Former Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn recently opened up about what it was like to work alongside the late Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison. He shared his thoughts in an interview with Talkin Rock with Meltdown.
Fehn reflected on the experience of being in the studio with Jordison. He described the late drummer as a phenomenon whose extraordinary skill made the dynamic both challenging and inspiring.
“It’s intimidating. It’s very intimidating to be a percussionist with Joey Jordison,” Fehn said. “I’m in the studio watching this guy and like, ‘What am I gonna do?’ This guy can cover everything. He’s just a phenomenon.”
Despite the pressure, Fehn noted that Jordison always recognized the value of percussion in the band’s sound. This mutual respect made their collaboration work.
“It was cool because he realizes that percussion is a big part of it also,” he continued. “So he’d work up some parts or somebody would come up with some parts and we used to fit it in there with his madness. It was cool to do. I miss that dude a ton.”
Fehn also highlighted Jordison’s remarkable range as a musician, recalling moments that left him in awe.
“[It was] unbelievable how hard he hit and how smooth he can be and technical and at soundcheck he’d just whip out some jazz,” he said. “Is there anything you can’t do? He was amazing.”
Fehn’s words carry the weight of years spent side by side with one of metal’s most gifted musicians. They offer a rare personal window into the creative bond that helped define Slipknot’s sound.
Fehn joined Slipknot in 1998, replacing percussionist Greg Welts. He quickly became an integral part of the band’s identity. Known as “#3” within the group, he appeared on the band’s landmark self-titled debut album and continued contributing to subsequent records throughout his tenure.
Jordison was not just the band’s drummer — he was also one of its primary songwriters during Slipknot’s formative years. His contributions to the band’s early albums helped establish the aggressive, layered sound that made Slipknot one of the most distinctive acts in heavy metal. His influence extended well beyond the band’s catalog. He was widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted and influential metal drummers of his generation, earning multiple Grammy Award nominations for Best Metal Performance over the course of his career.
Joey Jordison, a founding member of Slipknot, passed away in July 2021 at the age of 46. His death was mourned across the global metal community, and tributes poured in from musicians and fans alike. Fehn’s candid reflections serve as yet another reminder of the profound impact Jordison left on everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.
