Joey Jordison
A ferocious, masked drummer whose blistering double-bass work became the chaotic heartbeat of a generation's metal soundtrack.
1975–2021 (age 46)·American musician·Birthday: April 26·Generation X
Biography
Joey Jordison was the engine of Slipknot, a whirlwind of aggression and precision behind the drum kit that helped catapult the band from Des Moines basements to global arenas. Born in Iowa, he co-founded the band in 1995, adopting the persona #1 and a terrifying clown mask. His technical prowess, characterized by inhuman speed and complex patterns, provided the foundation for Slipknot's sonic assault. Beyond the drums, he was a key creative force, contributing to songwriting and adopting the guitar for his side project, Murderdolls. His sudden departure from Slipknot in 2013 shocked fans, but his influence remained indelible. Jordison's life was cut short in 2021, but his legacy endures in every metal drummer who pushes the limits of speed and endurance.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Joey was born in 1975, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Joey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1975
#1 Movie
Jaws
Best Picture
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Joey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1975Born
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1980Started school
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1988Became a teenager
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Could drive
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1993Could vote
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Turned 21
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2005Turned 30
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 40
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2021Died at 46
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
Key Achievements
- Served as the original drummer and co-founder of the multi-platinum metal band Slipknot.
- Won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2006 for the Slipknot song 'Before I Forget'.
- Designed his own signature drum kit and hardware line with Pearl Drums.
- Played guitar and wrote music for the horror punk band Murderdolls.
- Named one of the greatest drummers of all time by publications like Rolling Stone and Rhythm Magazine.
Did You Know?
He was a huge fan of horror films, which heavily influenced Slipknot's aesthetic.
Before joining Slipknot, he worked as a drum tech for the band Anal Blast.
His original Slipknot mask was a Kabuki-style clown mask he modified himself.
He was left-handed but played a right-handed drum kit open-handed.
He provided the voice for the character 'The Jester' in the video game 'Roadrunner United'.
““I hit the drums as hard as I can. I want to feel it, I want the audience to feel it.””
