Slipknot’s Clown discusses new music and departure of Jay Weinberg: “No hard feelings; there never was”

In a recent interview, Slipknot percussionist M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan shared insights into the band’s upcoming music and briefly touched on the departure of former drummer Jay Weinberg.

Last November, Weinberg expressed feeling “heartbroken and blindsided” by the band’s decision to part ways with him. Since then, speculation has arisen about ex-Sepultura drummer Eloy Casagrande potentially filling the vacancy.

Speaking on a social media channel associated with Slipknot’s annual ‘Knotfest Australia’ event, Clown addressed Weinberg’s exit:

“I’m very excited about this idea of a new drummer. There’s many reasons for it. It’s not to be confused. It doesn’t matter what the situation may seem like. Unless you’re in the band and understand — there’s no hard feelings; there never was. We just went our way. There was really no bad things. That’s as much as I can say.

What I can say is Slipknot decided to move on, and that’s what we’ve done. And I’m very excited for what we have done. And we’re really working hard. And there’ll be new music, there’ll be new masks, there’ll be new people, there’ll be new ideas, celebrating a 25-year anniversary. I would imagine there’d be some shows. It can be 200 people, 500 people, 700 people, 2,000 people.”

Regarding the mention of new music, he added:

“I wouldn’t look at it like new music like album and stuff like this. I think we’re gonna have some fun. I don’t know exactly what we’re trying to do. I know that we just wanna do what we wanna do. So however it happens, it happens. We’re not gonna push it and we’re not gonna mold it into something it doesn’t need to be, but I will tell you, we’re having a really good time right now. There’s some real magical stuff that’s happening.

Everything in Slipknot is meant to be. So, when it does happen and you shed a tear and you have a little smile, it feels good, man. It feels good to have good feelings in this reality. So we always want everybody to have good feelings.”

As the masked metal band gears up to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, they’ve announced a series of tour dates for 2024.

04/27 Las Vegas, NV – Sick New World
05/12 Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville
05/19 Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival
09/26 Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life
10/11 Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival
10/19-20 Sao Paulo, BRA – Knotfest Brasil
12/05 Amsterdam, NET – Ziggo Dome
12/06 Dortmund, GER – Westfalenhalle
12/08 Stuttgart, GET – Schleyerhalle
12/09 Leipzig, GER – Quarterback Immobilen Arena
12/11 Zurich, SWI – Hallenstadion
12/12 Paris, FRA – Accor Arena
12/14 Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena
12/15 Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
12/17 Manchester, UK – Co-Op Live Arena
12/18 Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
12/20 London, UK – O2 Arena
12/21 London, UK – O2 Arena