Joey Jordison, founding Slipknot drummer, dies aged 46
Founding Slipknot member and acclaimed drummer Joey Jordison has died at the age of 46.
The drummer, co-songwriter, and co-founder of the influential alternative metal band, as well as the guitarist for horror-punk group Murderdolls, passed away on Monday, according to a statement released Tuesday afternoon by his family.
"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. He was 46," the statement read.
"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."
Although a cause of death has not been announced, it has been confirmed he died in his sleep.
Nathan Jonas “Joey” Jordison was born April 26, 1975 in Iowa, and he began playing drums at age 8, even forming his first band when he was still in elementary school.
In 1995, he joined a local metal band called the Pale Ones, who he later suggested they should rename Slipknot.
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After signing with Roadrunner Records, their self-titled debut album was the first album in that label’s history to be certified platinum.
The nine-member band famously performed in matching industrial boilers suits and creepy 3D Halloween masks and became one of the most successful, pioneering, and enduring bands of late-’90s/early-2000s nu-metal explosion.
They eventually sold 30 million albums worldwide and earned 10 Grammy nominations, with the track 'Before I Forget' winning the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2006.
In 2013 Joey left Slipknot, with the band citing mysterious personal reasons for his departure, but the drummer countered with a statement claiming that he had been fired, insisting, "[Slipknot] has been my life for the last 18 years, and I would never abandon it, or my fans."
That same year his side-project Murderdolls also officially disbanded.
In 2016 Joey revealed that after experiencing mysterious symptoms since 2010, he had finally been diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a neurological disease that had temporarily rendered him unable to use his left leg or play drums during the end of his run with Slipknot.
It is currently unclear if this condition was connected to his death in any way, but in a 2018 interview with Rhythm magazine, he stated that he had fully recovered with the help of intensive rehabilitation.
During his career, Joey Jordison received many accolades for his drumming, including a Golden God trophy at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, a Drummies Award for Best Metal Drummer, and the title of No. 1 heavy metal drummer according Loudwire readers.
Additional reporting by Lyndsey Parker.
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