Joey Jordison, former drummer for Slipknot, dies in his sleep aged 46
Joey Jordison dies at 46: Former drummer for Slipknot passes away in his sleep leaving his devastated family grappling with ‘indescribable sorrow’
- Joey Jordison, Founding member of the band Slipknot, has died
- The drummer was 46
- Law enforcement sources told TMZ Jordison was pronounced dead at the scene
- No foul play is suspected and there were no illegal drugs found at the house, the report added
- Born Nathan Jonas Jordison, young Joey grew up in rural Iowa and began playing drums when he was just eight years old
Joey Jordison, who was a founding member of the band Slipknot and shot to fame as their drummer, has died.
His family announced in a statement quoted by Rolling Stone that he passed on in his sleep this Monday at the age of 46.
TMZ report that Jordison was pronounced dead at the scene, no foul play is suspected and there were no illegal drugs found at the house.
The cause of death has not been announced and the statement included a request for ‘privacy and peace at this incredibly difficult time.’
Dearly departed: Joey Jordison, who was a founding member of the band Slipknot and shot to fame as their drummer, has died; pictured performing with the band in London in 2008
‘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 statement said.
‘The family of Joey have asked that friends, fans, and media understandably respect our need for privacy and peace at this incredibly difficult time.’
Born Nathan Jonas Jordison, young Joey grew up in rural Iowa and began playing drums when he was just eight years old.
He was 20 when in 1995 he became one of the founding members of Slipknot alongside Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan and Paul ‘the Pig’ Gray.
Pictured in 2013: His family announced in a statement quoted by Rolling Stone that he passed on in his sleep this Monday at the age of 46
Their debut album Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. dropped on Halloween 1996 and they rose to become one of the iconic heavy metal groups.
Joey was a writer on a number of Slipknot’s best-remembered songs including Gematria (The Killing Name) and My Plague.
Although the band grew to include several more members, the original three were part of the group throughout until Paul died of an overdose in 2010.
Joey confessed that he ‘went berserk’ and ‘kind of went into shock’ upon being told of Paul’s death. ‘I lost my best friend, you know.’
Carrying on: After he was fired from Slipknot he drummed in other bands including Vimic whom he is pictured playing with in Charlotte in 2017
He told Revolver he was on a plane that had just landed when he got a call from his manager with the news, whereupon he ‘smashed my phone, like, on the plane in front of everybody’ and was ‘thinking of going to jail because I’m starting to flip.’
During his later years with the band Joey suffered from a neurological condition called acute transverse myelitis that inflames the spine.
He wound up unable to play as his legs became useless, but eventually worked his way through enough treatment that he was able to recover.
But before his recovery the news broke in 2013 that Joey was parting ways with Slipknot for reasons that were initially shrouded in mystery.
What a group: Joey, who founded Slipknot with Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan and Paul ‘the Pig’ Gray in 1995, is pictured with a much larger form of the group in 2004
Joey was the one to break the silence, revealing that he had been fired and sharing in an interview that he was informed of his removal over email.
By his last days in the band his illness had advanced to the degree that ‘I had to be carried to the stage,’ he told Metal Hammer in 2016.
His bandmates ‘got confused about my health issues and obviously even I didn’t know what it was at first. They thought I was f***ed up on drugs, which I wasn’t at all.’
He shared: ‘I’ve been through so many things with those guys and I love them very much. What’s hurtful is the way it went down was not f***ing right.’
The way they were: Joey is pictured onstage with Corey Taylor of Slipknot in 2009 – four years before being fired from the group
The drummer fumed: ‘No band meeting? None. Anything from management? No, nothing. 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.’
Joey also performed with a band called Murderdolls that he founded in the early 2000s, but which broke up before his firing from Slipknot.
After his departure from the group that made him a star he started two new bands in 2016 called Vimic and Sinsaenum.
In an interview three years ago he triumphantly declared that he was ‘100% back’ after his battle with his acute transverse myelitis.
Remember when: Joey also performed with a band called Murderdolls (pictured) that he founded in the early 2000s, but which disbanded a few months before his firing from Slipknot
He told Metal Wani he was feeling ‘stronger than I’ve ever been, and I’m not just saying that – that sounds like a cheesy f***ing line, I understand. But it took me a long time, man, like to recover and, you know, get my strength back because I mean I got hit with something that – I mean I’ve never felt anything like this, you know?’
As news circulated of his death, tributes poured in from his admirers including the Italian death metal band Fleshgod Apocalypse who tweeted: ‘Goodbye, legend.’
Wrestler Jake Something wrote on Twitter: ‘RIP to one of my childhood heroes. This one hurts. My heart goes out to his friends and family. Long live #joeyjordison.’
Missed: As news circulated of his death tributes poured in from his admirers including the Italian death metal band Fleshgod Apocalypse and wrestler Jake Something
Radio host Lou Brutus called Joey an ‘old friend’ as he tweeted: ‘I’m greatly shocked and saddened. A phenomenal player, one of the architects of Slipknot, and a really nice guy. He will always be in my heart and my ears. So long, Joey.’
Metal singer Jamey Jasta, who has been part of such bands as Hatebreed and Icepick, tweeted: ‘Rest In Peace Joey Jordison.’ You changed the game with Slipknot. Brought the blast beat to the mainstream! Gave kids a groove like no other.’
Referring to an album by Hatebreed he continued: ‘Perseverance would’ve never happened had it not been for Joey & the Slipknot camp. Condolences to his family, friends & fans. Gone too soon.’
‘You changed the game’: Radio host Lou Brutus – who called Joey an ‘old friend’ – and Hatebreed singer Jamey Jasta shared their warm words as well
