Update: Just after 5:00pm PT, Slipknot again took to their social media accounts following the earlier announcement that Craig Jones would no longer be continuing with the band. The image shared to Slipknot socials featured a menacing masked figured with zippered-mouth. No caption was shared with the image however, the previous post announcing the split with Jones had since been removed.
Initial report:
Set to begin their highly-anticipated European tour which includes several festival headlining appearances, Iowan juggernaut Slipknot have shared big news of a change in the personnel of the band.
In a brief statement shared via the band’s social media platform, Slipknot confirmed that they have officially parted ways with sampler/keyboardist Craig Jones. No further details were disclosed with regards to what brought on the change in personnel.
The longtime collaborator served as the stoic sampler for the band since 1996, contributing to each of the band's releases spanning from the 1999 self-titled debut, last year's full length studio release, The End, So Far.
The statement was punctuated with the band wishing Jones "all the best for the future." At the time of publication, no additional information with regards to who would be replacing Jones was available.
The news arrives as the band commence their European tour with a headlining set at Novarock in Austria. The 17-date stretch will see Slipknot atop of billing for major destination festivals including Download in the UK, Copenhell in Denmark, Graspop in Belgium, Hellfest in France, Resurrection Fest in Spain and the inaugural launch of the band's own Knotfest in Italy at the end of this month.
The run will include supporting sets from a rotation of artists including Disturbed, I, Prevail, Sleep Token and Nothing More. A full list of dates can be found - HERE
