SLIPKNOT has confirmed the identity of the band’s new drummer.
As widely speculated, a new post on SLIPKNOT‘s Instagram account of all nine members notably includes a tag for former SEPULTURA sticksman Eloy Casagrande, who abruptly left that latter band in early February, just days before the start of the Brazilian/American outfit’s farewell tour.
Interestingly, there are only eight tags in the new Instagram photo corresponding to all but one of the nine bandmembers, and the missing band member’s account is that of Craig Jones‘s as-yet-unknown replacement.
SLIPKNOT made its first festival appearance of 2024 Saturday night (April 27) as one of the headliners of Sick New World in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show marked SLIPKNOT‘s second performance with Casagrande.
Prior to Sick New World, SLIPKNOT played an intimate show Thursday night, April 25 at Pappy + Harriet’s in Pioneertown, California.
For both the Pappy + Harriet’s and Sick New World gigs, SLIPKNOT adopted a classic look, bringing back the 1999 red jumpsuits and elements of their early masks into their modern versions, tying into the fact that SLIPKNOT is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
After parting ways with Jay Weinberg last November, SLIPKNOT teased fans with a hint about a new drummer nearly two months ago, posting a photo of a single broken drumstick online with the caption “Rehearsal.”
The band explained in a statement that the split with Weinberg was a creative decision. Jay followed up with a statement of his own, saying that he was “heartbroken and blindsided” by his dismissal.
Weinberg has since joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES.
Casagrande abruptly quit SEPULTURA three months ago, shortly before he was supposed to begin rehearsals for the band’s recently launched 40th-anniversary farewell tour.
“February 6th, a few days prior to the first rehearsal, drummer Eloy Casagrande informed the band that he was leaving SEPULTURA to pursue a career in another project,” the band said in a statement.
Casagrande joined SEPULTURA 13 years ago as the replacement for Jean Dolabella.
In February 2020, SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green told Australia’s Everblack Media that Casagrande had had “a tremendous impact” on the group since he joined in 2011. “It’s undeniable because he’s such a strong force,” he said. “He loves playing metal music. He’s one of the most talented drummers I’ve ever seen, honestly. That power is consistent from beginning to the end. It really has rubbed off on all of us to really push ourselves further. He’s such a perfect match for the band. He really is always influencing us in so many ways to really go beyond — above and beyond.”
SLIPKNOT‘s latest album “The End, So Far”, arrived in August 2022. It marked the band’s the last full-length LP before the departure of both keyboardist Craig Jones, who left the group in June 2023, and Weinberg.
Photo credit: Jonathan Weiner