Slipknot & Drummer Jay Weinberg Part Ways

Slipknot have parted ways with longtime drummer Jay Weinberg.

Citing a “creative decision” that details the band’s intent to continue “evolving”, the band shared the following statement in a since-deleted social media post, per Consequence Of Sound:

We would like to thank Jay Weinberg for his dedication and passion over the past ten years. No one can ever replace Joey Jordison’s original sound, style or energy, but Jay honoured Joey’s parts and contributed to the last three albums, and we, the band, and the fans appreciate it. But as ever, Slipknot is intent on evolving. The band has decided to make a creative decision and to part ways with Jay. We wish Jay all the best and are very excited for what the future holds.

Following the departure of Joey Jordison in late 2013, Weinberg joined Slipknot in 2014 and played on three of their studio albums, 2014’s .5: The Gray Chapter, 2019’s We Are Not Your Kind and 2022’s The End, So Far.

Weinberg, the son of Max Weinberg, drummer with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, temporarily substituted for his father in the band in 2009 and played in punk band The Reveling before scoring gigs drumming for Madball in 2010 and Against Me! throughout 2011 and 2012.

Jay Weinberg started playing guitar at age nine before graduating to bass in his pre-teens and getting behind the kit at age 14. According to reports, as a nine-year-old, Max Weinberg took his son to Ozzfest to see Slipknot, immediately transforming Jay into a lifelong fan of heavy metal music.

Jay’s departure from Slipknot follows a turbulent period for the band, in which Craig Jones, the group’s keyboard player and sampler of the last 27 years, left the band.

The shock announcement arrived hours after Shawn 'Clown' Crahan revealed that he was taking some time away from live gigs as he needed to be with his wife, who was dealing with unspecified health issues.

In September 2022, Slipknot released The End, So Far, before bringing their titular festival, Knotfest, to Australia in March 2023. Check out The Music’s Sydney and Brisbane reviews.