List of Slipknot band members

Slipknot is a heavy metal band formed by vocalist and percussionist Anders Colsefni, guitarists Donnie Steele and Josh "Gnar" Brainard, bassist Paul Gray, drummer Joey Jordison and percussionist Shawn Crahan, in Des Moines, Iowa.[1] Since its inception in 1995, the band has gone through multiple lineup changes, many occurring before the release of its debut album Slipknot, in 1999. The band is known for its large lineup, which consists of nine members, including a vocalist, two guitarists, a bassist, a primary drummer and two additional percussionists, a sampler, and a turntablist.[2]

In 1996, during the mixing stage of the band's demo album Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat., Slipknot saw its first lineup change when guitarist Donnie Steele left the band and was replaced by Craig Jones.[3] Shortly after, drummer Jordison suggested they would need a full-time sampler and Jones fit the position as "he liked doing that anyway."[4] Mick Thomson was brought in to fill the open position on guitar. After the release of Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. the band members were working on new material which required more vocal melody and vocalist Colsefni struggled with this.[5] In 1997, Corey Taylor was recruited from local band Stone Sour and after practicing with Slipknot "everything just clicked."[6][7] As a result, Colsefni was moved to backing vocals and percussion. However, Colsefni became unhappy with his new role and left the band a month later.[8]

Wanting to retain their percussive edge, the band chose Greg Welts as Colsefni's replacement.[9] Towards the end of 1997, each member chose a number as his alias.[10] Slipknot considered including a DJ in their lineup, but had difficulty finding one because "the people [they] knew who were DJs all sucked!"[11] Sid Wilson approached the band after seeing them live. He proceeded to impress the band with his ability and his antics, especially his crowd surfing skills.; Wilson was considered "Slipknot material" and his hiring brought the lineup to nine members.[12] In 1998, Welts was asked to leave the band and was replaced by Brandon Darner,[13] who, in turn, didn't stay for long and was replaced by Chris Fehn.[14][15] The final change in the lineup came in the latter stages of the recording of the band's debut album, Slipknot, in 1999; during a break in recording, Brainard decided to leave the band and was replaced by Jim Root.[16]

This lineup remained unchanged until May 2010, when bassist Paul Gray was discovered dead in a hotel room near his Iowa home. On June 21, the cause of his death was confirmed as an accidental overdose of morphine and fentanyl, a synthetic morphine substitute.[17] The band toured in the summer of 2011 with former guitarist Donnie Steele filling in for Gray.[18][19] Joey Jordison parted ways with the band in 2013. Vocalist Corey Taylor has stated that when a new drummer is found and placed in the lineup, he will let the fans know. Slipknot released their first album in six years in 2014, titled .5: The Gray Chapter.

Members

Current

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Shawn "Clown" Crahan (#6) 1995-present custom percussion, backing vocals all Slipknot releases
Craig Jones (#5) 1996–present samples, media, synthesizers, guitar (1996) all Slipknot releases from Slipknot demo (1998) to present
Mick Thomson (#7) 1996–present Lead & Rhythm guitars all Slipknot releases from Slipknot demo (1998) to present
Corey Taylor (#8) 1997–present vocals all Slipknot releases from Slipknot demo (1998) to present
Sid Wilson (#0) 1998–present turntables, keyboards all Slipknot releases from Slipknot demo (1998) to present
Chris Fehn (#3) 1998–present custom percussion, backing vocals all Slipknot releases from Slipknot (1999) to present
Jim Root (#4) 1999–present Lead and Rhythm guitars all Slipknot releases from Slipknot (1999) (only on the tracks "Purity" and "Me Inside") to present

Touring

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Alessandro Venturella 2014-present Bass guitar .5: The Gray Chapter (2014)[20]
Jay Weinberg 2014-present Drums .5: The Gray Chapter (2014)[21]

Former

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Donnie Steele 1995-1996, 2011–2014[22] guitars, bass Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996) and .5: The Gray Chapter (2014)[23]
Joey Jordison (#1) 1995–2013 drums all Slipknot releases from Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996) to Antennas to Hell (2012)
Paul Gray (#2) 1995–2010 (died 2010) bass, backing vocals all Slipknot releases from Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996) to Antennas to Hell (2012) (Appears on "(sic)nesses" and "Antennas to Hell" posthumously)
Josh "Gnar" Brainard (#4) 1995–1999 guitars all Slipknot releases from Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996) to Spit It Out (1999) and Antennas to Hell (2012) (Appears on "Slipknot" (except in the tracks "Purity" and "Me Inside"), "Wait and Bleed", "Spit It Out" and "Antennas to Hell" after leaving the band)
Brandon Darner (#3) 1998 custom percussion none
Greg "Cuddles" Welts (#3) 1997–1998 custom percussion Slipknot demo (1998)
Anders Colsefni 1995–1997 vocals, custom percussion Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996)

Timeline

References

  1. ↑ Arnopp 2001, pp. 40–42
  2. ↑ "Allmusic Slipknot biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  3. ↑ Arnopp 2001, pp. 50–51
  4. ↑ Arnopp 2001, p. 57
  5. ↑ Arnopp 2001, p. 70
  6. ↑ McIver 2003, pp. 41–42
  7. ↑ Arnopp 2001, p. 74
  8. ↑ McIver 2003, pp. 44–45
  9. ↑ McIver 2003, p. 47
  10. ↑ Arnopp 2001, pp. 80–81
  11. ↑ McIver 2003, p. 50
  12. ↑ Arnopp 2001, pp. 91–93
  13. ↑ McIver 2003, p. 54
  14. ↑ McIver 2003, p. 57
  15. ↑ Arnopp 2001, pp. 78–79
  16. ↑ McIver 2003, pp. 61–63
  17. ↑ Goldsmith, Belinda (2010-06-22). "Slipknot Bassist Died of 'Accidental' Overdose". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  18. ↑ "Slipknot reveal Paul Gray replacement for summer gigs". BBC. 2011-03-11. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  19. ↑ Adler, Shawn (2011-05-24). "Slipknot Reveal Donnie To Replace Deceased Bassist Paul Gray". Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  20. ↑ http://www.guitarworld.com/slipknots-jim-root-and-mick-thomson-talk-brutal-new-album-5-gray-chapter This reference states that Donnie was involved in some of the studio sessions for the new album so that proves he apppears on at least some of the album tracks
  21. ↑ http://www.guitarworld.com/slipknots-jim-root-and-mick-thomson-talk-brutal-new-album-5-gray-chapter This reference states that Donnie was involved in some of the studio sessions for the new album so that proves he apppears on at least some of the album tracks
  22. ↑ http://www.guitarworld.com/slipknots-jim-root-and-mick-thomson-talk-brutal-new-album-5-gray-chapter This reference states that Donnie was involved in some of the studio sessions for the new album which the first took place on March 1 2014 so that proves he was still working for the band in 2014 and had not left in 2013
  23. ↑ http://www.guitarworld.com/slipknots-jim-root-and-mick-thomson-talk-brutal-new-album-5-gray-chapter This reference states that Donnie was involved in some of the studio sessions for the new album so that proves he apppears on at least some of the album tracks