He was a member of the band for nearly three decades
Slipknot have parted way with keyboardist Craig Jones. Jones had been a member of the band for nearly three decades. Slipknot confirmed the news on their official social media.
“To our fans, Slipknot is announcing that we have parted ways with Craig Jones,” the band said in a statement. “We wish jones all the best for the future.”
Jones joined Slipknot in 1996 after the departure of guitarist Donnie Steele. His time on guitar was short-lived, as he quickly moved to keyboards and sampling. Slipknot brought in Mick Thomson to take over guitar duties.
Slipknot have a full festival schedule lined up this year, with headlining slots at Download, Hellfest, Graspop Metal Meeting, Rock Fest, Inkcarceration, Blue Ridge Rock Festival, and more. In addition to now being without Jones, the band will be missing percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan while he takes time away from the band for an undetermined amount of shows to care for his wife amid “some health issues.”
Back in February, Slipknot surprised fans with a new song “Bone Church.”
“‘Bone Church’ started life in a jam room on the .5: The Gray Chapter tour,” percussionist Clown (M. Shawn Crahan) said. “We’ve been bringing it closer and closer to life ever since, and finally, here it is.
Slipknot’s seventh studio album The End, So Far arrived last September via Roadrunner Records. The record peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and hit No. 1 across Billboard’s Top Rock, Hard Rock, and Alternative Albums charts. Joe Barresi (Avenged Sevenfold, Chevelle, Clutch) produced the album, after having mixed Slipknot’s 2019 outing We Are Not Your Kind.