Rob Trujillo shared his initial unfamiliarity with Jay Weinberg’s appearance in a new conversation with Wall Of Sound’s Ricky Aarons, reflecting on their introduction ahead of their collaboration with Infectious Grooves.
The bassist detailed the peculiar circumstances under which he met Weinberg as they prepared for upcoming performances with Infectious Grooves. He explained:
“I was excited to finally meet him. And I was a big fan, or I am a big fan of his dad’s playing [Max Weinberg of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band], so it was kind of a surreal thing for me. It’s like, ‘Wow, this drummer from Slipknot. I only ever see this dude in the mask.’ And it’s, like, ‘Who is he?’ I didn’t know what he looked like even. And that was pretty funny ’cause I almost didn’t wanna know what he looked like until we were in that room rehearsing together, and that’s how it was.”
Before teaming up, Rob didn’t personally know Jay, partly due to the intense nature of his commitments with Metallica. Despite being familiar with other members of Metallica, including drummer Lars Ulrich, Trujillo found his initial encounter with Weinberg to be something of a mystery.
Infectious Grooves’ Australian Adventure
The drummer is gearing up for his first significant performance since leaving Slipknot, taking the stage with Infectious Grooves at the Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia on April 1. The announcement of his involvement was warmly received, with Suicidal Tendencies praising the succession of drummers who have been part of Infectious Grooves over the years. Weinberg expressed his excitement at joining the band for their Australian tour, saying:
“It’s an absolute honor to play with the legendary Infectious Grooves on this incredibly exciting Australian tour! Playing with some of my favorite musicians in one of the most beautiful countries for some of the greatest fans of heavy music in the world… I couldn’t be more thrilled to get started. See you all soon!”
With Brooks Wackerman unavailable due to other commitments, Weinberg was tapped for the drummer’s seat, joining Trujillo, Mike Muir, guitarists Dean Pleasants, and Dave Kushner for Infectious Grooves’ 2024 performances. The band has scheduled shows in the U.S. and Australia, marking their first live appearances since a one-off show in 2019.
Watch Trujillo’s full interview below.
