It is clear that seeing Joey Jordison had a profound effect on Shawn Crahan, who recounted this experience during a conversation with producer Rick Rubin on the Tetragrammaton podcast.

Before Slipknot was formed, many members had played in bands around Des Moines, and Crahan shared his memory of witnessing a young Joey Jordison perform on the drums, as well as their first encounter after they played on the same bill.

What Does Shawn Crahan Recall of Seeing Joey Jordison Play for the First Time?

“I remember going out to Joey after he finished his set. He went outside to get some air, and I walked out too. I was older than everyone else and could get a beer, so I walked outside and just stared at him,” Crahan recalled.

“We didn’t know each other, and he looked at me and said, ‘What?’ I responded, ‘I just had to see if you were human.’ I was like, ‘Whoa, you are a real person. Wow, congratulations man. In my life, I’ve never seen … I didn’t know you could play drums like that,’” shared Crahan.

Although they connected that night, it would take some time before Jordison joined Slipknot.

How Did Joey Jordison Join Slipknot?

Later in the discussion, Crahan talked about the early days of Slipknot and the initial idea of having three drummers in the band. Although they weren’t yet nine members strong, this concept intrigued Jordison enough to come to their studio for a jam session.

According to Crahan, he was in Colorado when he learned that Paul Gray had invited Jordison to the studio. He then traveled back to Iowa to see how things would unfold.

Crahan played first before allowing Jordison to use his drum kit and make adjustments for his playing style.

“What stood out to me besides what he was doing was his incredible ability to remember what those guys had just played with me. It felt like a tornado hit my life, and I was just like, ‘I have no idea what’s happening right now.’ But I was so impressed; he had only heard it once. I was the drummer who was disregarded and taken to a level of insanity,” shared Crahan.

Despite the positive outcome of their jam session, Crahan recalls that Jordison hesitated when asked about joining the band.

“After practice, I went outside to Joey and asked, ‘Are you in or out?’ He replied, ‘I gotta think about it.’ I’m a pretty aggressive person, so I got right up in his face and said, ‘What do you mean you gotta think about it? There’s no thinking about it. You’re either in or you’re out. That’s not how this works son.’”

Eventually, Jordison agreed to join the band, and their friendship deepened. However, several years later, Jordison admitted that if Crahan hadn’t let him into the band, he would have pursued the three-drummer concept in a way that better suited his style.

How Did Joey Jordison Impact Shawn Crahan?

Toward the end of the podcast, when asked about changes in the band and what has remained constant, Crahan reflected on his relationship with Jordison: “I miss my dudes. Joey used to challenge me. He was the one who pushed me to be my best. I like to think I did that for him too. We often argued and called ourselves nemeses, but it’s not until someone is gone that you realize they bring out your best.”

READ MORE: Slipknot’s Clown Reveals if Band Might Have Eventually Reunited With Joey Jordison

Jordison remained with Slipknot from 1995 until 2013. He later disclosed that health issues contributed to his departure from the band. Tragically, Jordison passed away in his sleep on July 26, 2021, at the age of 46.

Slipknot’s Shawn Crahan Guests on Rick Rubin’s Tetragammatron Podcast

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