Former Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison, one of the founding members of the hard rock band, has died at age 46, his family announced Tuesday (July 27).
“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,” a statement from Jordison’s family to Billboard reads. “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 statement adds. “The family will hold a private funeral service and asks the media and public to respect their wishes.”
Jordison formed Slipknot in his native Iowa in 1995 along with percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray. Slipknot announced in December 2013 that Jordison and the band were “parting ways” after nearly two decades together, though the drummer later said in interviews that he was fired. “No band meeting? None. Anything from management? No, nothing,” Jordison said in a 2016 interview with Metal Hammer. “All I got was a stupid f—ing email saying I was out of the band that I busted my a– my whole life to f—ing create.”
In 2016, Jordison revealed that his exit from the band coincided with his getting sick with a disease called transverse myelitis and claimed that his bandmates confused his medical issues with a substance abuse problem. “I lost my legs,” he said onstage at 2016’s Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards. “I couldn’t play anymore. It was a form of multiple sclerosis, which I don’t wish on my worst enemy.”
It’s unclear from the family statement whether his condition had anything to do with his death.
Before Jordison’s departure, Slipknot earned three top 10s on the Billboard 200, including one No. 1 in All Hope Is Gone (Sept. 13, 2008). That album also ruled the Top Rock Albums and Hard Rock Albums charts. With Jordison, Slipknot also claimed four top 10s on Mainstream Rock Airplay, paced by a No. 2 with “Snuff” in March 2010.
Jordison formed the band Scar the Martyr in 2013 while he was still playing with Slipknot and was playing with Sinsaenum before his death.
Source
