Paul Gray (Slipknot)
Encyclopedia
Paul Dedrick Gray also known as The Pig or by his number #2 was an American musician
, best known as the bassist
, primary songwriter
and one of the founding members of the Grammy Award-winning metal
band Slipknot
.
. Later his family relocated to Des Moines, Iowa
. In his youth, Gray performed in bands such as Anal Blast, Vexx, Body Pit, and Inveigh Catharsis.
In June 2003, Gray crashed his car into another vehicle. After police were called to the scene and searched his car, Gray was arrested for possession of cannabis
, cocaine
, drug paraphernalia
, and failure to obey a traffic signal.
At the time of his death, he was one of 3 original members of Slipknot remaining in the band, and the only one who had maintained his original role in the band due to Clown's switch from main drums to custom percussion during the early days. He was one of the two members not born in Iowa (the other is Jim Root
, who was born in Las Vegas
). In 2010 Slipknot released the Download 2009 performance on DVD in memory of Gray.
Besides Slipknot, Gray filled in as bassist for Unida
during their 2003 tour, appeared on Drop Dead, Gorgeous
' Worse Than a Fairy Tale
, toured briefly with Reggie and the Full Effect
and appeared on the Roadrunner United
project, performing bass on "The Enemy" and "Baptized in the Redemption" from the project's album The All-Star Sessions.
at about 10:50 a.m. local time. An initial autopsy
determined that no foul play or trauma was involved, but could not establish the cause of death. He is survived by his wife Brenna and their daughter. He also has a brother named Tony who worked for the band for many years.
The next day, May 25, 2010, the band held a formal press conference in Des Moines, Iowa
. They did not take any questions from the media. The band, as well as Gray's brother, Tony, and wife, Brenna, paid tribute to him.
On June 21, 2010, autopsy results were released that stated Gray had died of an accidental overdose of morphine
and fentanyl, and had also shown signs of "significant heart disease". A month later, on July 30, Paul Gray was posthumously awarded the Kerrang!
"Services to Metal" award; it was collected by his Slipknot bandmate Corey Taylor
on his behalf.
Mushroomhead
, a band that Slipknot has had an on and off feud with, posted on their official Myspace page their thoughts about Paul Gray's death, stating:
On November 8, 2010, items that decorated Gray's grave, including statues and ornaments, were stolen. The band responded to this event with a post on their MySpace page, asking the robbers to return the stolen items.
On March 10, 2011 it was announced that Donnie Steele will be filling in for him in the 2011 Summer tour.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, primary songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and one of the founding members of the Grammy Award-winning metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
.
Early life and career
Gray was born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Later his family relocated to Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. In his youth, Gray performed in bands such as Anal Blast, Vexx, Body Pit, and Inveigh Catharsis.
In June 2003, Gray crashed his car into another vehicle. After police were called to the scene and searched his car, Gray was arrested for possession of cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
, cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, drug paraphernalia
Drug paraphernalia
Drug paraphernalia is a term used, often with a slightly negative connotation due to its use in criminal law field e.g. "possession of drug paraphernalia", to denote any equipment, product, or material that is modified for making, using, or concealing drugs, typically for recreational purposes...
, and failure to obey a traffic signal.
At the time of his death, he was one of 3 original members of Slipknot remaining in the band, and the only one who had maintained his original role in the band due to Clown's switch from main drums to custom percussion during the early days. He was one of the two members not born in Iowa (the other is Jim Root
Jim Root
James Donald "Jim" Root , also known by his number #4, is an American musician known for being the rhythm/lead guitarist of the heavy metal band, Slipknot, and the lead guitarist for rock band, Stone Sour...
, who was born in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
). In 2010 Slipknot released the Download 2009 performance on DVD in memory of Gray.
Besides Slipknot, Gray filled in as bassist for Unida
Unida
Unida was an American stoner rock band that was formed after the dissolution of Kyuss and Slo Burn. The band originally consisted of John Garcia , Arthur Seay , Miguel Cancino and Dave Dinsmore . Dinsmore was later replaced by Scott Reeder, who was in turn replaced by Eddie Plascencia...
during their 2003 tour, appeared on Drop Dead, Gorgeous
Drop Dead, Gorgeous
Drop Dead, Gorgeous is a band from Denver, Colorado. They are currently signed to Suretone Records. The band consists of frontman Danny Stillman , Kyle Browning , Jake Hansen and Danny Cooper...
' Worse Than a Fairy Tale
Worse Than a Fairy Tale
Worse Than a Fairy Tale is the second album from Colorado band Drop Dead, Gorgeous. Worse Than a Fairy Tale is a concept album as well as an interactive experience for fans, telling the story of a serial killer who plies his trade in a small fictional town called Saylor Lake...
, toured briefly with Reggie and the Full Effect
Reggie and the Full Effect
Reggie and the Full Effect was a Kansas City indie rock band, the solo project for The Get Up Kids keyboardist James Dewees.-Early years, Greatest Hits 1984-1987, Promotional Copy and Under the Tray :...
and appeared on the Roadrunner United
Roadrunner United
Roadrunner United was a project organized by the heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It culminated in an album released worldwide on October 11, 2005, entitled The All-Star Sessions...
project, performing bass on "The Enemy" and "Baptized in the Redemption" from the project's album The All-Star Sessions.
Death
On May 24, 2010, The Des Moines Register reported that Gray had been found dead in room 431 at the Towneplace Suites hotel in Urbandale, IowaUrbandale, Iowa
Urbandale is a city in Polk and Dallas counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 29,072; a special census taken by the city in 2005 counted 35,904 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 38,369 residents lived there in 2008...
at about 10:50 a.m. local time. An initial autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
determined that no foul play or trauma was involved, but could not establish the cause of death. He is survived by his wife Brenna and their daughter. He also has a brother named Tony who worked for the band for many years.
The next day, May 25, 2010, the band held a formal press conference in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. They did not take any questions from the media. The band, as well as Gray's brother, Tony, and wife, Brenna, paid tribute to him.
On June 21, 2010, autopsy results were released that stated Gray had died of an accidental overdose of morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
and fentanyl, and had also shown signs of "significant heart disease". A month later, on July 30, Paul Gray was posthumously awarded the Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
"Services to Metal" award; it was collected by his Slipknot bandmate Corey Taylor
Corey Taylor
Corey Todd Taylor sometimes known by the number 8, is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of Slipknot and Stone Sour. Taylor was raised by his single mother. He developed a fond feeling toward classic rock after his grandmother introduced him to it...
on his behalf.
Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead is an American industrial metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in Cleveland Warehouse District, the band's music can be described as a synthesis of alternative music, heavy metal, and electro-industrial...
, a band that Slipknot has had an on and off feud with, posted on their official Myspace page their thoughts about Paul Gray's death, stating:
On November 8, 2010, items that decorated Gray's grave, including statues and ornaments, were stolen. The band responded to this event with a post on their MySpace page, asking the robbers to return the stolen items.
On March 10, 2011 it was announced that Donnie Steele will be filling in for him in the 2011 Summer tour.
Discography
With Slipknot
Other appearances
|
Filmography
- 1999: Welcome to Our NeighborhoodWelcome To Our NeighborhoodWelcome to Our Neighborhood is the first video album by American metal band Slipknot. It was released on November 9, 1999 by Roadrunner Records and later reissued in DVD format on November 18, 2003...
- 2002: DisasterpiecesDisasterpiecesDisasterpieces is the second video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released on November 22, 2002, a 2-disc case DVD features Slipknot performing a concert at London Dockland Arena, as well all of the band's music videos up until its release including songs from Slipknot and Iowa.The...
- 2002: RollerballRollerball (2002 film)Rollerball is a 2002 remake of the 1975 science-fiction film of the same name. This updated version stars Chris Klein, LL Cool J, Rebecca Romijn and Jean Reno, was directed by John McTiernan and has a much greater concentration on action with more muted social and political overtones...
- 2006: Voliminal: Inside the NineVoliminal: Inside the NineVoliminal: Inside the Nine is the third video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released December 5, 2006 through Roadrunner Records, the 2-disc DVD set features an 84 minute movie created by band member Shawn "Clown" Crahan. The set also includes live performances, music videos from...
- 2008: Nine: The Making of "All Hope Is Gone"
- 2008: Behind The Player: Paul GrayBehind The Player: Paul GrayBehind The Player: Paul Gray is an instructional video by Slipknot's former bassist, the late Paul Gray. Released on November 1, 2008 through IMV the DVD features a brief overview of Gray's musical history, in-depth lessons on how to play bass for two Slipknot songs, as well as other bonus material...
- 2009: Of the (sic): Your Nightmares, Our Dreams
- 2010: (sic)nesses(sic)nessesnesses is the fourth video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot, released on September 28, 2010. The double-disc release features a recording of their headlining performance at the 2009 Download Festival, along with a 45-minute behind the scenes documentary created by percussionist Shawn...
(posthumous) - 2011: Iowa DVD (posthumous)