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).
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]
Image | No./Int. | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#6 | Shawn "Clown" Crahan | 1995–present |
| all releases | |
#7 | Mick Thomson | 1996–present |
| all releases except Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996) | |
#8 | Corey Taylor | 1997–present | lead vocals | ||
#0 | Sid Wilson | 1998–present |
| ||
#4 | Jim Root | 1999–present |
| ||
V | Alessandro "Vman" Venturella | 2015–present (touring 2014–2015) |
| all releases since .5: The Gray Chapter (2014), except Live at MSG (2023) | |
Michael "Tortilla Man" Pfaff | 2022–present (touring 2019–2022) |
| all releases since The End, So Far (2022), except Live at MSG (2023) | ||
Unknown musician | 2023–present (touring) |
| none to date | ||
Eloy Casagrande | 2024–present | drums |
Image | No./Int. | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#2 | Paul Gray | 1995–2010 (until his death) |
|
| |
Anders Colsefni | 1995–1997 |
| Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996) | ||
Donnie Steele |
|
|
| ||
#1 | Joey Jordison | 1995–2013 (died 2021) | drums |
| |
#4 | Josh "Gnar" Brainard | 1995–1999 |
|
| |
#5 | Craig "133" Jones | 1996–2023 |
| all releases from Slipknot (1999) to Live at MSG (2023) | |
#3 | Greg "Cuddles" Welts | 1997–1998 |
| Slipknot (1999) | |
Chris Fehn | 1998–2019 |
| |||
J | Jay Weinberg | 2015–2023 (touring 2014–2015) | drums |
|
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brandon Darner | 1998 |
| ||
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 |
Period | Members | Releases |
---|---|---|
September 1995 (The Pale Ones) |
| none – rehearsals only |
September – October 1995 (The Pale Ones) |
| |
October 1995 – February 1996 (The Pale Ones, Meld for November debut show, Slipknot from c. December 1995) |
|
|
February – July 1996 (Slipknot, Pygsystem for two shows in June) |
| none – live performances only |
July 1996 – early 1997 |
| |
Early – September 1997 |
| |
September 1997 – early 1998 |
| |
Early – July 1998 |
|
|
July – September 1998 |
|
|
September – December 1998 |
|
|
January 1999 – May 2010 |
|
|
May 2010 – March 2011 |
| none |
March 2011 – December 2013 |
|
|
December 2013 – May 2014 |
| none |
March 2014 – March 2019 |
|
|
June 2019 – June 2023 |
|
|
June – November 2023 |
| none – live performances only |
November 2023 – April 2024 |
| none |
April 2024 – present |
| none to date |
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)