Shawn Crahan
Shawn Crahan, also known as “Clown,” is one of the founding members 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. Apart from his role in Slipknot, Crahan has also directed music videos and been involved in 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 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,” is the turntablist for Slipknot, known for his energetic stage presence. Joining the band in 1998, Wilson’s work adds 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, shortly before 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 is also a member of Stone Sour, 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.
Eloy Casagrande
Eloy Casagrande joined Slipknot in 2023, 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 after Paul Gray’s death in 2010, 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 some tracks on their self-titled debut album before departing during the recording process. His reasons for leaving cited personal issues and dissatisfaction with the direction the band was taking.
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.. Colsefni’s vocal style helped shape the band’s early sound, but he left in 1997 due to the band’s decision to include more melodic vocals, which led to the recruitment of Corey Taylor. After leaving Slipknot, Colsefni continued his musical career with bands like Painface and All That Crawls.
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 has been with Slipknot since 1996 and is known for his intense privacy and distinctive mask. His work involves 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 replaced by Chris Fehn.
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 has recorded on .5: The Gray Chapter (2014) and We Are Not Your Kind (2019), playing a significant role in the band’s continued evolution and success. 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.
Read More: Complete List Of Slipknot Albums And Discography
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