Jim Root: “Slipknot Is Lucky to Have Eloy Casagrande”

Slipknot’s Jim Root isn’t holding back his admiration for the band’s newest drumming powerhouse, Eloy Casagrande. If Root’s comments are anything to go by, it seems the band practically stumbled into the perfect fit without breaking a sweat—or even auditioning anyone else.

Speaking to Tone-Talk, Jim shared how Eloy essentially landed the gig before anyone else had a chance. “We didn’t even try anybody else,” Root admitted. Casagrande reached out, sent over videos showcasing his drumming prowess, and apparently clicked immediately with bassist Alessandro “Vman” Venturella. According to Root, Vman has a knack for knowing the “proggy, heavy musicians” who live and breathe their craft, and Eloy was no exception. “It just seemed like a no-brainer,” Root said, emphasizing Casagrande’s humility and deep respect for Slipknot’s late, iconic drummer, Joey Jordison.

And then there’s the South American connection. Jim shared a tidbit about their manager dining with some South American promoters who couldn’t contain their excitement about a Brazilian drummer joining the band. “They’re all, like, ‘It’s so good you’ve got a Brazilian drummer in Slipknot now. We kind of feel like we’ve won the World Cup.’” That kind of cultural pride, combined with Eloy’s talent and personality, has clearly made waves within the band. Root didn’t mince words: “We’re lucky to have him.”

The band unveiled Eloy to the world in a pair of vastly different shows. First up was an intimate performance at Pappy + Harriet’s in Pioneertown, California—a desert venue that probably isn’t used to hosting masked metal maniacs. “They even had to hold a city council meeting to approve it,” Root said with a chuckle, describing the community as “a chill, hippie vibe” that initially seemed wary of Slipknot’s brand of chaos. But the show went off without a hitch, raising funds for no-kill animal shelters and injecting cash into the local economy. Root called it “epic”, a refreshing change from some of the “industry nonsense” musicians often deal with.

For the 300 lucky fans who squeezed into Pappy + Harriet’s, the performance was a rare chance to see Slipknot in an intimate setting. Root reflected on the experience: “It gave us a chance to do something we hadn’t done in years—play for 300 people. That was so much fun. I can’t even describe it.”

The second show at Sick New World in Las Vegas was a different beast entirely, throwing Casagrande into the deep end at a massive festival. But Root seemed thrilled with how everything turned out, describing the band’s first performances with their new drummer as a total success. Now Jim’s focus is on the future—specifically, crafting new music that can stand up to Eloy’s formidable drumming skills. “That dude is a world-class drummer,” he concluded.

With that level of talent, the honeymoon phase might just last a little longer.

Got a tip for us? Email: [email protected]