With the fifth anniversary of Slipknot bassist Paul Gray’s death approaching, Corey Taylor has penned a touching tribute letter to his former bandmate.
Last year, discussing Gray’s death, Taylor told Zane Lowe during his BBC Radio 1 show that the band were “knocked senseless” by the loss of Gray, who died from a drug overdose on May 24, 2010.
Now, in a new tribute letter that was published in the latest issue of Kerrang!, Taylor has written about the loss of Gray, about how much he had touched his life and how much he cherished Gray's "energy and excitement".
You can read a portion of the letter below, via Noisecreep:
"There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. When I’m on the road, the live shows bring back our times together. When I’m home, this house and the pictures in it remind me of good times and bad. When I’m listening to music, I think about the two of us, cranking new and old tunes in his car or mine, rocking out like little kids and giggling because the stuff is so awesome.
I think that’s the overall memory I cherish the most about him: his energy and his excitement. Even if you weren’t ‘feeling’ something musically or anything else to do with the band, he was the world’s best cheerleader. After one conversation with him, you’d be so ready to play or tour or record or whatever that you’d be jumping out of your skin. Whenever I’m feeling jaded, I remember that. I remember this gift that he and I and the rest of Slipknot were able to build together.
I had the privilege of making music with Paul Gray for 13 years. I learned so much from that man that I still use his ideology and methods to this day. I got to travel the world with him. I got to see things not a lot of others would ever hope to in their lifetimes. He and I built a career out of passion, music, anger and art. We may have had our ups and downs, but he loved every minute of it. I know I did."
Slipknot will be playing the following shows. For tickets and information, click here.
May 15 - Rock On The Range Columbus, OH
May 16 - Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, MI
Jun 05 - Rock Im Park Nuremberg, Germany
Jun 06 - FortaRock Festival Nymegen, Netherlands
Jun 07 - Rock AM Ring Mendig, Germany
Jun 09 - Impact Festival Łódź, Poland
Jun 11 - Greenfield Festival Interlaken, Switzerland
Jun 12 - Download Festival Derby, United Kingdom
Jun 14 - Novarock Nickelsdorf, Austria
Jun 16 - Rock in Roma Rome, Italy
Jun 18 - COPENHELL Copenhagen, Denmark
Jun 19 - Hellfest Clisson, France
Jun 20 - Graspop Metal Meeting Dessel, Belgium
July 24 - Cruzan Amphitheatre West Palm Beach, FL
July 25 - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre Tampa, FL
July 26 - Aaron's Amphitheatre Atlanta, GA
July 28 - DTE Energy Music Theatre Detroit, MI
July 29 - DARIEN LAKE PAC Darien Center, NY
July 31 - Spac Saratoga Springs, NY
August 01 - Nikon at Jones Beach Wantagh, NY
August 02 - Xfinity Theatre Hartford, CT
August 04 - Xfinity Center Mansfield, MA
August 05 - PNC Bank Arts Center Holmdel, NJ
August 06 - First Niagara Pavilion Pittsburgh, PA
August 08 - Molson Canadian Amphitheatre Toronto, Canada
August 09 - Heavy Montreal Quebec, Canada
August 11 - Jiffy Lube Live Washington, DC
August 12 - Farm Bureau Live Virginia Beach, VA
August 14 - Klipsch Music Center Indianapolis, IN
August 15 - First Midwest Bank Amp Chicago, IL
August 16 - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis, MO
August 19 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre Denver, CO
August 21 - USANA Amphitheatre Salt Lake City, UT
August 23 - White River Amphitheatre Auburn, WA
August 24 - Rogers Arena Vancouver, Canada
August 26 - Concord Pavilion Concord, CA
August 28 - MGM Resort Festival Lot Las Vegas, NV
August 29 - Ak-Chin Pavilion Phoenix, AZ
August 30 - Isleta Amphitheater Albuquerque, NM
September 02 - Austin360 Amphitheater Austin, TX
September 04 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Houston, TX
September 05 - Gexa Energy Pavilion Dallas, TX
September 25 - Rock in Rio Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
September 27 - Anhembi Arena Sao Paulo, Brazil
September 30 - Movistar Arena Santiago, Chile
October 03 - Ciudad Del Rock Buenos Aires, Argentina
Meanwhile, Corey Taylor will be playing a string of solo shows and holding book signings for his new release ‘You're Making Me Hate You: A Cantankerous Look At The Common Misconception That Humans Have Any Common Sense Left’, which is out in the UK on June 11 and the US on July 7.
Book Signings:
July 6 - Ridgewood, NJ Book Ends 6PM
July 8 - New York, NY Bryant Park 1:30PM
July 9 - Huntington, NY Book Revue 7PM
July 12 - Edina, MN Barnes & Noble 1PM
July 18 - Los Angeles, CA Book Soup 12PM
Evening Solo Gigs:
July 7 - New York, NY Gramercy Theatre
July 8 - Ashbury Park, NJ The Stone Pony
July 10 - Detroit, MI St. Andrew’s Hall
July 11 - Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
July 12 - St. Paul, MN Turf Club
July 14 - Rock Island, IL Rock Island Brewing Company
July 15 - Lawrence, KS Granada Theater
July 16 - Denver, CO Summit Music Hall
July 19 - Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
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