Slipknot co-founder and ex-drummer Joey Jordison has died at age 46.
“We are heartbroken to share the news that Joey Jordison, prolific drummer, musician and artist passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 26th, 2021,” reads a statement from his family on Tuesday. “Joey’s death has left us with empty hearts and feelings of indescribable sorrow. To those that knew Joey, understood his quick wit, his gentle personality, giant heart and his love for all things family and music. The family of Joey have asked that friends, fans and media understandably respect our need for privacy and peace at this incredibly difficult time. The family will hold a private funeral service and asks the media and public to respect their wishes.”
Jordison first formed Slipknot in his home state of Iowa back in 1995 with the band’s bassist Paul Gray and percussionist Shawn Crahan. Two decades later, in December 2013 the band announced that it was “parting ways” with the drummer, who later claimed that he was actually fired. “No band meeting? None. Anything from management? No, nothing,” he said in 2016. “All I got was a stupid f*cking email saying I was out of the band that I busted my *ss my whole life to f*cking create.”
At the same time as his departure from Slipknot, the drummer was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a form of multiple sclerosis, but his teammates had mistaken his condition for drug abuse. “I lost my legs,” Jordison said onstage at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards that year. “I couldn’t play anymore. It was a form of multiple sclerosis, which I don’t wish on my worst enemy.”
During his time in Slipknot, Jordison received seven Grammy nominations, winning one of them for best metal performance for “Before I Forget.”
