopp 2001, p. 42-43.
5. Arnopp 2001, p. 50-51.
6. Arnopp 2001, p. 57.
7. Arnopp 2001, p. 71-74.
8. Arnopp 2001, p. 77.
9. McIver 2003, p. 47.
10. Arnopp 2001, p. 91.
11. McIver 2003, p. 54.
12. Schaffner, Lauryn (November 8, 2023). "All 18 Musicians Who've Been in Slipknot". Loudwire. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
13. McIver 2003, p. 57-58.
14. Crampton 2001, p. 35.
15. McIver 2003, p. 61-63.
16. Siddique, Haroon (May 24, 2010). "Slipknot bassist Paul Gray found dead". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved August 13, 2024.
17. Adler, Shawn (March 12, 2011). "Slipknot Reveal Donnie Steele To Replace Deceased Bassist Paul Gray". MTV. Archived from the original on September 8, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
18. "SLIPKNOT's First Show Since Death Of PAUL GRAY: HD Video Footage Available". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. June 20, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
19. Rutherford, Kevin (December 14, 2013). "Slipknot, Drummer Joey Jordison Part Ways". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
20. Stubbs, Dan (December 13, 2013). "Drummer Joey Jordison leaves Slipknot". NME. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
21. Kennelty, Greg (January 2, 2014). "Joey Jordison: "I Did Not Quit SLIPKNOT"". Metal Injection. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
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24. Pasbani, Robert (December 3, 2014). "SLIPKNOT Itinerary Leaks Confirming Drummer Identity as Jay Weinberg". Metal Injection. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
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26. KaydanHowison (March 18, 2019). "Huuuge News: Slipknot have parted ways with Chris Fehn". Wall Of Sound. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
27. Richards, Will (July 11, 2019). "Former Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn fights to continue lawsuit over band profits". NME. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
28. Lavin, Will (August 8, 2020). "Slipknot appear to accidentally confirm Tortilla Man's identity". NME. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
29. "Identity Of SLIPKNOT's TORTILLA MAN Officially Confirmed". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. March 16, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
30. Avila, Daniela. "Slipknot Keyboardist Craig Jones Leaving the Band After 27 Years". Peoplemag. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
31. Dunworth, Liberty (June 15, 2023). "Slipknot fans share theories on identity of new member". NME. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
32. Reeder (April 23, 2024). "SLIPKNOT Appears To Accidentally Reveal Identities Of Their Two Latest Members". metaladdicts.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
33. "SLIPKNOT Parts Ways With Drummer JAY WEINBERG". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. November 5, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
34. Williams, Stuart (December 8, 2023). "Sepultura announce split, so does this mean Eloy Casagrande is going to be the new drummer in Slipknot?". MusicRadar. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
35. "ELOY CASAGRANDE Explains Decision To Leave SEPULTURA And Join SLIPKNOT: 'It Was Complicated'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. May 10, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
36. Carter, Emily (April 30, 2024). "Slipknot officially confirm new drummer Eloy Casagrande". Kerrang!. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
37. Sharma, Amit (October 16, 2019). "Slipknot's VMan: "My approach isn't the same as Paul's. I can't be him and never will be"". MusicRadar.
38. Sharma, Amit (November 14, 2024). "@arturia_official and Slipknot". Instagram.
39. "The Subliminal Verses North American leg with Shadows Fall & Lamb of God (2005) was face melting! Brian Fair (Shadows Fall) is latest guest on the Podioslave Podcast and we reflect on that tour. There's some incredible stories leading up to that epic show. Check it out, it's a great conversation!". Reddit. podioslavepodcast. December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
40. "Jamming out with Slipknot on Mayhem". Facebook. Phil Sgrosso. Retrieved September 22, 2024.

Bibliography

• Arnopp, Jason (2001). Slipknot: Inside the Sickness, Behind the Masks. UK: Ebury. ISBN   0-09-187933-7.

• Crampton, Mark (2001). Barcode Killers: The Slipknot Story in Words and Pictures. UK: Chrome Dreams. ISBN   1-84240-126-2.
• McIver, Joel (2003). Slipknot: Unmasked (Again). UK: Omnibus. ISBN   0-7119-9764-0.