SLIPKNOT drummer Eloy Casagrande has released a drum-cam video of his performance of “Liberate” alongside his bandmates at The O2 Arena in London, England, on December 21, 2024. The footage can be viewed below.
In a recent cover story interview for the January 2025 issue, Casagrande shared his thoughts on his replacement in SEPULTURA, Greyson Nekrutman, who joined the band at a similar stage in his career as Casagrande did in 2011.
Reflecting on Nekrutman’s journey, Casagrande said, “When I see him play, I remember myself in the same spot. When I joined SEPULTURA, I was his age. It’s quite interesting. He’s an incredible drummer. I used to watch his videos on social media when he played jazz and drum solos. He’s a brilliant player, and I have a lot of respect for him. I wish him and the band all the best. I hope we get to talk more one day—maybe even bring all the SEPULTURA drummers together.”
Casagrande also recalled meeting Nekrutman when he first joined SEPULTURA. “Greyson came to my studio in São Paulo for rehearsals, and we had a great conversation. He had just a few weeks to learn all the songs, so I gave him some advice, like which songs we played faster or slower. I wasn’t teaching him—he can play anything. He’s an incredible musician.”
Regarding how he landed the gig with SLIPKNOT, Casagrande revealed, “At the end of 2023, I got a call from SLIPKNOT’s manager about an audition. At that time, SEPULTURA had already decided to stop playing, so it was a natural decision for me to keep going instead of retiring. The audition was top secret—SEPULTURA didn’t even know. It was my decision to try out for the band.”
Casagrande detailed his audition process, explaining that he recorded six songs in a São Paulo studio and sent them to SLIPKNOT. The band requested three specific songs—”Eyeless,” “Purity,” and “Gematria.” In January 2024, he flew to Palm Springs, California, for a ten-day audition, rehearsing as if performing a live show with different setlists each day.
In December 2024, Casagrande was voted the No. 1 metal drummer in the publication’s 2024 Readers’ Poll.
SLIPKNOT had been teasing fans about a new drummer since parting ways with Jay Weinberg in November 2023, initially posting a cryptic photo of a broken drumstick with the caption “Rehearsal.” The band later stated that Weinberg’s departure was a creative decision. Weinberg responded that he was “heartbroken and blindsided” but has since joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES.
Casagrande abruptly left SEPULTURA in early 2024, just before rehearsals for the band’s 40th-anniversary farewell tour. In a statement, SEPULTURA announced, “On February 6th, days before our first rehearsal, drummer Eloy Casagrande informed us of his decision to leave SEPULTURA for another project.” Casagrande had been with the band for over 13 years, replacing Jean Dolabella in 2011.
SLIPKNOT’s latest album, The End, So Far, was released in August 2022 and marked the last full-length record before the departures of keyboardist Craig Jones in June 2023 and Jay Weinberg.
The band recently concluded the North American leg of its Here Comes The Pain tour, celebrating the 25th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, which propelled them to stardom in 1999.
In an interview, SLIPKNOT guitarist Jim Root discussed Casagrande’s addition to the band, explaining, “We didn’t even try anybody else. Eloy reached out to us, sent in videos, and was passionate about the opportunity. He’s incredibly respectful of Joey Jordison’s legacy and is such a humble, dedicated musician. His passion reignites my own for playing. Our South American fans are thrilled—we’ve even heard people say, ‘It’s like we won the World Cup.’ We’re lucky to have him.”
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