Jim Root claims Stone Sour sacked him over phone

Slipknot’s Jim Root says he was sacked from Stone Sour over the phone.

The guitarist recently said he was dismissed by Corey Taylor months before the news became public, while also revealing the move was for the best as it gave him more time to concentrate on upcoming Slipknot album .5: The Gray Chapter.

But now he says he was fired during a phone call – and still doesn’t know the reasons why.

He tells Music Feeds: “I still haven’t talked to certain guys in that band, so I really don’t know what they were thinking or 100% of the reason why they made the decision they made.

“It was basically put to me over a phone call and I thought that was pretty lame. Whatever – it is what it is.”

Taylor previously said he felt terrible about the decision and insisted the pair talked through the situation before work had started on the new Slipknot record.

He told Metal Hammer: “It led to a confrontation – to put it nicely. But literally, it flared up and then it was gone because we knew we had this project to work on. I didn’t want his focus split and I didn’t want my focus split. So we sat down and talked for 20-30 minutes. He felt terrible and I felt terrible that he was going through it.”

Root also reveals he and his Slipknot bandmates put their as-yet-unnamed drummer – rumoured to be Jay Weinberg – “through the ringer” on their latest album.

He continues: “We threw the book at the drummer – we fucking put him through the ringer. He didn’t have it easy but he was up to the challenge. He took it all and props to him for that.

“The bass player was a different situation because we had a bit of a revolving door of dudes coming in and trying things. It got to the point where we were struggling looking for somebody and then the right guy presented himself at the last minute. It worked out pretty cool.

Slipknot’s .5: The Gray Chapter launches on October 20.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, The Tragically Hip, Marillion and Rush.

Latest in
Vera Farmiga in 2021
The Conjuring star Vera Farmiga announces debut album with her heavy metal band The Yagas
'Emo' Ed Sheeran busking
Watch Ed Sheeran cover Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club on the New York subway while disguised as an emo busker
A close-up shot of the Marshall Major IV on-ear headphones on a turquoise, blue and black background.
I’ve never seen the Marshall Major IV headphones this cheap before - get them for half price in Amazon’s big spring sale
Evanescence in 2025
Evanescence release new song Afterlife from Devil May Cry TV series soundtrack, have their next album in the works
Tony Banks
“You only have to hear the opening sweep to reach for your lighter and wave it in the air”: Tony Banks' greatest Genesis moments
The Horrors
Ghouls Aloud: The Horrors come back from the dead with "a dazzling nocturnal spectacle of sombre reflections and oozing catharsis"
Latest in News
Vera Farmiga in 2021
The Conjuring star Vera Farmiga announces debut album with her heavy metal band The Yagas
'Emo' Ed Sheeran busking
Watch Ed Sheeran cover Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club on the New York subway while disguised as an emo busker
A close-up shot of the Marshall Major IV on-ear headphones on a turquoise, blue and black background.
I’ve never seen the Marshall Major IV headphones this cheap before - get them for half price in Amazon’s big spring sale
Evanescence in 2025
Evanescence release new song Afterlife from Devil May Cry TV series soundtrack, have their next album in the works
Bruce Dickinson in 2024 and a painting of William Blake in 1759
“This deluxe edition contains actual soil from the grave of William Blake”: Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson is releasing a comic book compilation with dirt from the resting place of one of England’s most famous poets
Steven Wilson in 2015 and Playboi Carti in 2025
“I’ve been touring around indie record stores, and I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s even heard of Playboi Carti”: Steven Wilson comments on chart battle with superstar rapper