Giant, #2 But Always #1 💔
A masked elegy from The Riff Report Blog
“You are my plague… my pulse, my pain, my pride…” – Slipknot
🕯️ MAY 24, 2010 – WHEN THE BASS FELL SILENT IN HELL
On May 24, 2010, the nine became eight.
Paul Gray, co-founder and bassist of Slipknot, was found dead in a hotel room in Urbandale, Iowa. He was just 38 years old.
No pyros. No stage. Just heartbreak.
Behind the mask, the chaos, the machine — Paul was the soul of the band. The glue. The heartbeat.
They called him #2… but he was number one in every maggot’s heart. 🖤
🧷 WHO WAS PAUL GRAY?
- Born April 8, 1972, in Los Angeles, but raised in Des Moines, Iowa — Slipknot’s birthplace and spiritual stomping ground
- Played in various metal bands before co-founding Slipknot in 1995 with Shawn “Clown” Crahan and Joey Jordison
- Wore the pig mask in early days before settling into the “Hannibal Lecter” grimace
- Wielded a 4-string like a sledgehammer — thick, filthy, relentless
Paul wasn’t flashy. He wasn’t loud in interviews.
But on stage? A monster.
Off stage? A teddy bear. 🤘🐻
“He made Slipknot happen. Without him, there is no Slipknot.” – Corey Taylor
🎭 SLIPKNOT: FROM CARNAGE TO CATHARSIS
Slipknot weren’t just a band.
They were a ritual. A riot. A religion.
And Paul was the ritual’s bassist priest, summoning rhythm from darkness.
🔥 Albums That Burned the World:
- Slipknot (1999) – Chaos personified.
- Iowa (2001) – The heaviest album of the decade. Period.
- Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses (2004) – Controlled chaos
- All Hope Is Gone (2008) – Paul’s final full album 💔
He co-wrote almost everything, helped shape the band’s sound, bridged brutality with groove, and kept the maggots fed.
🧠 THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK
Paul battled demons quietly.
He struggled with addiction, something he was trying to manage right up to his final days.
But never let it define him.
He was known for:
- Welcoming fans with open arms
- Playing with intensity and humility
- Treating bandmates like brothers
- Being the first to arrive, last to leave, and always kind
He wasn’t just the bassist.
He was the backbone.
⚰️ MAY 24, 2010 – THE WORST KIND OF QUIET
Paul was found unresponsive at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott.
Later reports confirmed a lethal overdose of morphine and fentanyl, with heart disease as a contributing factor.
The metal world broke down.
Slipknot’s press conference days later was raw, silent, and utterly soul-shattering.
Corey Taylor could barely speak. Clown sobbed.
Even Stone Sour, who rarely dipped into Slipknot’s grief, wept on stage.
“This band is Paul’s dream. We’re just trying to keep it alive.” – Shawn Crahan
🧨 PAUL’S ESSENTIAL TRACKS – FOR THE BASS-HEADS
- Duality – That bassline rumbles through your teeth
- Before I Forget – Grammy-winning. Pure filth.
- People = Sh*t – Blunt-force trauma via 4 strings
- Sulfur – The groove? Unreal.
- (515) – His intro. His chaos.
- Eyeless – Old school. Raw. Dangerous.
- Vermilion – Atmospheric and eerie
- Dead Memories – Cleaner but still menacing
- Surfacing – Maggot anthem. Paul helped write the book.
- Snuff (Live) – The performance after his death still hurts.
🖤 THE TRIBUTE TATTOOED ON METAL FOREVER
- Slipknot wore all white at his funeral show – an inversion of their black, a purge of pain
- His jumpsuit and mask were placed on stage in a spotlight
- Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Revolver – all dedicated issues to Paul
- His daughter October was born shortly after he passed
- The Paul Gray Tribute Award is now given to Iowa musicians continuing his legacy
- #2 patches, ink, murals, even gravestone pilgrimages are common among fans
💬 QUOTES FROM THE NINE & THE WORLD
“I miss my brother. Every single day.” – Jim Root
“We lost our heart.” – Mick Thomson
“There’ll never be another Paul.” – Sid Wilson
“He was always the most kind. That’s who I remember.” – Chris Fehn
“Every time we step on stage, Paul is there.” – Corey Taylor
🪦 SLIPKNOT NEVER FORGOT
They continued — not to replace him, but to honour him.
Alessandro “V-Man” Venturella now fills Paul’s role on bass.
But #2?
That number’s retired.
It’s sacred.
It’s Paul.
PAUL DEDRICK GRAY
April 8, 1972 – May 24, 2010
The Pigmasked Poet. The Maggot Father. The Backbone.
Forever #2.
But always… #1 in our hearts. 🖤🔩
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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