Former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg recently discussed his departure from the band, addressing whether he still needs an explanation for his firing in an interview shared by Metal Injection.
When asked if he still feels the need for a reason behind his sudden exit from Slipknot, Weinberg explained how he had to find his own closure.
“No,” Weinberg said. “Sure, there’s no easy way to, like, compartmentalize that in your life. You know, at the time, it was a third of my life, you know, spent in one band. So certainly there are, like, difficult ways of, like, navigating that, especially if you don’t, like— if you don’t have any answers or any kind of closure.”
He went on to describe the process of moving forward without receiving answers from his former bandmates.
“Like, you have to, in a lot of ways, provide your own sense of closure,” he continued. “And that doesn’t come easy. You know, that comes with, like, a good therapist, which, you know, which I’m fortunate to have, and a great friend group and people who understand stuff on that level. And then, you know, it’s like, ultimately, it’s like what kind of comments do I have to say about, you know, this clown show that just is does what it does?”
The interviewer then asked Weinberg about joining the band at age 23, a period of self-discovery, while simultaneously becoming one of the most visible drummers in the world. Weinberg reflected on the personal and professional growth he experienced during that time.
“Sure,” Weinberg responded. “I mean, you remember what it’s like being 23. Like, you’re putting together so many aspects of your life, your passion for what it is that you’ve found in music, and that’s community, identity, expression, some sort of discovery of self, and, you know, wanting to prove yourself in some way. You know, to that point, it’s like I’d done some stuff on, like, on levels that challenged me for sure.”
He recalled his earlier musical experiences before joining Slipknot, which helped shape his career.
“Like, you know, playing with Brisbane was a significant challenge at 18 years old,” he said. “You know? And then obviously, with that coming to a natural conclusion that it did, I wanted to pursue, like, okay, so what’s going to come after that, and how do I push myself? And, you know, that led to me having experiences with, like, Madball and Against Me and stuff, and learning, again, like, as a teenager, what it is that I want to do in music.”
Weinberg concluded by describing how he approached the massive challenge of joining Slipknot when the opportunity arose.
“So then, sure, like all of that said, then receiving a phone call to take this step that I knew would likely be the largest challenge that I had faced so far, but not wanting to shy away from that,” he added. “Like, I’ve always kind of viewed these opportunities as, like, you know, for whatever reason that I can’t define because I’m the person being asked, but for whatever reason the things that I’ve done have led me to a place where somebody’s calling me to be a part of something. I have to follow and honestly kind of step out of my own way of, like, well, why are they calling me? You know, like, I can’t answer that sort of question, but I know that the only way to approach it, especially something like that, is with ferocity and intent and love for it, really, you know, and depth.”
Weinberg’s comments arrive nearly three years after his time with Slipknot came to an abrupt end. The circumstances of that split, and the lack of a detailed explanation behind it, remain a defining part of his story as a musician.
Slipknot announced on November 5, 2023 that they had parted ways with Weinberg after a decade together. The band described the lineup change as a “creative decision” and thanked him for his dedication and passion over the past ten years.
“The band has decided to make a creative decision, and to part ways with Jay,” the band’s statement read.
The announcement came just days after Weinberg’s final performance with the group at the Hell & Heaven festival in Toluca, Mexico, on November 3, 2023. Weinberg later said he was “blindsided” by the decision.
Weinberg joined Slipknot in 2014, stepping in after founding drummer Joey Jordison parted ways with the band in 2013. His arrival marked the beginning of a ten-year tenure that would make him one of the most recognizable figures in modern heavy music.
Weinberg went on to record three studio albums with Slipknot, including 2014’s .5: The Gray Chapter, 2019’s We Are Not Your Kind and 2022’s The End, So Far. Those records cemented his place in the band’s modern era.
Since leaving Slipknot, Weinberg has remained active in heavy music. He has joined Suicidal Tendencies, a move that helped define the post-Slipknot phase of his career and kept him on stage with a new lineup.
