Slipknot is an American alternative metal band, founded in 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, bassist Paul Gray and vocalist Anders Colsefni. The band currently consists of Crahan alongside guitarist Mick Thomson (since 1996), vocalist Corey Taylor (since 1997), guitarist Jim Root (since 1999), bassist Alessandro Venturella (since 2014), percussionist/keyboardist Michael Pfaff (since 2019), an unknown touring musician who plays samples, keyboards and percussion (since 2023) and drummer Eloy Casagrande (since 2024).

History Members of Slipknot had played together in various metal bands since 1991. In January 1995, Colsefni, Crahan and Gray decided to form a new band. They were soon joined by guitarist Donnie Steele and drummer Joey Jordison, with Jordison also inviting rhythm guitarist Josh Brainard. In late 1995, the group changed their name to Slipknot. In February 1996, after recording their debut album Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat., Steele left the band over disagreements over lyrical content. Craig Jones joined as Steele's replacement, although he soon moved to samples, media and keyboards. Mick Thomson joined as Jones' replacement on guitar.

In early 1997 Corey Taylor joined as lead vocalist, and Colsefni moved to backing vocals, although he would depart by September 1997. Greg Welts joined as Colsefni's replacement. In early 1998, DJ Sid Wilson also joined the band, bringing the number of members to nine. Welts was fired in July 1998, shortly before the band signed a record deal. Brandon Darner was Welts' touring replacement although he departed soon after and was replaced by Chris Fehn. Brainard left during Christmas 1998, his replacement was Jim Root who joined the following year. This line-up would stay together for over 10 years.

In May 2010, Paul Gray died. In March 2011, former guitarist Donnie Steele rejoined as his touring replacement. In December 2013, Jordison was fired from the band. In October 2014, the band began touring with a new drummer and bassist, replacing Jordison and Steele respectively. These musicians were later revealed to be Jay Weinberg and Alessandro Venturella respectively.

In March 2019, Chris Fehn filed a lawsuit against the band due to withheld payments. He was fired from the band later that month. He was replaced by a musician that was later revealed to be Michael Pfaff. Craig Jones parted ways with the band in June 2023, he was replaced the same day by a musician whose identity has not been revealed, although they are rumoured to be either Zac Baird (ex-Korn), Nathan Church (ex-Downthesun) or Jeff Karnowski (ex-Dirty Little Rabbits). The band also parted ways with Weinberg that November. Eloy Casagrande joined as drummer the following year, leaving Sepultura to do so.

On July 31, 2026, TMZ reported that Wilson was permanently removed from Slipknot. On August 14, 2026, Slipknot announced that they had parted ways with Wilson; however, the post was deleted shortly afterwards.

Members

Current members ImageNo./Int.NameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributions#6Shawn "Clown" Crahan1995–presentall releases#7Mick Thomson1996–presentall releases except Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996)#8Corey Taylor1997–presentlead vocals#4Jim Root1999–presentVAlessandro "Vman" Venturella2015–present all releases since .5: The Gray Chapter (2014), except Live at MSG (2023)Michael "Tortilla Man" Pfaff2022–present all releases since The End, So Far (2022), except Live at MSG (2023)Eloy Casagrande2024–presentdrums"Arsenal" (2026)

Former members ImageNo./Int.NameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributions#2Paul Gray1995–2010 Anders Colsefni1995–1997Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996)Donnie Steele#1Joey Jordison1995–2013 drums#4Josh "Gnar" Brainard1995–1998#5Craig "133" Jones1996–2023all releases from Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996) to Live at MSG (2023)#3Greg "Cuddles" Welts1997–1998Slipknot (1999) #0Sid Wilson1998–2026 #3Chris Fehn1998–2019JJay Weinberg2015–2023 drums

Touring musicians ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsNotesBrandon Darner1998 for one show on August 15, 1998.Mark Morton2005 bassfill in for Paul Gray at The Subliminal Verses North American leg.Phil Sgrosso2012 guitarsfill in for Jim Root at Mayhem Festival.Nick HipaUnknown musician2023–presentnone to date

Timeline Official musician timeline

Touring musician timeline

Line-ups PeriodMembersReleasesSeptember 1995 Shawn Crahan – drums Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Anders Colsefni – lead vocals Donnie Steele – guitarsnone September – October 1995 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Anders Colsefni – lead vocals, percussion Donnie Steele – guitars Joey Jordison – drumsOctober 1995 – February 1996 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Anders Colsefni – lead vocals, percussion Donnie Steele – guitars Joey Jordison – drums Josh Brainard – guitars, backing vocals, percussionMate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. (1996)February – July 1996 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Anders Colsefni – lead vocals, percussion Joey Jordison – drums Josh Brainard – guitars, backing vocals, percussion Craig Jones – guitarsJuly 1996 – early 1997 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Anders Colsefni – lead vocals, percussion Joey Jordison – drums Josh Brainard – guitars, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Mick Thomson – guitarsEarly – September 1997 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Anders Colsefni – percussion, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Josh Brainard – guitars, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals noneSeptember 1997 – early 1998 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Josh Brainard – guitars, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Greg Welts – percussion, backing vocalsEarly – July 1998 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Josh Brainard – guitars, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Greg Welts – percussion, backing vocals Sid Wilson – turntables "Spit It Out" on Slipknot (1999) and Antennas to Hell (2012)July – September 1998 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Josh Brainard – guitars, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Sid Wilson – turntables Brandon Darner – percussion, backing vocals Slipknot (1999) September – December 1998 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Josh Brainard – guitars, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Sid Wilson – turntables Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals Slipknot (1999) Antennas to Hell (2012) January 1999 – May 2010 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Paul Gray – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals Jim Root – guitars "Purity" and "Me Inside" on Slipknot (1999) Iowa (2001) Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004) 9.0: Live (2005) All Hope Is Gone (2008) Antennas to Hell (2012) Live at MSG (2023)May 2010 – July 2011 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals Jim Root – guitarsnoneJuly 2011 – December 2013 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drums Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals Jim Root – guitars, bass Donnie Steele – bass .5: The Gray Chapter (2014) December 2013 – May 2014 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals Jim Root – guitars, bass Donnie Steele – bass none March 2014 – March 2019 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Chris Fehn – percussion, backing vocals Jim Root – guitars Jay Weinberg – drums Alessandro Venturella – bass, keyboards .5: The Gray Chapter (2014) Day of the Gusano: Live in Mexico (2017) We Are Not Your Kind (2019) June 2019 – June 2023 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Craig Jones – samples, media, keyboards Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Jim Root – guitars Jay Weinberg – drums Alessandro Venturella – bass Michael Pfaff – percussion, backing vocals, keyboards We Are Not Your Kind (2019) The End, So Far (2022) Adderall (2023)June – November 2023 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Jim Root – guitars Jay Weinberg – drums Alessandro Venturella – bass Michael Pfaff – percussion, keyboards, backing vocals Unknown musician – samples, media, keyboards, percussion none November 2023 – April 2024 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Jim Root – guitars Alessandro Venturella – bass Michael Pfaff – percussion, keyboards, backing vocals Unknown musician – samples, media, keyboards, percussion noneApril 2024 – August 2026 Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Sid Wilson – turntables, keyboards Jim Root – guitars Alessandro Venturella – bass Michael Pfaff – percussion, keyboards, backing vocals Unknown musician – samples, media, keyboards, percussion Eloy Casagrande – drumsAugust 2026 – present Shawn Crahan – percussion, backing vocals Mick Thomson – guitars Corey Taylor – lead vocals Jim Root – guitars Alessandro Venturella – bass Michael Pfaff – percussion, keyboards, backing vocals Unknown musician – samples, media, keyboards, percussion Eloy Casagrande – drums"Arsenal" (2026)

References

Bibliography