Complete List Of Slipknot Band Members

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Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995. Known for their aggressive style of music and distinctive image, particularly their horror-inspired masks, Slipknot has become one of the most recognizable bands in the heavy metal genre. The group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray and quickly became known for chaotic live performances and a nine-member lineup, each wearing unique masks and uniforms. Slipknot’s self-titled debut album was released in 1999 and was a commercial success, followed by further successful releases such as Iowa (2001) and Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004). The band’s sound typically features a complex, layered mix of heavy metal aggression and more melodic elements, earning them several Grammy nominations and one win for Best Metal Performance for the song “Before I Forget.”

Shawn Crahan

Shawn Crahan, also known as “Clown,” is a founding member of Slipknot and the band’s custom percussionist. Crahan’s persona, both on and off stage, has heavily influenced the band’s image and direction. Beyond Slipknot, Crahan has directed music videos and worked on side projects like To My Surprise and Dirty Little Rabbits. He has played on all of Slipknot’s albums and is central to the band’s creative and production processes.

Mick Thomson

Mick Thomson, known as “Number Seven,” joined Slipknot in 1996 and is one of the band’s guitarists. Thomson’s playing style is characterized by its aggressive speed and precision, which are foundational to Slipknot’s sound. He has contributed to all of Slipknot’s studio albums, offering not just guitar work but also contributing to the band’s arrangements and songwriting.

Corey Taylor

Corey Taylor joined Slipknot in 1997 and serves as the band’s lead vocalist. Taylor’s dynamic vocal range, capable of harsh screams and melodic singing, has significantly shaped Slipknot’s sound. He has appeared on all their major albums and is also known for his role as the lead vocalist and guitarist for Stone Sour, another successful rock band. Taylor has released solo music and written several best-selling books, showcasing his versatility as an artist.

Sid Wilson

Sid Wilson, also known as “DJ StarScream,” served as Slipknot’s turntablist from 1998 until his departure in August 2026 and was known for his energetic stage presence. Wilson’s work added a layer of electronic flair to Slipknot’s music, evident in albums across their discography. Wilson also produces solo work under his DJ pseudonym and has collaborated with various artists in the hip-hop and electronic music scenes.

Jim Root

Jim Root joined the band in 1999, near the end of the recording of their self-titled debut album. As one of Slipknot’s guitarists, Root is crucial in crafting the band’s heavier guitar sections. He was also a member of Stone Sour until 2014, contributing significantly to both bands’ successes.

Alessandro Venturella

Alessandro Venturella has been Slipknot’s bassist since 2014, first appearing on the album .5: The Gray Chapter. Known for his technical skill, Venturella had previously worked as a guitar tech for Mastodon and Coheed and Cambria, among others, before joining Slipknot.

Michael Pfaff

Michael Pfaff joined Slipknot in 2019 as a custom percussionist, replacing Chris Fehn. Pfaff had previously collaborated with Shawn Crahan in the band Dirty Little Rabbits, bringing a familiarity and synergy to his role within Slipknot.

Samples/Media

Slipknot’s unidentified Samples/Media member joined the performing lineup in 2023 after the departure of Craig Jones, handling samples, media, keyboards, and related duties. The band has continued to keep the musician’s identity private, publicly identifying the role rather than the person by name.

Eloy Casagrande

Eloy Casagrande joined Slipknot in 2024, replacing Jay Weinberg as the drummer. Casagrande is known for his technical proficiency and dynamic playing style, previously showcased in his work with Brazilian metal band Sepultura.

Donnie Steele

Donnie Steele was one of the original guitarists for Slipknot, involved in the band’s early formation in 1995. Steele’s tenure with the band was short-lived; he left in 1996 before the recording of Slipknot’s debut album. Despite his brief period with the band, Steele made a temporary return to Slipknot as the touring bassist in 2011 after Paul Gray’s death, providing support until he stepped away again in 2014.

Josh Brainard

Josh Brainard was another early member of Slipknot, serving as a guitarist from the band’s formation until 1999. Brainard recorded on Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat., the band’s demo album, and contributed to most of the tracks recorded for their self-titled debut album before departing during the recording process. Brainard later said that some decisions had been made that he was not particularly happy with.

Anders Colsefni

Anders Colsefni was the original lead vocalist and percussionist for Slipknot during the mid-1990s. He played a crucial role on their demo album Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.. As the band sought a vocalist who could handle more melodic singing, Corey Taylor joined in 1997; Colsefni moved to backing vocals and percussion before leaving later that year. After leaving Slipknot, Colsefni continued his musical career with bands like Painface and All That Crawls.

Kun Nong

Kun Nong was part of Slipknot’s earliest 1995 formation as a guitarist. He rehearsed with the group for only a handful of practices before leaving because the band’s developing metal style did not fit his more alternative and punk-oriented approach. Nong left before the band began performing live or recording.

Craig Jones

Craig Jones, known as “133” or “The Silent One,” initially joined Slipknot as a guitarist but quickly transitioned to samples and media, where his contributions significantly defined Slipknot’s sound. Jones was with Slipknot from 1996 until his departure in 2023 and is known for his intense privacy and distinctive mask. His work involved manipulating audio samples and enhancing the band’s atmospheric and textural sound, integral to albums like Iowa and Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses).

Greg Welts

Greg Welts was briefly the percussionist for Slipknot, joining around 1997 and departing in 1998. His time with the band was short and occurred during a period of frequent lineup changes. Welts was part of the band’s dynamic stage performances but did not record on any studio albums. He was followed briefly by Brandon Darner before Chris Fehn joined.

Brandon Darner

Brandon Darner briefly filled Slipknot’s percussion position in 1998 after Greg Welts left the band. Darner’s tenure was extremely short, and he performed one show as a member before Chris Fehn took over the role.

Jay Weinberg

Jay Weinberg joined Slipknot in 2014 as the drummer, following the departure of Joey Jordison. Weinberg brought a new level of intensity and precision to the band’s rhythm section. He recorded on .5: The Gray Chapter (2014), We Are Not Your Kind (2019), and The End, So Far (2022), playing a significant role in the band’s continued evolution and success before his departure in 2023. Weinberg, son of E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg, had previously played with bands like Madball and Against Me!, demonstrating a versatile and powerful drumming style.

Joey Jordison

Joey Jordison, co-founder and original drummer, was known for his speed and technical skills, contributing significantly to the band’s sound until his departure in 2013. Jordison played on major albums up to All Hope Is Gone (2008) and was also involved in several other musical projects before his passing in 2021.

Paul Gray

Paul Gray, the original bassist and key songwriter, was with Slipknot until his death in 2010. Gray’s musical contributions were fundamental in the band’s early work and ongoing success.

Chris Fehn

Chris Fehn, custom percussionist known for his long-nosed mask, was part of Slipknot from 1998 until his departure in 2019 following legal disputes with the band.

Read More: Top 10 Slipknot Songs

Updated August 29, 2026.