Have three of the world’s biggest metal bands just… all swapped drummers? It’s looking likely that Slipknot, Sepultura and Suicidal Tendencies have all just traded tubthumpers, after ex Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg, who was unceremoniously ousted from the band late last year, just revealed he’s officially linking up with Suicidal Tendencies.
Stick with us here, but Weinberg is taking over from Suicidal’s drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who just days ago was announced as the new drummer for Sepultura, to replace their longtime beatman Eloy Casagrande, who had suddenly quit the band in the midst of their global farewell tour to pursue “another project…”
“YOU CAN’T BRING ME DOWN”
The Brazilian metal icons’ official statement last week announcing their longtime drummer’s surprise exit sent tongues wagging that Casagrande may have left the band to join – you guessed it – Slipknot, who’ve yet to announce an official replacement for Weinberg since the two parted ways last year.
If, as many believe, Casagrande has indeed scored the Slipknot gig, then that would confirm that some kind of bizarre game of metal musical chairs has taken place.
Guess we’ll have to wait and see what news emerges from the Slipknot camp….
Meanwhile, in his statement announcing the Suicidal Tendencies news, Weinberg wrote: “When I think of the culture and community of heavy music that I’ve loved and considered my creative home for 20 years, I think of Suicidal Tendencies. A foundational pillar and source of inspiration ever since I fell in love with punk, metal and hardcore.”
He continued: “Having toured and played shows together all over the world, I’ve been so fortunate to become friends with my musical heroes who have been a part of this band’s incredible history. It’s an absolute honor and privilege to play with Suicidal Tendencies, and I can’t wait to start this incredibly exciting new chapter in just one week! See you all in the pit!”
Weinberg will actually be coming to Australia with a few members of the Suicidal Tendencies family this March and April, as part of US funk-metal supergroup Infectious Grooves (which also features Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo) for a spot on the Bluesfest 2024 lineup and a bunch of headline shows.
As for Slipknot, their own branded Knotfest event will be hitting Australia’s east coast later this month with a controversially dude-stacked lineup featuring Pantera, Disturbed, Lamb of God and more. Sadly, Slipknot themselves will not be appearing.
While Sepultura recently visited Aussie fans as part of the 2023 Good Things Festival back in December. They’ve since announced a dramatic plan to call it quits after 40 years, following one final, monumental world tour.
“Sepultura has reached the end of the road and has chosen to depart via a conscious and planned death,” the band posted in a big statement on their social pages.
“Throughout the next 18 months we will celebrate 40 years of existence together along with our loyal fans on a farewell tour across the entire globe. It will be a celebration of the past and the present for one final time.”
Sepultura have already announced a stack of final dates for the UK and Europe to kick-off 2024. No word yet if one final Australian tour will figure onto their final ever global itinerary, but given their long history of touring here, we reckon the odds should be in our favour.
Further Reading
Sepultura Drummer Suddenly Quits, Sparking Big Slipknot Rumours
Jay Weinberg on Slipknot Sacking: “I Was Heartbroken and Blindsided”
