Slipknot bassist found dead in hotel
FEEL THE BASS: Paul Gray performs with Slipknot during the band's 2008 Auckland concert.
The bassist for Grammy-winning metal band Slipknot, a masked group whose members beat each other up on stage and endearingly call their fans "maggots," has been found dead at a hotel near the group's home town of Des Moines, Iowa.
Paul Gray, a co-founder of the group, was 38. The circumstances of his death were unclear. His body was discovered at a TownePlace Suites hotel in Johnston, north of Des Moines, by a hotel employee.
A spokesman for the nearby Urbandale Police Department said there was no evidence of foul play, and that more information would likely be released following an autopsy.
One of the biggest bands in the metal genre, Slipknot topped the charts in New Zealand, the United States, Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland with its most recent album, 2008's All Hope Is Gone.
The nine-man band won a Grammy in 2004 for its song Before I Forget.
"Paul Gray had a passion for music and a flair for the theatrical," said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of The Recording Academy, which organises the Grammys.
"The heavy metal world has lost an immense talent, and Slipknot's loyal following will ensure he and his music are remembered for years to come."
Slipknot is an unusual band in almost every respect: Inspired by their heroes KISS, each member wears a grotesque mask in public along with coveralls, and is identified by a number. Gray was No. 2.
Even after the band enjoyed widespread commercial success with its decidedly nihilistic and radio-unfriendly songs, it remained based in remote Des Moines. Concert industry trade publication Pollstar ranked Slipknot 18th in its Top 20 Concert Tours list in 2009.
While some of its members actually lived rather humdrum existences with their families, Gray evidently preferred the hotel life. A decade ago, Rolling Stone magazine reported that the soft-spoken musician lived in a local Holiday Inn.
The band became notorious for its performances. Its members often broke each other's bones and also injured their fans after diving into the crowd.
They were not above hurling their own excrement and drinking their own urine, according to Rolling Stone.
Andy Hall, music director of Des Moines rock station Lazer 103.3, said he'd known Gray for 10 years. He described him as a talented bass player who was also one of the friendliest, most caring people he knew.
"This is a big blow, not only to the community of Des Moines but fans of metal at large, worldwide," Hall said. "It's a devastating loss. Paul was a wonderful human being."
The station was planning to broadcast an hour-long tribute to Gray.
-With AP
- Reuters
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I believe in Jesus Christ. R-I-P Paul Gray, you will always be an awesome bass player!
What is it all you guys believe in when you wish him to RIP??
I had the chance to meet Paul at the BDO Slipknot played at. He was an amazing person and one hell of a bass player. If you don't like Slipknot, their music or Paul then that is fine. But you don't need to spew your hate on here, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY THEN SAY NOTHING. Paul influenced a lot of kids to play music by showing that a band from a out of the way place like Iowa(or NZ) can make it big. R-I-P Paul Gray and the whole of New Zealand's Metal Community sympathies go out to your family and child.
I am quite disgusted at how people come onto this page and start spreading their hate towards a genre they have no idea about.
For those who think Slipknot's lyrics are rubbish - take the time to actually listen or read them; they can be very political and sometimes personal to the song writer; they are just straight up about things and aren't going to butter it up. If people are going to be nit-picky, than I guess all I can say in response: if you are complaining about their songs/music and you are listening to songs which consist of lyrics like, "oooh oooh baby baby baby, oooh" or "ra-ra ah-ah-ah, roma ro-ma-ma.." etc, then I don't think you really have much ammo in this argument.. and I'm not saying these songs are crap in any way.
At the end of the day, different music affects different people in different ways. Personally I am quite open minded, and can happily listen to a variety of genres appreciating all types of musical creativity in that respect.
Someone has actually died here, so why do we have to hurl abuse? Keep your nasty thoughts to yourselves; how horrible would it be for a family memeber to come across a comment board like this.
When you're all complaining musicians don't travel to New Zealand as often as other countries - I guess you need to take one look at comments like these to see why.
RIP Paul.
Maaaaaan some of you ignorant idiots need to read some lyrics... Some of them yes, are hateful. But arent we all? Usually the hate is directed at the people who cause the pain, which is more than I can say for these rap-douchebags who claim to shoot up any 'fool' who sells a rock of crack blah blah.
Although leave your ridiculing comments here, by all means. When Justin Beiber or someone like that dies, we will see who gets the most ridicule. My bets on Beibs.
That is all :)
They were awesome exponents of a genre called 'Excrement Metal'
Heard them at BDO. Couldn't distinguish one song from the next. After 15 minutes of torturous pain I had to get out of there. Sorry, but turning the guitar volume up to 11 and screaming isn't music. About as talented as Kiss who were (are) truly one of the worst bands on the planet. I guess breaking each others bones and throwing crap at the crowd is amusing when you're 13 but it also helps cover up their inability to actually write a song. Who on earth would actually want to permanently live in Holiday Inns?
Jo #22 I'd Hardly call SlipKnot death metal. they are actually pretty soft
"Paul was a wonderful human being," according to Andy Hall, music director of Des Moines rock station Lazer 103.3
They were not above hurling their own excrement and drinking their own urine, according to Rolling Stone.
Alrighty then.
Condolences to the family.
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The sad thing is that people who have purchased Slipknot 'music' over the years actually contributed to his depression and death. If his aggressive 'music' didn't find any favour among the public, he probably wouldn't have been in this situation