Joey Jordison

Joey Jordison (born Nathan Jonas Jordison on April 26, 1975) is an American drummer and guitarist from Des Moines, Iowa. He is world famous for his role as drummer for nu-metal group Slipknot during the 1990s and 2000s. He is also well known as the guitarist for Murderdolls, a Horror Punk band which he founded in the 2000s.

Biography

While in highschool, Jordison attended a jazz school, this helped profoundly to improve his drumming ability, which has since made him become one of the top rated drummers by music media across the world.

Before joining Slipknot, Jordison had worked at a gas station and played in various extreme metal bands from around the Des Moines area, including the likes of; Modifidious and Anal Blast. Although Slipknot released an album in 1996, it wouldn't be until their second album that they began to garner significant attention, charting at a respectable #51 on the Billboard chart. Jordison along with his band, featured on several Ozzfest tours, headlining the tour in 2001.

Another Slipknot album "Iowa" was released in 2001 this saw Jordison's band reaching super-stardom, the album debuted in at #3 in the US Billboard charts and number #1 in both the United Kingdom and Canada's national charts. After touring relentlessly Slipknot went on hiatus.

Jordison however, did not rest long, he remixed "the Fight Song" for Marilyn Manson and then featured in Manson's video for "Tainted Love". In 2002 along with Wednesday 13 and Tripp Eisen, Jordison formed what would become his second most popular band; Murderdolls.

He played un-masked with the Murderdolls and recorded an album of 13's songs, "Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls" playing most of the instruments on it. The nu-metal/horror punk band became very popular in the United Kindgom and China in particular. Before the group went on hiatus for Jordison to return to Slipknot.

Since returning to Slipknot, Jordison recorded a fourth album with the group "Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses)" released in 2004, the album climbed to #2 in the Billboard chart, and the same possition in the United Kingdom.

In the summer of 2004 at Download Festival, Lars Ulrich of headliners Metallica became ill suddenly, and was unable to perform with the band. Jordison along with Dave Lombardo stepped up, and filled in for Ulrich. Joey played most of the set with Metallica. In December of 2004 Joey filled in for Satyricon drummer Frost after Frost was unable to get into the country, for the band's tour of the United States.

Recent events

Joey has joined with Ministry and is currently playing drums on their MasterBaTour 2006.

Roadrunner United

Recently, Jordison played a big part in the 25-year anniversary of Roadrunner Records, the record label which both of his bands - Slipknot and Murderdolls - are signed onto. Jordison was one of the four "team captains" for the project. His role involved organizing a "core band" of other musicians past and present on the Roadrunner label, and choosing vocalists to sing on his songs. Jordison produced, wrote the music, and played drums on the songs Annihilation By The Hands Of God, Tired 'N Lonely (also played bass guitar), No Way Out (also played bass guitar), Constitution Down and Enemy Of The State.

It is said that in the first meeting about which musicians on the Roadrunner label to approach for this project, Jordison's was the first name to come up. On the DVD for The All-Star Sessions, Jordison can be seen working on the tracks at a studio in Des Moines, Iowa, and is not wearing his famed Slipknot kabuki mask.

History behind his mask

There is meaning behind each Slipknot members' mask. They are a reflection of their personalities or a past personal experience. Jordison's Japanese Kabuki mask reflects a personal experience; when he was younger his mother wore the mask when he came home from halloween too late. He was terrified of the emotionless stare of the mask. In the early days of Mate Feed Kill Repeat (album) he wore one plain white. For the Self-Titled album Slipknot, he decorated it with a few stripes and dots of paint. In Iowa he painted it with fake blood all over his mask, and for Vol. 3 he did a variation of designs on it, more notable with claw slashes. He also quotes: "The design enables it to feel however you want it to feel; scary, evil or perverted. All those things held in one mask."

Trivia

Joey designed the tribal "S" that served as the Slipknot logo.
Joridson uses Pearl drums with Pearl Hardware. He switched from TAMA hardware to Pearl following the release of the Slipknot's Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses album. Joey currently plays a Masters Series MMX Drum Set in Diamond Burst with black hardware, he also uses Paiste cymbals, AHEAD drumsticks, and Remo drum heads.
He is the smallest member in both Murderdolls and Slipknot, measured at 5 ft 3 in.
Joey contributed vocals to the song "Stitch Her Further" which appeared on the last Necrophagia album "Harvest Ritual: Vol 1".
Unlike the other Slipknot members, Joey has no tattoos as he is afraid of blood poisoning and of contracting HIV.
Joey also drew the Slipknot logo with a big 'K' and 'T' for he was a big KoRn fan at the time. He claims he now dislikes them.
Joey has been playing guitar since he was 5, and drums since he was 7.
Joey invented the term "maggot" referring to a Slipknot fan.
Joey Jordison was a team leader in the project "RoadRunner United"

Gear

Joey uses Pearl MMX Masters drums with Pearl Hardware. He switched from TAMA hardware to Pearl following the release of the Slipknot's Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses album. Joey currently plays a Masters Series MMX Drum Set in Diamond Burst with black hardware, comprising:

22" x 18" Bass Drum x 2
Joey Jordison Signature Snare Drum
8" x 7" Tom
10" x 8" Tom
12" x 9" Tom
13" x 10" Tom
14" x 12" Tom
16" x 16" Floor Tom
18" x 16" Floor Tom

Joey also uses Paiste cymbals (White custom), comprising (from left to right):

16" RUDE Crash/Ride
18" RUDE China
14" RUDE Hi-Hats
17" RUDE Crash/Ride
8" Signature Splash
6" Signature Splash
8" 2002 Cup Chime
18" RUDE Crash/Ride
13" Signature Power Hi-Hat
20" Dimensions Powerbell Ride (Discontinued)
18" RUDE China
14" Signature Thin China
13" Signature Mega Cup Chime

External links

Links to a Collection of Slipknot Videos (and Several Joey Jordison Videos)