Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor has paid tribute to former bandmate Paul Gray ahead of the fifth anniversary of his passing.
Bassist and founding member, Gray passed away on May 24, 2010 at the age of 38. He was found to have died from a prescription drug overdose.
Speaking to Kerrang! Magazine recently about the passage of time since Gray’s death, Taylor said that “there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him”. Taylor continued, “When I’m on the road, the live shows bring back our times together. When I’m home, this house and the pictures in it remind me of good times and bad. When I’m listening to music, I think about the two of us, cranking new and old tunes in his car or mine, rocking out like little kids and giggling because the stuff is so awesome.”
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He added, “I think that’s the overall memory I cherish the most about him: his energy and his excitement. Even if you weren’t ‘feeling’ something musically or anything else to do with the band, he was the world’s best cheerleader. After one conversation with him, you’d be so ready to play or tour or record or whatever that you’d be jumping out of your skin. Whenever I’m feeling jaded, I remember that. I remember this gift that he and I and the rest of Slipknot were able to build together.”
“I had the privilege of making music with Paul Gray for 13 years. I learned so much from that man that I still use his ideology and methods to this day. I got to travel the world with him. I got to see things not a lot of others would ever hope to in their lifetimes. He and I built a career out of passion, music, anger and art. We may have had our ups and downs, but he loved every minute of it. I know I did.”
Slipknot released their fifth record ‘.5: The Gray Chapter’ in 2014 in honour of Paul Gray. The band’s guitarist Jim Root recently revealed that he’s written songs for the band’s next album and hopes to head back into the studio as soon as possible.
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“We haven’t been able to do two albums back-to-back since our first one and ‘Iowa’,” Root said in an interview. “We’re at a point in our career where the band is at the top of its game. If we take two years or however long, who knows if we could come back? Someone might decide they want to direct or write or other bands’ projects might take priority.”
Root continued, “I plan for the best and expect the worst. I started writing again. Hopefully the new songs will be on a new Slipknot record. If not, I’ll find something else to do with them.”
Meanwhile, Corey Taylor has announced that he’s written his third book, which is titled You’re Making Me Hate You: A Cantankerous Look At The Common Misconception That Humans Have Any Common Sense Left.
VIDEO: Slipknot’s Corey Taylor On The Death Of Paul Gray