SLIPKNOT ANNOUNCE DONNIE STEELE AS BASSIST FOR UPCOMING SHOWS

At long last, Slipknot have announced who will be taking the late Paul Gray’s spot as their new bass player… at least for the time being. And it’s someone hardcore Slipknot fans already know! Here’s the statement from the band’s official website:

For their upcoming shows in 2011, Slipknot has asked Donnie Steele to fill in for Paul Gray on bass. Donnie, as some may recall, was the original guitar player in Slipknot and had actually reconnected with Paul in recent years. Said the band on their decision, “Donnie was in the band at the very beginning, and rather than get an outsider, we thought it would be a fitting tribute to Paul to play with someone from within the family. Donnie was great friends with Paul and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate his memory than with someone who was there with us at the very beginning. The eight of us are looking forward to being onstage again and honoring Paul’s legacy with our families in Europe and Brazil this summer.”

So there ya have it. Whether or not Donnie ends up back in Slipknot on a full-time basis remains to be seen, but for now…

-AR

Thanks: Hetal Bhatt