Jay Weinberg performed for the first time since his departure from Slipknot at a show in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 10. He joined The Bouncing Souls on stage as they played ‘True Believers,’ and shared a video of the night on Facebook, writing:
“What an absolutely incredible night, seeing one of my all-time favorite bands, The Bouncing Souls. My sincere thanks to George Rebelo, Bryan Kienlen, Greg Attonito, and Pete Steinkopf for the kind invitation to jam! It felt amazing to play drums for the first time since my operation; especially this iconic, belief-affirming anthem.”
First Performance Since Surgery
Still recovering from the surgery on his labrum and using crutches for support, the drummer mentioned that this performance was meaningful to him because The Bouncing Souls were the first to hear him play drums:
“There’s a story I’ve told many times; perhaps I’ll tell it in greater detail sometime. When I was 14, I was very shy about being a novice drummer. I wanted to keep my new passion for this instrument private — not sharing my progress with anyone, even my immediate family, as I taught myself how to play along with my favorite songs and albums…”
Recalling his early years, he went on:
“The Souls — having been my hometown NJ heroes for some time — were actually the very first people to hear me play drums. They generously invited me to sit in for a song or two at a secret show at Asbury Lanes in May of 2005, which ended up being the first time I’d ever played drums in front of anyone. It is still, to this day, the single-most foundational moment of how I’ve come to appreciate and cherish playing drums in a live setting.”
He also thanked those who helped make the Tennessee show happen:
“Endless gratitude to them — of course, McDermott and Bob Strakele for being key friends in that event! — for setting me on a path of loving live performance. Last night felt just as electric as that pivotal night in my life, and I’m thankful for the friendship of the Souls and the wonderful community that surrounds them. ‘True Believers,’ all the way…”
Fans Welcomed His Return
In November, after leaving Slipknot, Weinberg had surgery to fix a torn labrum in his left hip. He told his fans it wouldn’t stop him from drumming, but he needed a few months off stage to recover. So, reacting to the drummer’s comeback, a fan commented under the video:
“Nice to see you drumming after your surgery. Sounding great, as usual.”
While another comment read:
“Sounding sharp, Jay. Passionate, charismatic, and incredibly talented! Wishing you a speedy recovery!”
A fan shared wishes to see him back on stage soon:
“Man, you really amazing. We hope to see your drumming again. We want you again hit so damn hard.”
Weinberg’s Time Away From The Stage
Weinberg had announced on Instagram that he and his doctors hoped he’d be ready to perform again by April. His last show was with Slipknot on November 3 at the Hell & Heaven festival in Toluca, Mexico.
A few days after the performance, Slipknot announced parting ways with the drummer with an official statement:
“We would like to thank Jay Weinberg for his dedication and passion over the past ten years. No one can ever replace Joey Jordison’s original sound, style, or energy, but Jay honored Joey’s parts and contributed to the last three albums, and we, the band, and the fans appreciate it.”
They explained the reason behind the breakup as follows:
“But as ever, Slipknot is intent on evolving. The band has decided to make a creative decision and to part ways with Jay. We wish Jay all the best and are very excited for what the future holds.”
You can watch a video of the performance here.
