Former Slipknot Drummer Joey Jordison Dies At 46

Joey Jordison of Slipknot
Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images – Joey Jordison of Slipknot
erforms on stage at Castle Donington on June 13, 2009 in Leicester, England.

Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Joey Jordison – who was best known as the founding drummer of Slipknot – passed away Monday in his sleep at age 46.  A cause of death has not been released. 

Jordison played drums for the metal band from 1995 to 2013 and contributed songwriting on four of Slipknot’s studio albums, from its self-titled debut in 1999 to 2008’s All Hope Is Gone.  
An obituary from Rolling Stone notes that Jordison’s “stoic presence behind the drum kit and his virtuosic drum solos, like the one captured in the band’s Disasterpieces film, where his riser ascended to the heavens, made him a favorite member for fans.” Writer Kory Grow adds, “Behind the scenes, Jordison was instrumental to Slipknot’s songwriting, and his neck-rattling rhythms and death-metal blastbeats were a crucial ingredient to the band’s sudden success.” 
Slipknot announced Jordison’s departure in 2013 with a statement saying he was parting ways for “personal reasons.” In 2016 he revealed in a speech at the Metal Hammer Golden Golds Awards that toward the end of his time in Slipknot he had gotten “really, really sick” with a neurological disorder called transverse myelitis.
“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,” Jordison said, according to Metal Hammer (via Rolling Stone / NME). 
Joey Jordison of Murderdolls
Jim Hackett – Joey Jordison of Murderdolls
Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn.
He later gave an interview with Metal Hammer explaining that he was fired from Slipknot via email and that some assumed his health problems were caused by drugs.  

Jordison also played guitar and provided backing vocals in the horror punk / heavy metal band Murderdolls from 2002-2004 and 2010-2011. He played drums and percussion in the heavy metal band Scar the Martyr from 2013 to 2015 and then co-founded heavy metal band Vimic in 2015. Other projects during his career include remixing, performing as a touring member with various bands and performing drums in blackened death metal band Sinsaenum. 

His family released the following statement July 27:
We are heartbroken to share the news that Joey Jordison, prolific drummer, musician and artist passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 26th, 2021. He was 46.

Joey’s death has left us with empty hearts and feelings of indescribable sorrow.

To those that knew Joey, understood his quick wit, his gentle personality, giant heart and his love for all things family and music.

The family of Joey have asked that friends, fans and media understandably respect our need for privacy and peace at this incredibly difficult time.

The family will hold a private funeral service and asks the media and public to respect their wishes.