Slipknot Imply Joey Jordison Was Fired for Drug Abuse, Continue to Focus on New Masks

Before we begin our latest foray into the maggoty world of Slipknot: thanks to The Contortionist for running MetalSucks yesterday! I think they did a swell job, don’t you?

And now, onto the people who equal shit, the masterpieces of disasterpieces, the burning loins from Des Moines — Slipknot.

First up: vocalist Corey Taylor just gave an interview to Metal Hammer in which he discussed how difficult it was for the band to fire Joey Jordison… although he also made it sound as though it were ultimately 100% necessary. But why? Says Taylor:

“I can’t talk too much about it because we’re going through the legalities of everything right now and settling everything, but it’s when a relationship hits that T-section and one person’s going one way and you’re going the other. And try as you might to either get them to go your way or try and go their way, at some point you’ve got to go in the direction that works for you. This is me speaking in the broadest terms, with respect to Joey. I guess to sum it up, it was one of the hardest decisions we ever made.

“We’re all happy right now and we hope that he is. I’ve known him since ’91, and that was before we were in bands together, and he’s incredibly talented; he’s just in a place in his life, right now, that’s not where we are… in the nicest terms.”

Metal Hammer then tried to dig a little deeper, asking Taylor if drugs had anything to do with Jordison’s dismissal.

“There’s only so far that I can give an explanation. For me, that has to be a sign of growing up, because before I would’ve just railed at whatever I thought the supposed evil was, but now it’s like, how do you explain to the fans? And that’s the hardest part, because no matter what explanation you give, it’s not gonna make them happy. I’m sure there are fans out there who have their own theories about it.”

Taylor goes on to admit that he and the rest of the band love and miss Jordison and “talk about him all the time, but at the same time, do we miss him or do we miss the old him?” Lambgoat surmises that “Taylor’s failure to delve into specifics along with his use of the phrase ‘the old him’ when referring to Jordison are highly suggestive of substance abuse issues.” Which is entirely possible, although something tells me Jordison would deny the shit out of it if anyone bothers to ask him. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if there’s ever a point where the legal bullshit subsides and the band is able to be a little bit more forthcoming as to why they had to let Jordison go. I know the fans are dying for an explanation.

But not as much as they’re dying to see those new Slipknot masks! The Band Formerly Occasionally Referred to as “The Nine” are keeping the world’s focus where it belongs via the below BuzzFeed video and gifs, which provide our most detailed look to date at the new maschere di Des Moines. Except for Clown’s, because Clown keeps most of his mask hidden beneath his hands, while also flipping the bird. He’s like the rebellious kid in the class photo who makes a face or gives someone bunny ears or something because he needs to overcompensate for the attention he’s not getting at home.

P.S. You know how I know BuzzFeed was not the best possible place to premiere these images? Because right before the gifs, they have to explain that “(Each member of the band goes by a numbered alias, so that’s what those numbers are about.).” Just sayin’.

#6, Clown, the lovable scamp!

They’re still not saying this is Alessandro Venturella, but it’s Alessandro Venturella.  #0, Sid Wilson. I’ve always thought he had the coolest number and the coolest masks. Unfortunately, he’s a turntablist, which is like being a Scientologist, only more irritating. #4, Jim Root. I will never say a bad word about Jim Root. He has slept with Cristina Scabbia, and for that, he has my eternal respect. #8, Corey Taylor. I legitimately love this dude. His presence makes me feel guilty for giving Slipknot a hard time. His new mask is also pretty rad. #3, Chris Fehn is here, too! #5, Craig Jones, whose mask always changes the least. I would LOVE to see wooden sticks or needles or dildos or SOMETHING else coming outta that mask for the next Slipknot album cycle (coming in 2032!). They’re still not saying this is Jay Weinberg, but it’s Jay Weinberg. #7, Mick Thompson. So now you know why he has that tattoo on his arm! So the next time you hear some non-maggot spreading the popular rumor that the tat is the result of Thompson’s inability to remember which number comes after “six,” you can call bullshit and look super-cool in front of your friends!
Slipknot’s new album, .5: The Gray Chapter, comes out October 21 on Roadrunner. The band starts a tour with Korng 810 in October. Get dates here.