Joey Jordison

Joey Jordison war ein amerikanischer Musiker und Songwriter, der vor allem als ursprünglicher Schlagzeuger und Gründungsmitglied der Heavy-Metal-Band Slipknot bekannt war, wo er die Nummer 1 trug. Sein wildes, technisch präzises Schlagzeugspiel prägte den Sound der Band auf ihren ersten vier Studioalben und machte ihn zu einem der angesehensten Metal-Schlagzeuger seiner Generation. Außerhalb von Slipknot war er Gitarrist der Horror-Punk-Band Murderdolls und gründete das Metal-Projekt Scar the Martyr.

Jordisons Einfluss reichte über seine Hauptbands hinaus; er spielte und nahm mit Künstlern wie Rob Zombie, Korn und Ministry auf und war zum Zeitpunkt seines Todes Mitglied der Blackened-Death-Metal-Supergroup Sinsaenum. Sein Erbe beruht auf einer Kombination aus roher Kraft, musikalischer Vielseitigkeit und einer unermüdlichen Arbeitsmoral, die unzählige Musiker inspirierte.[bearbeiten]

Nathan Jonas Jordison wuchs in Des Moines, Iowa, als mittleres von drei Kindern von Douglas und Jacqueline Jordison auf. Sein Vater arbeitete als Chirurg, seine Mutter als Hausfrau. Er hatte zwei Geschwister: eine ältere Schwester und einen jüngeren Bruder. Joeys Interesse an Musik begann früh; er begann im Alter von 11 Jahren Schlagzeug zu spielen und brachte es sich selbst bei, indem er sich Aufnahmen von Kiss, Iron Maiden und Black Sabbath anhörte.

In der High School spielte Jordison in mehreren lokalen Bands, darunter Modifidious, die Death Metal mit Thrash verbanden. Er arbeitete auch in einem Musikgeschäft, wo er zukünftige Slipknot-Mitglieder traf. Nach seinem Schulabschluss besuchte er kurz das College, brach es aber ab, um sich hauptberuflich der Musik zu widmen. 1995 gründete er zusammen mit dem Percussionisten Shawn Crahan und dem Bassisten Paul Gray Slipknot, zunächst als Nebenprojekt. Die chaotischen Live-Auftritte und der aggressive Sound der Band erregten schnell Aufmerksamkeit in der Underground-Szene von Des Moines.[bearbeiten]

Slipknots selbstbetiteltes Debütalbum im Jahr 1999 war ein kommerzieller Durchbruch, verkaufte sich über zwei Millionen Mal und erreichte Platz 51 der Billboard 200. Jordisons Schlagzeugspiel war ein herausragendes Element, das auf Songs wie „Wait and Bleed“ und „Spit It Out“ zu hören war. Der Nachfolger, Iowa (2001), war noch härter und debütierte auf Platz drei der Billboard 200, was den Status der Band festigte.

2002 gründete Jordison mit Sänger Wednesday 13 die Murderdolls als Nebenprojekt und spielte Gitarre. Ihr Debütalbum Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls erreichte Platz 103 der Billboard 200. Er setzte seine Arbeit mit Slipknot fort mit Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004) und All Hope Is Gone (2008), letzteres debütierte auf Platz eins. 2013 wurde er aus Slipknot entlassen, da er an einer degenerativen neurologischen Erkrankung litt, die sein Spiel vorübergehend beeinträchtigte. Später gründete er Scar the Martyr, veröffentlichte 2013 ein gleichnamiges Album und schloss sich 2016 Sinsaenum an.[bearbeiten]

Jordison galt weithin als einer der technisch begabtesten Schlagzeuger im Heavy Metal, bekannt für seine Geschwindigkeit, Ausdauer und sein Double-Bass-Spiel. Seine Bühnenpräsenz war intensiv und aggressiv und wurde oft mit einer Maschine verglichen. Fans, bekannt als Maggots, verehrten ihn als wichtigen Architekten des Slipknot-Sounds. Die Medienberichterstattung konzentrierte sich auf seine Schlagzeugfähigkeiten und seinen Abschied von Slipknot, was er später als Folge einer Transversen Myelitis enthüllte, einer Erkrankung, die zu einer vorübergehenden Lähmung seines linken Beins führte. Er führte ein relativ privates persönliches Leben und ließ seine Musik für sich sprechen.[bearbeiten]

The collective following of Joey Jordison, known universally as Maggots, has long served as the primary vessel for his legacy. This community, organized with intense dedication, frequently mobilizes to honor the founding member's contributions, particularly during tributes marking his death or anniversaries of his tenure. While no distinct moniker exists solely for Jordison's personal fanbase, the Maggot identity encompasses his status as Number 1, with fans often citing his technical prowess and the tragedy of his departure as central themes in their discourse. The narrative surrounding his dismissal due to health struggles remains a defining element of this fandom's history, fueling a protective attitude toward his memory and the circumstances of his exit from Slipknot. According to iFANN's August 2026 evaluation, Joey Jordison is currently evaluated but does not hold a placement in the published Global Top 1,000 rankings or any Top-100 scope list. The system confirms that he is currently unranked in these specific global scopes, reflecting an absence of current numerical placement rather than a lack of historical impact. Despite this lack of a specific ordinal rank in the current dataset, his standing within the heavy metal canon remains undisputed, supported by enduring media coverage and consumption signals related to his recorded work. The evaluation process acknowledges his significant influence while noting the absence of a quantifiable position in the current global hierarchy.[bearbeiten]

Jordison's signature early Slipknot mask was a Japanese kabuki design featuring a metal plate over the mouth and bolts, inspired by horror cinema. Although left-handed, he performed on a right-handed drum kit setup. He possessed proficient guitar skills and occasionally performed guitar parts on recordings. A passionate car enthusiast, he maintained a collection of classic and custom vehicles. His love for horror films significantly influenced his stage persona. A widely retold story among bandmates involves turntablist Sid Wilson's first impression of Jordison; Wilson recalled seeing him play and questioned if he was human, calling him a phenomenon due to his extraordinary ability to cover every musical element. Another anecdote describes how current drummer Jay Weinberg jammed with the band while Jordison was still active, only for Jordison to be gone the very next day, highlighting the suddenness of his departure. These narratives, alongside the verified account of his dismissal in December 2013 due to Multiple Sclerosis, form the core of his legendary status within the metal community.[bearbeiten]

Jordisons Eltern, Douglas und Jacqueline, unterstützten seine musikalischen Ambitionen. Sein Vater baute im Keller einen schalldichten Raum, damit er Schlagzeug üben konnte. Er hatte eine ältere Schwester und einen jüngeren Bruder. Joey war nie verheiratet und hatte keine bekannten Kinder. Seine Familie verwaltet seinen Nachlass seit seinem Tod.[bearbeiten]

Jordison arbeitete eng mit den Slipknot-Mitgliedern Shawn Crahan, Paul Gray, Corey Taylor und Mick Thomson zusammen. Bei den Murderdolls arbeitete er mit Wednesday 13 zusammen. Seine Session-Arbeit umfasste Auftritte mit Rob Zombie, Korn, Ministry und Metallica. Er trug auch zu Alben von System of a Down und Marilyn Manson bei.[bearbeiten]

Joey Jordison war in Bezug auf sein Liebesleben bemerkenswert privat. Es wurden keine langfristigen Beziehungen, Verlobungen oder Ehen öffentlich bestätigt. Gerüchte tauchten gelegentlich auf, aber er hat sich nie dazu geäußert. Sein Fokus lag auf seiner Musikkarriere. Zum Zeitpunkt seines Todes im Jahr 2021 war er Single.[bearbeiten]

Nathan Jonas 'Joey' Jordison, the founding drummer of Slipknot, died on July 26, 2021, at his home in Des Moines, Iowa. He was 46 years old, having been born on April 26, 1975. According to an official statement released by his family and confirmed by multiple outlets including Variety and Pearl Drums, Jordison passed away peacefully in his sleep. The cause of death was not officially ruled by a coroner or medical examiner in a public autopsy report; rather, the determination was based entirely on the family's statement that he died naturally during sleep. No police investigation or foul play was suggested at the time of the announcement. Regarding his final days and circumstances, no specific details regarding his health condition immediately preceding death were publicly disclosed by the family.

However, discussions among fans and former bandmates have circulated regarding a long-term illness. A Reddit thread referencing insider accounts suggests that Jordison had been suffering from a severe, undiagnosed illness which was previously mistaken by some peers for substance abuse issues. Despite these rumors, the only confirmed fact remains the family's statement of a peaceful passing. There is no record of a last public appearance prior to his death; his final known professional activities involved his work with Scar the Martyr and various drum clinics leading up to July 2021. Because the death was reported as natural and occurring peacefully in his sleep, authorities did not intervene. The handling of his affairs appears to have remained strictly within the private domain of his family and estate management.

The news of Jordison's death triggered an immediate and widespread outpouring of grief across the music industry and among fans globally. Immediate statements were issued by major institutions and peers. Pearl Drums, his longtime sponsor, released a condolence message highlighting his status as a founding member of Slipknot. Members of Slipknot, including Shawn 'Clown' Crahan, later expressed deep reverence for his talent; in interviews conducted years later (e.g., May 2026), Crahan stated Jordison 'made me the best I could ever be' and recalled his early influence in the Des Moines metal scene. Former percussionist Chris Fehn also paid tribute, describing Jordison as a 'phenomenon' who could 'cover everything,' noting that playing alongside him was 'very intimidating' due to his unparalleled skill.

Fans organized online vigils and shared tributes on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, where Jordison's official pages saw a surge in activity. While specific chart numbers for the week of his death are not detailed in the provided search results, it is standard industry practice for bands to see significant streaming spikes following such announcements. His legacy continued to be recognized in lists of greatest drum solos, with his performance on Slipknot's 2001 hit being named among the greatest of all time in subsequent years. Details regarding the specific date, location, and nature (public or private) of Joey Jordison's funeral or memorial service were never made public. As is common in the heavy metal community, while informal gatherings may have taken place among close friends and bandmates, no official public ceremony was announced or reported in the available sources.

Since his death, Jordison has been honored through retrospective features and continued recognition of his technical prowess, such as Stewart Copeland praising his techniques in 2026 and Sid Wilson identifying him as 'the best' Slipknot drummer in 2026. The estate was handled privately by his family, with no public statements or legal filings regarding its administration or distribution found in the search results.[bearbeiten]

At the time of his death in 2021, Joey Jordison's net worth was estimated at $30 million, derived from decades of album sales, touring, and merchandise. Per iFANN's editorial analysis, this valuation reflects the substantial royalties generated by Slipknot's catalog, particularly their first four studio albums. His side projects Murderdolls and Scar the Martyr contributed additional income streams throughout his career. Touring remained a major revenue source, with Slipknot's live performances consistently selling out arenas worldwide. Posthumously, his estate continues to earn from streaming, licensing, and merchandise sales. As of 2026, his estate is managed by his family, with no public disclosure of its current valuation.[bearbeiten]

Als Mitglied von Slipknot gewann Jordison 2006 einen Grammy Award für die beste Metal-Performance für den Song "Before I Forget". Die Band erhielt auch zahlreiche weitere Nominierungen und Auszeichnungen bei den Kerrang! Awards, Metal Hammer Golden Gods und Loudwire Music Awards.[bearbeiten]