Shockwaves in Metal: Slipknot Parts Ways with Sid Wilson After Three Decades

Heavy metal band Slipknot has officially announced its separation from long-time keyboardist and DJ, Sid Wilson, after nearly three decades together. The news, which surfaced on Friday, August 14, followed weeks of swirling speculation regarding Wilson's status within the Grammy-winning group.

The announcement initially appeared in a post on Slipknot's official Instagram and website, which was subsequently deleted. However, the statement remained publicly accessible on the Instagram account for Knotfest, the music festival founded by Slipknot in 2012. The official statement from the band unequivocally declared, "Effective immediately, Slipknot will no longer be associated with Sid Wilson. We wish him the best in his future endeavors." The Knotfest caption further corroborated this, stating, "Slipknot have parted ways with Sid Wilson. The announcement could briefly be found on the band’s website."

Sid Wilson originally joined Slipknot in 1998, recruited by the Des Moines, Iowa-originated heavy metal ensemble as their ninth member due to his distinctive DJing prowess. His integration into the band predated their significant mainstream breakthrough, which occurred upon their signing with Roadrunner Records and the subsequent release of their self-titled debut album in 1999. This seminal project marked Slipknot's initial appearance on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart, reaching No. 51 in May 2000. Over their illustrious career, the band has achieved substantial chart success, including six top 10 albums and three No. 1s: All Hope Is Gone (2008), .5: The Gray Chapter (2014), and We Are Not Your Kind (2019). Furthermore, Slipknot earned their sole Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Metal Performance for their track "Before I Forget," from a total of 11 career nominations.

The announcement on August 14 put an end to a period of uncertainty that began last month. TMZ had reported on July 31 that Wilson, widely recognized for his gas-mask-like face covering amidst the band's famously masked aesthetic, had been informed of his dismissal from the group. At that time, without any official confirmation from Slipknot or Wilson, comments made by Slipknot guitarist Jim Root on Instagram had cast doubt on the report's accuracy. Root had posted in a now-expired Instagram Story, "Don’t believe everything you read. Stop. Think. Take a breath. Sit with it for awhile. Maybe. Just maybe even wait until there’s more information," as reported by People.

Friday's posted-and-deleted statement, exactly two weeks after the initial TMZ report, served as the definitive official word from Slipknot regarding Wilson's departure. Beyond his musical contributions, Sid Wilson had also reportedly ended his engagement to Kelly Osbourne in March, adding to recent personal news surrounding the artist. Slipknot's most recent studio album, The End, So Far, was released in 2022 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.