It was a strange time for Slipknot when they released their latest album The End, So Far, last year — and things have only gotten stranger since. Spiky-masked keyboard player and samplist Craig Jones has announced his departure from the band, which he has played in since 1996.
The Knot announced the news with a since-deleted understated statement posted to their social media channels. "To our fans," they wrote, "Slipknot is announcing that we have parted ways with Craig Jones."
"We wish Jones all the best for the future," they added.
The Knot announced the news with a since-deleted understated statement posted to their social media channels. "To our fans," they wrote, "Slipknot is announcing that we have parted ways with Craig Jones."
"We wish Jones all the best for the future," they added.
UPDATE (6/8, 9:14 a.m. ET): The band have teased a mystery new member — who also joined them on stage at their first show of their European tour at Austria's Nova Rock festival — on Instagram. The new masked menace is believed by fans to be Jones's replacement.
No reason has been given for Jones leaving the band. It's also currently unknown whether he'll be replaced on stage amidst Slipknot's current European tour.
Earlier today, co-founding percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan shared that he would be sitting out upcoming tour dates to tend to his wife, who is coping with unspecified health issues.
"Hello to all of our fans, it's the clown," Crahan wrote via the band's Instagram account. "I would like to take a moment to tell everyone that I'm back home supporting my wife through some health issues, and I'll be back on the road as soon as I can."