SLIPKNOT's new drummer, Eloy Casagrande, has released a drum-cam video showing his performance of the song "Eeyore" on August 9 at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. Check it out below.
Casagrande stated in an interview when first joining Slipknot and leaving Sepultura back in May via Sao Paulo Magazine (translated here to english):
"An individual decision," says Eloy Casagrande about joining Slipknot:
"The invitation came in December, through (their) manager. He asked if I was interested in auditioning first. I accepted. They asked me to record and send them some videos from right here in Brazil. Initially there were 3 songs, then they asked me for 3 more, and asked if I had any plans to go to the United States, and I was scheduled to perform there in January with my instrumental music project, Casagrande & Hanysz. So they moved my flight up a bit, and I spent 5 days in Palm Springs, rehearsing with the full band. Then they asked me to extend my stay by another 5 days, so we could record some things. I think that was also part of the audition, they threw new ideas at me to see what my songwriting was like. They wanted to test me in every way."
After these 10 days of rehearsals and recordings, when did you get the confirmation that you had joined the band?
"Slipknot is made up of 9 musicians, so there are many spheres and layers, and they needed everyone's approval before they gave me the OK. I think it was on February 5, 6 that I received confirmation that I had passed the test."
Was this audition period challenging for you?
"At first, they didn't explain what we were going to do. It was all kind of in the dark. The first thing they sent was a NDA document, so I couldn't discuss it with anyone. I learned the setlist, prepared myself and, 4 days before the trip, they sent me a list of 32 songs that it would be important for me to know. Many of the songs I was learning weren't on that list, so I started looking for sheet music. When I got there (in the United States), they gave me a setlist on the first day, which had some songs I didn't know either, but we went out playing. On the first day, I was very nervous, because the band was complete, and it's quite an impact to see the guys there in front of you. It's a band I've been listening to since I was a teenager, and followed on TV. On the first day I was terrible, I didn't like my performance, but from the second day on I improved. Each day they played a different setlist in the morning, so I had a few hours to learn a song or two that was missing. Overall, it was very smooth. I had everyone's support."
And how was the contact with the other members?
"They were very respectful and calm, because they knew that the position I was in was a stressful place. So they respected my time, and now, after a few shows, I'm much calmer and more comfortable. It's also not easy to fit 9 musicians playing together, it's like an orchestra. Each person plays in a different way, so it took a while for me to understand how the band worked and for them to understand how I work. We're really looking forward to the next shows."
In the meantime, how did you reconcile these tests with preparing for Sepultura's final tour?
"I received the invitation to audition after the tour was announced. The big thing, the reason I agreed to audition, was the end of Sepultura. The band was going to break up, and I didn't want to stop playing drums at the age of 33. I had a chat with Slipknot, asked about their schedule and if it would be possible to juggle the two bands, but they said no, it wouldn't be possible, I'd be exclusive. So it was my decision to leave Sepultura. It was complicated, I told them when I had closed the deal on February 5 or 6. That very day I called a meeting and explained the situation. That was it, an individual decision."
You joined Sepultura in your 20s, and now you're leaving the group in your 30s. Looking back, what do you take with you?
"It was a huge learning experience. It's been many years, three studio albums. Live albums. A lot of composing. A lot of time spent traveling together. I look back with great affection and admiration. As well as a feeling of gratitude for all those years. That, at the time, they took on a 20-year-old drummer, giving a big responsibility to a child. But I've always prepared myself for this, and I think I've matured a lot. Traveling too, getting to know different ethnic groups. We went to around seventy, eighty countries. We played in Mongolia, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, China, Russia, Ukraine. It was definitely the biggest school of my life."
For their 2024 shows so far, SLIPKNOT has brought back the original 1999 red jumpsuits and incorporating elements of their early masks into their modern versions. This aligns with the band's celebration of its 25th anniversary this year.
As a reminder of the timeline, After parting ways with Jay Weinberg last November, SLIPKNOT hinted at a new drummer over five months ago by posting a photo of a single broken drumstick online with the caption "Rehearsal."
The band explained that the split with Weinberg was due to creative differences. Jay later expressed that he was "heartbroken and blindsided" by the decision.
Since then, Weinberg has joined Infectious Grooves and Suicidal Tendencies, which has added further acclaimed acts to his already prestigious resume.
SLIPKNOT recently began the North American leg of the "Here Comes The Pain" tour, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of their iconic debut album, "Slipknot", that launched the band back in 1999. The "Here Comes The Pain" tour, produced by Live Nation, includes arena shows across the country this summer, with highlights such as New York City's Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles's Intuit Dome, Austin's Moody Center, and more. KNOCKED LOOSE, a young and dynamic hardcore/metal band from Kentucky, provides direct support, with ORBIT CULTURE and VENDED joining on select dates.
Sep 01: Pryor, OK – ROCKLAHOMA
Sep 07: Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre #
Sep 08: Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Styles Resorts Amphitheater #
Sep 09: Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life
Sep 11: Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater #
Sep 13: Inglewood, CA – Intuit Dome #
Sep 15: Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre #
Sep 17: Austin, TX – Moody Center #
Sep 18: Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion #
Sep 21: Des Moines, IA – Knotfest Iowa at Waterworks Park #
Oct 11: Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival
Oct 19: São Paulo, BR – Knotfest Brasil
Nov 08: Guadalajara, MX – Calle 2
Nov 09: Mexico City, MX – Parque Bicentenario
Dec 05: Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome
Dec 06: Dortmund, DE – Westfalehallen
Dec 08: Stuttgart, DE – Schleyerhalle
Dec 09: Leipzig, DE – Quarterback Immobilien Arena
Dec 11: Zürich, CH – Hallenstadion
Dec 12: Paris, FR – Accor Arena
Dec 14: Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena
Dec 15: Glasgow, UK – Ovo Hydro
Dec 17: Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Dec 18: Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Dec 20: London, UK – The O2
Dec 21: London, UK – The O2
Their full tour details and list of events can be found on their official website.
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