Des Moines, Iowa; May 24, 2010 -- A local hotel worker found the bassist dead this morning. Paul Gray, known as #2, or "The Pig" in the self-titled years, the lively bassist from Los Angeles who relocated with family to Des Moines and joined Slipknot and has played for the entire Slipknot career up to this point. Paul had a darker side to his life, dealing with drugs and alcohol abuse. It was announced on his MySpace page this year that he was expecting a child with his wife Brenna. Life looked on the up for Paul.
While currently under investigation, preliminary reports from a source at the scene indicate a drug overdose.
I first saw Slipknot at Dotfest 2 in 1997, shortly after they formed and right before they were signed. Clown came out and moshed with the crowd, and Pig had his pig mask on and was WICKED on the bass!
Paul will be missed.
For more info: There will be follow-up information to this story as it becomes available. No cause of death has been determined yet. RIP Paul
Update: Des Moines Register confirms: Paul Gray dead at 38 in Urbandale hotel
More about this tragic incident:
Local reaction to the passing of Paul Gray
The world comments on the passing of Paul Gray
Personally: I'd like to thank ALL of the fans of Slipknot, for all of the positive comments, and even those who were quick to trash on the haters. This is NOT about a man who may or may not have died from drugs, this is about a man who came out of Iowa, a state known for little more than corn and apparent boredom in the mainstream. Slipknot made metal known on MTV again, and that's not a feat easily accomplished.
To show my appreciation to my fellow maggots for all of the traffic, I am donating to a charity in the name of The Family of Paul Gray. It's not much, but it's what I can do, and the majority of it is thanks to you. Blessings be with all of you in life. I want to give some back as thanks for what you all gave to me through your visits and comments. It's only right.
Much respect to the fans, family and friends of Paul. Without you, we wouldn't be here. Without you and Slipknot, I most likely wouldn't be writing this here today.
--Jason Vajgrt, Slipknot fan since 1997
Comments
I know you're in a hurry to break this story, dude, but getting married and expecting a child is not a darker side. Unless your husband/dad dies.
Howdy Ho!
I am doubting how valid this news is. I've done searches on many different sites and the only search result came up only with this site. So until I hear a valid statement from the Slipknot camp, I'll consider this just a rumor. And if this is legit, I'll send you my praises later.
VERY poorly written... "Whatever" makes a great point, by the way. First DIO, now this? May has been a bad month for metal...
I agree completely, i thought the same thing when i read this. Who edits this?
Whatever is absolutely correct. It was the first thing that stood out in this story. Poorly presented.
Maybe Jason is palsies with some hotel workers, but I ain't buying it until a real news organization confirms this news.
This just came through as breaking news - no names mentioned.
URBANDALE, Iowa -- Urbandale police said Monday afternoon that a death investigation is under way at a metro hotel.
Urbandale Sgt. Dave Disney confirmed that were was a death at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott at 8800 Northpark Johnston Drive in Urbandale.
Investigators removed items around 2 p.m. from the hotel.
The death remains under investigation. Officials said an autopsy is planned.
Look for more on this developing story on KCCI-TV and KCCI.com.
this is 100% true.unfortunately, he is gone. and i agree with whatever..reword your story here..you made it sound like paul getting married and expecting was part of his darker side. this pis sed me off. i have known his wife on a personal level for years and this was bullsht when i read this. please fix it immediately. and for everyone else, like i said, this is true and very sad. my heart goes out for his wife and unborn daughter.more to come...
I have heard from a VERY reliable source that this is in fact true and was notified of it before anyone posted anything. I understand the reasons for not believing this, but Paul has passed away.
I agree, the fact he was married and expecting is a beautiful side to Paul. Just bc they are rockstars and where the dark masks doesn't mean they are bad people. They are fun, down to earth guys. My boys are going to be heartbroken when I tell them...My heart goes out to the rest of the band & Paul's family...him & Dime can rock out in the clouds...
It's true... and out of respect for his name, spell it right, "GRAY".
In fairness, I admit, terrible editing. I didn't even get the spelling of his last name until after I'd posted the article. The comment about expecting a child was meant as an end to the streak of bad, not as a dark side of his persona.
Details are sketchy, as the KCCI story points out, no one knows for sure what is going on. I'm going to be talking with some local bands today to get their reactions as well as getting more info as it comes in.
The source I got it from was meant to be obscure since I'm not sure he wants his name attached to this story, but I will divulge this much: He is the drummer of a Des Moines-area cover band, and has been a devoted fan since 1996, and works at the hotel and found him this morning. This was relayed to me through the bassist of a band I used to be in, and he is now in the aforementioned band.
This just came through as breaking news - no names mentioned.
URBANDALE, Iowa -- Urbandale police said Monday afternoon that a death investigation is under way at a metro hotel.
Urbandale Sgt. Dave Disney confirmed that were was a death at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott at 8800 Northpark Johnston Drive in Urbandale.
Investigators removed items around 2 p.m. from the hotel.
The death remains under investigation. Officials said an autopsy is planned.
Look for more on this developing story on KCCI-TV and KCCI.com.
I just came back to check for any update and see that somehow my post is on there twice. Have no clue how that happened, I wasn't even here. Sorry, but I can't figure out a way to delete it.
No worries Iowagirl, it's all good. I'm just wishing I could physically edit/delete posts on here. I'll have to wait for the follow-up to fix the issues.
I have an uneasy feeling that it's true as KCCI has removed the comment feature from the story, and any of the comments that have been posted there in regards to it. If you want to bash someone on spelling and grammatical errors just wait until KCCI posts an update to the story, they're pretty notorious for it. If this is true, then RIP Paul.
If true - RIP Paul, you will be missed by many.
Yeah, jdemon, I concur. It seems the moment the article involves a local celebrity, the comment section is axed as unceremoniously and expeditiously as possible.
I strive to make sure my spelling is correct, grammar is proper (although it's a work in progress), and facts are usually confirmed, aside for cases like this I like to track the story as it progresses.
I'm by no means perfect, but to call me out on it is juvenile. We are all human, we all make mistakes. Sure if this was a newspaper and this got past the editor, I'd understand. But I try what I can do, if I mess up, oh well, I let it fall where it may.
I'm at a loss, the guy was good at what he did, he had an amazing talent at bass. What I was told this morning from my former band mate is this: "Our drummer found the bassist from Slipknot dead in the hotel he works at." I've been filled in from more of my former band mates through the day.
The Register usually breaks this stuff first, which surprised me that KCCI d
If you have any doubt - click on the MAP link on the KCCI posting. The title reads - MAP: Slipknot member found dead.
Does anybody know if this is true?
If this is true, could you possibly link us the story?
This is the only things that's come up in a search, so I'm very sceptical at the moment.
link is: www-kcci-com/news/23659932/detail-html
(replace - with .)
on the map at the bottom of the page if you slide over the red thumbtack it says slipknot member found dead at that location
Floydwall is 100% dead on, if you mouse over the pushpin on the map it says it "Slipknot Member Found Dead" such a tragedy to lose such an amazing talent so young.
now they're verifying it on kcci.
URBANDALE, Iowa -- Urbandale police said a man was found dead in a hotel room in Urbandale on Monday morning.
Police identified the man as Paul Dedrick Gray, 38. They said he was found at 10:50 a.m. at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott at 8800 Northpark Johnston Drive in Johnston on Monday. He performs bass and back up vocals for the band since 1995.
Police said there was no evidence of foul play observed, but a complete investigation of the untimely death of Paul Gray will be completed by Urbandale Police Detectives.
The Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting in the death investigation and will perform an autopsy on Tuesday. Toxicology testing will be completed to determine if there were any contributing factors in the death of Gray, police said.
Witnesses reported that items from the hotel room were carried out of the hotel around 2 p.m.
Gray was born in Los Angeles, Calif., and later moved to Des Moines.
Wikipedia shows that Gray has been married for tw
it's now confirmed by the media RIP.
If this is true then why the hell isn't anyone else reporting on this?? REALLY???
1 down, 8 to go
dux, suck a nut bitch. your mom must of been a dog cause you sure weren't raised by people. have some respect!!
ummm - wikipedia has already posted his death
OMFG NOO!!! this is a very sad moment indeed for this fellow maggot :( RIP Paul you will be missed dearly!!! *cry*
How sad, Another soul lost to Satan our enemy
Satan lol. It doesn't even exists lol. when you die, you don't go to heaven, you stay on earth and your body return to the dirt.
One down, eight to go. FINALLY!
Wow super cool, heck yeah you're the man lol. what a waste!! have some respect for the his death haisatan!!
you are a bad person
ROFL.
Martha, shut the fu**k up you fat w*hore. Slipknot is not satanic and this douchebag had nothing to do with Satan.
RIP PAUL =(
thts messed to make fun of ppl tht died. so u need to shut the f**k up!
Rest in Peace Brother. You're music has helped me through so much!
Well, something exactly like this happened to Corey around the time Vol. 3 came out. So I'm not sure if this is just another internet rumor or not.
WHY!!!
Cocaine Is a Horriblw Drug
just heard it on my local radio station..
Are you sure???
jeez all these musicians dying, it sux, dio just dies, the rev dies around new year, and michael jackson a while ago, too much
RIP #2. You will be missed.
hahah what a belend, i hate them
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