Joey Jordison’s estate settles lawsuit with Slipknot
Joey Jordison’s estate has settled a lawsuit it filed against Slipknot after they claimed they withheld possessions and “callously” used his death as a marketing tool for their 2022 album The End, So Far.
Jordison was a founding metal band member but left in 2013 under unknown circumstances. He also worked with several other high-profile bands throughout his career, including Murderdolls, Metallica, Korn, and Rob Zombie.
He initially joined Slipknot in 1995 and played a major role in shaping their sound with his fast and intricate drumming, earning him a reputation as one of the best players in the industry.
However, after departing from the band, it was speculated that he left due to health reasons following a diagnosis of transverse myelitis, but the true reason was never officially confirmed.
In 2021, Jordison passed away aged 46. In a statement, his family shared, “Joey’s death has left us with empty hearts and feelings of indescribable sorrow. To those that knew Joey, understood his quick wit, his gentle personality, giant heart and his love for all things family and music.”
While they didn’t reveal a cause of death, Jordison had suffered with the neurological disease, transverse myelitis, since 2010, which impacted his ability to play the drums. He died peacefully in his sleep, according to his family.
Why did Joey Jordison’s estate sue Slipknot?
Attorneys recently filed a notice of unconditional settlement in Los Angeles County Superior Court with a request for dismissal filed the same day, according to court documents obtained by Blabbermouth.
Steamroller, LLC, on behalf of Jordison’s estate, filed a lawsuit against the band in 2023, accusing them of kicking the late drummer out of the group by email and withholding many personal items that belonged to him despite “promising to return all of [them].”
Steamroller claimed that the “22 items” were showcased by Slipknot in a travelling museum, which is how they allegedly “line[d] their pockets with profit off of Jordison’s devoted fanbase.”
It also claimed: “After abruptly kicking Jordison out of Slipknot in 2013, [Corey] Taylor and [Shawn] Crahan expressly promised in a written agreement to return all of Jordison’s belongings in exchange for Jordison’s promise to release certain claims against.”
According to the documents, Steamroller claimed Taylor and Crahan had Jordison’s items in their “possession”. Allegedly, the band said they would comply with with returning his items, but “executed the agreement with no intention of performing their obligations thereunder,” and “knowingly concealed from Jordison that they possessed numerous other items belonging to Jordison that they never returned to him.”
Another section of the lawsuit involved the lawsuit is the Slipknot Partnership, which Jordison entered alongside Crahan, Taylor and Paul Gray. Jordison was diagnosed with with a neurological disease in 2010 and his condition began to worsen. Then, in 2013, Slipknot allegedly fired him via email “with such disdain” despite his declining health.
The lawsuit also criticises the band for their actions following his death and the marketing strategy that surrounded The End, So Far. According to the file, the band used Jordison’s death “as marketing for their new album” with Taylor also “dedicating” the album to the late drummer.
Slipknot have yet to publicly acknowledge the lawsuit.
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