Craig Jones

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Craig Jones
Background information
Birth name	Craig Michael Jones
Also known as	#5, 133
Born	February 11, 1972 (age 35) Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Genre(s)	Nu Metal
Instrument(s)	Keyboard, Samples
Label(s)	Roadrunner
Associated acts	Slipknot

Craig "133" Jones, born Craig Michael Jones on February 11, 1972, is a musician, better known as the sampler/keyboardist of the Nu metal band Slipknot.

In the early days, Craig originally joined Slipknot as a guitar player to fill in for Donnie Steele, but later switched to being in control of the samples, working with Sid Wilson. Craig also controls the guitar effects used live. His mask in the early days of Slipknot was a Gas Station mask with long needles, but eventually switched to a tight leather mask with six inch nails in it.

Craig is also in charge of the official Slipknot website[1], which he once ran with his wife before their divorce. His ex-wife died on May 3, 2005.^{[citation needed]}

While all of the Slipknot band members wear their stage masks in the public eye, most have been seen without their masks, mainly due to side projects they may be involved in that do not have this same tradition. Jones is the most elusive face of Slipknot, and until the the 'Duality' video shoot in Des Moines, IA, no fan had ever seen his true face knowingly. He is a video game fanatic and gets his ideas for samples in songs from movies. Eg: The line "Here comes the pain" in the track "(Sic)" was taken from Carlito's Way; the voice was of Al Pacino. The opening track for their self-titled album was created by Craig, and the dialogue in the background, "The whole thing I think, is sick", was taken from a Charles Manson documentary.

He has also never been quoted officially as having made any comments to interviewers, preferring to start an interview with the zip covering his mouth opened, and closing it in answer to any questions asked. During photo shoots, he wears patches over his eyes to keep his anonymity. He is also known to leave shows early for the same reason. It would seem he is rather isolated and independent, which is why he is probably looked upon as the "darkest" member of the band. James Root once said about Jones that: "He even scares me. I kind of feel I'm doing a service to the community by knowing where Craig is from day to day."^{[citation needed]} According to producer Ross Robinson, Jones was disturbingly quiet their studio sessions, and the only time he talked during an interview when saying "if I wasn't in this band I'd probably be out killing people", erupting a burst of complaint letters. ^[1]

There is a persistent rumor that his only words have been when an interviewer asked him to describe himself; "I have a rather slim, serial killer profile." However in the 1999 Slipknot home video "Welcome to Our Neighborhood" in his turn during the band introduction he says:"133, number 5, sampling". He has given an interview about his samples to the company Cakewalk , which is the company he prefers when doing samples. ^[2]

In the new Slipknot DVD Voliminal: Inside The Nine, all band members were individually interviewed unmasked, but Craig never said a word and his face was blurred. Craig was asked, "How many people are buried in your backyard," but he did not say a word.

[edit] Trivia

The nickname "133" (said One-thirty-three) has been confirmed as the speed of the processor of Craig's first computer, which was high-tech at the time.
Some thought his nickname came from: Take 133 multiply by 5, which is his band number, and add 1, as he is one man, and you get 666.
It was rumored that Craig ran Slipknot1.com by himself, but it has been proven false.
He is a computer game fanatic, his screen name when playing Quake III Arena online is ZZ 5. He even has his own "Slipknot member" skin, so it looks just like him when he plays.
Just prior to some European dates with Slayer, in October of 2004, Craig had to pull out of some dates due to some much needed dental surgery.
He is a smoker.
He has a tattoo saying "133" on the back of his neck, as can be seen on the voliminal dvd.
Has gotten whiplash from headbanging
He now has a girlfriend.