First news broke about the passing of Peter Steele, it was hard to believe but when word got around that it was actually true the rock community was silenced. Then news hit that rock legend Ronnie James Dio had lost his ongoing years long battle with stomach cancer. The rock community was brought to its knees. Now within a matter of weeks we have lost yet another rock icon, Paul Gray.Gray was the bassist for the phenomenal multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning band Slipknot. His life was cut short at the mere age of 38. Gray was one of the original founding members of Slipknot which is a band that is still going strong with the original lineup after 15 years. With Gray’s untimely passing he may have never reached the legend status that Peter Steele or Ronnie James Dio achieved but he will be forever remember as one of the pioneers of the nu-metal movement that Slipknot spearheaded in the late 90’s.
There is some controversy surrounding the cause of death but it’s important to not focus on how Gray died, but instead focus on how he lived. Regardless of the reason for death he joins the ranks of Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison as musician’s whose lives ended all too abruptly.
Paul leaves behind a wife and an unborn child.
Paul’s passing affected me greatly, as Slipknot has always been one of my favorite bands. Bassists such as Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath and Paul Gray were the reasons that I took up bass playing. I look up to these players and respect them for their musical abilities. It saddens me deeply that Paul passed at such a young age. My prayers go out to his family and his band mates.
–Steven M. Duarte
