Joey Jordison

Joey Jordison était un musicien et auteur-compositeur américain, surtout connu comme le batteur original et membre fondateur du groupe de heavy metal Slipknot, où il était désigné #1. Sa batterie féroce et techniquement précise a défini le son du groupe sur ses quatre premiers albums studio et en a fait l'un des batteurs de metal les plus respectés de sa génération. Au-delà de Slipknot, il a été guitariste pour le groupe de horror punk Murderdolls et a fondé le projet metal Scar the Martyr.

L'influence de Jordison s'est étendue au-delà de ses groupes principaux ; il a joué et enregistré avec des artistes tels que Rob Zombie, Korn et Ministry, et était membre du supergroupe de blackened death metal Sinsaenum au moment de sa mort. Son héritage repose sur une combinaison de puissance brute, de polyvalence musicale et d'une éthique de travail acharnée qui a inspiré d'innombrables musiciens.[modifier]

Nathan Jonas Jordison a grandi à Des Moines, Iowa, troisième enfant de Douglas et Jacqueline Jordison. Son père était chirurgien, sa mère femme au foyer. Il avait deux frères et sœurs : une sœur aînée et un frère cadet. L'intérêt de Joey pour la musique a commencé tôt ; il a commencé à jouer de la batterie à l'âge de 11 ans, s'auto-enseignant en écoutant des disques de Kiss, Iron Maiden et Black Sabbath.

Au lycée, Jordison a joué dans plusieurs groupes locaux, dont Modifidious, qui mélangeait death metal et thrash. Il travaillait également dans un magasin de musique, où il a rencontré de futurs membres de Slipknot. Après avoir obtenu son diplôme, il a brièvement fréquenté l'université mais a abandonné pour poursuivre la musique à plein temps. En 1995, il a co-fondé Slipknot avec le percussionniste Shawn Crahan et le bassiste Paul Gray, initialement comme projet parallèle. Les concerts chaotiques et le son agressif du groupe ont rapidement attiré l'attention dans la scène underground de Des Moines.[modifier]

Le premier album éponyme de Slipknot en 1999 a été une percée commerciale, se vendant à plus de deux millions d'exemplaires et atteignant la 51e place du Billboard 200. La batterie de Jordison était un élément marquant, mis en valeur sur des titres comme "Wait and Bleed" et "Spit It Out". Le suivant, Iowa (2001), était encore plus lourd et a débuté à la troisième place du Billboard 200, consolidant le statut du groupe.

En 2002, Jordison a formé Murderdolls comme projet parallèle avec le chanteur Wednesday 13, jouant de la guitare. Leur premier album, Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls, a atteint la 103e place du Billboard 200. Il a continué avec Slipknot pour Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004) et All Hope Is Gone (2008), ce dernier débutant à la première place. En 2013, il a été licencié de Slipknot en raison d'une maladie neurologique dégénérative qui a temporairement affecté son jeu. Il a ensuite fondé Scar the Martyr, sortant un album éponyme en 2013, et a rejoint Sinsaenum en 2016.[modifier]

Jordison était largement considéré comme l'un des batteurs les plus doués techniquement du heavy metal, connu pour sa vitesse, son endurance et son jeu de double pédale. Sa présence sur scène était intense et agressive, souvent comparée à celle d'une machine. Les fans, connus sous le nom de Maggots, le vénéraient comme un architecte clé du son de Slipknot. La couverture médiatique s'est concentrée sur sa maîtrise de la batterie et son départ de Slipknot, dont il a révélé plus tard qu'il était dû à une myélite transverse, une affection qui a causé une paralysie temporaire de sa jambe gauche. Il a maintenu une vie personnelle relativement privée, laissant sa musique parler d'elle-même.[modifier]

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.[modifier]

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.[modifier]

Les parents de Jordison, Douglas et Jacqueline, ont soutenu ses ambitions musicales. Son père a construit une pièce insonorisée dans le sous-sol pour qu'il puisse s'entraîner à la batterie. Il avait une sœur aînée et un frère cadet. Joey ne s'est jamais marié et n'a pas eu d'enfants connus. Sa famille gère sa succession depuis sa mort.[modifier]

Jordison a travaillé en étroite collaboration avec les membres de Slipknot Shawn Crahan, Paul Gray, Corey Taylor et Mick Thomson. Dans Murderdolls, il a collaboré avec Wednesday 13. Son travail de session comprenait des performances avec Rob Zombie, Korn, Ministry et Metallica. Il a également contribué aux albums de System of a Down et Marilyn Manson.[modifier]

Joey Jordison était notablement discret sur sa vie amoureuse. Aucune relation à long terme, fiançailles ou mariage n'a été publiquement confirmée. Des rumeurs ont occasionnellement circulé, mais il n'y a jamais répondu. Il est resté concentré sur sa carrière musicale. Au moment de son décès en 2021, il était célibataire.[modifier]

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.[modifier]

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.[modifier]

En tant que membre de Slipknot, Jordison a remporté un Grammy Award de la meilleure performance metal en 2006 pour la chanson "Before I Forget". Le groupe a également reçu de nombreuses autres nominations et récompenses aux Kerrang! Awards, Metal Hammer Golden Gods et Loudwire Music Awards.[modifier]