Slipknot fired drummer Jay Weinberg on November 5, which Weinberg has since publicly stated totally blindsided him. Now founding Slipknot percussionist M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan has spoken publicly about Weinberg's firing for the first time since and it's as blunt as you'd imagine.
In a recent chat with NME, Crahan stated in no uncertain terms that Weinberg was fired and that Slipknot is trying to cultivate a different creative space at the moment. Crahan also reflected on the past 25 years of the band, mentioning that they're collectively in a great space at the moment and that the "future is very very exciting."
"We are completely in reflection mode and reflection can bring tears. Reflection can bring smiles. Reflection can bring energy. Now, we are in a place that we never imagined we would be 25 years on. We're standing really strong and we're better as people.
"I think all of us are really, really happy about what we're creating to the point where we're scared a little bit. That fear is what we live for and that's what we've always done. That's why we're still here.
"We've moved away from things that don't belong and we are continuously moving away from what is in the way. There are no hard feelings. There's no anger or hate. Nobody's wrong. No one's mad, it's just that we're very aware of us. If you're a Slipknot fan, then you know what that means. The future is very very exciting. I'm excited, because no one really knows what we're capable of – as usual.
"As far as Jay goes, what people need to know is Jay did not leave the band, and what I want to say is that we're moving on. Like the statement said, we're choosing to do something different. This space that we're at right now is a very, very special space, thought about and generated mostly by the OGs [longstanding members Crahan, Corey Taylor, Mick Thomson, Sid Wilson and Jim Root]."
No replacement for Weinberg has yet been named. Though Slipknot is planning on dropping their unreleased 2008 album Look Outside Your Window sometime in 2024. So that's exciting.
