ICYMI: Joey Jordison’s estate settled with Slipknot: A drummer's legacy and a band's controversy

ICYMI: The lawsuit filed by Joey Jordison's estate against Slipknot was recently settled. The late drummer and founding member's estate had accused the band of profiting from his death and using his name and belongings without permission. The legal action, initially filed in June last year, claimed Slipknot displayed Jordison’s personal items in a traveling museum exhibit called Knotfest, despite previous promises to return them to his family after his 2013 firing.

The settlement, filed on September 17, remains confidential. The estate also expressed frustration over how the band handled Jordison’s passing. Slipknot’s members, including Shawn "Clown" Crahan and Corey Taylor, had publicly stated that they reached out to Jordison's family after his death to offer condolences.

However, the estate accused the band of lying, stating that no such contact was made. According to the lawsuit, Jordison’s family was deeply hurt by these claims, feeling that the band's remarks were more about generating publicity for their album than showing genuine concern for their late bandmate. Joey Jordison was one of Slipknot’s original members, having formed the band in 1995 alongside Crahan and the late bassist Paul Gray.

Jordison's drumming, characterized by his high-speed precision and aggressive style, was a key element in shaping Slipknot’s sound, particularly on their early albums like the self-titled debut (1999) and Iowa (2001). He was dismissed from the band in 2013, with Slipknot citing personal reasons at the time.

Why Joey Jordison left Slipknot

After some time went by, Jordison revealed that his departure was linked to his battle with transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder that impaired his ability to play drums. He said "I lost my legs. I couldn’t play any more. It was a form of multiple sclerosis, which I don’t wish on my worst enemy."

However, he said he overcome many of his problems, stating "If I can do it, you can do it. To people with multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis or anything like that, I’m living proof that you can beat that s**t."

He passed away in July 2021 at the age of 46, with his family announcing he "passed away peacefully in his sleep," leaving a lasting impact on the metal community.

Slipknot after Joey Jordison

In the years following Jordison’s departure, Slipknot continued to evolve. Their seventh studio album, The End, So Far, was released in September 2022, which offered singles like "The Chapeltown Rag." However, the band has faced significant changes in recent months.

In November of 2023, Slipknot parted ways with drummer Jay Weinberg, who had replaced Jordison in 2014. The band issued a statement describing the decision as a "creative" move to push their sound forward. "We would like to thank Jay Weinberg for his dedication and passion over the past ten years," the band said in their statement.

"No one can ever replace Joey Jordison's original sound, style or energy, but Jay honored Joey's parts and contributed to the last three albums and we, the band, and the fans appreciate it."

Weinberg’s exit followed that of longtime keyboardist Craig Jones, who left the band in June.

Weinberg has since been succeeded by Eloy Casagrande, formerly of Sepultura, while Jones’ replacement remains unnamed.
Obviously, lineup changes are nothing new with the band. In fact, Corey Taylor is not their original singer. As original vocalist and percussionist Anders Colsefni said: "Corey was a singer, I was way more growly..."

Slipknot today, and the near future

Currently, Slipknot is celebrating the 25th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, which catapulted them to fame. Known for their chaotic live performances and aggressive, mask-wearing personas, the band has embraced their roots by reviving their classic red jumpsuits and early mask designs for the anniversary tour. The tour has been met with enthusiasm from fans, many of whom remember the band’s explosive rise to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The anniversary tour, which spans across the U.S., will extend into Europe later this year. The band is set to perform at venues like the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, with additional shows scheduled in Germany, Switzerland, and France. Slipknot will also perform across several cities in the UK, including Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, and London.

The tour is set to conclude on December 20, 2024, at the O2 Arena in London.

The band's impact

Slipknot’s influence on the metal genre remains undeniable. The band helped pioneer the nu-metal movement, blending elements of alternative metal, death metal, and industrial music into a unique, raw sound that earned them legions of fans worldwide. With over 30 million albums sold globally, Slipknot’s legacy continues to grow, even as they face internal changes and external controversies.

Their ability to adapt and maintain their distinct identity, despite the loss of key members like Jordison and Gray, reflects their lasting appeal. They also plan on releasing new music, and not far off in the future.