Slipknot drummer Eloy Casagrande recently opened up about his struggles as a musician in South America and how he nearly abandoned his drumming career before achieving global success, in an interview with El Estepario Siberiano.
The Brazilian drummer discussed the harsh realities of pursuing music in South America and the financial challenges that almost led him to quit drumming entirely.
“Actually I don’t like to talk about that (conditions in Brazil) because I don’t want to people feel pity about me you know feel like sorry for me no but that was the reality especially in Brazil, South America, we have to struggle a lot to live through the music to live by the music,” Casagrande said.
He revealed how close he came to abandoning his musical aspirations due to financial pressures.
“At some point, I really thought about just giving up doing something else maybe like working something that I would get money instantly and it was just a little bit doesn’t matter because music’s not giving any money,” he continued. “That was never in my life like the most important thing to make money. But you need money to spend when you need it.”
Despite the financial struggles, Casagrande emphasized that monetary gain was never his primary motivation for becoming a drummer.
“When I decided to become a drummer, I was never thinking about making money,” he explained. “Of course, we never have that mentality. I’m going to be a drummer and I’m going to be rich. That’s something that is not in the same place. You know, they’re separate things, you know.”
Casagrande’s persistence through these difficult times ultimately paid off. It led to a remarkable career trajectory that would eventually bring him to one of metal’s most prominent bands.
Slipknot Wiki reported that Casagrande served as the drummer for Sepultura for nearly 13 years starting in 2011. He established himself as a respected figure in the global metal community before joining Slipknot. This long tenure with the legendary Brazilian metal band demonstrated how his determination to continue drumming despite financial hardships eventually led to international recognition within the metal scene.
When the opportunity to audition for Slipknot arose, Casagrande faced another significant challenge that tested his dedication to his craft. Loudwire revealed that he was given only 15 days to learn a large setlist. The band sent him a list of 32 songs to master just four days before his first in-person rehearsal. This demanding timeline illustrated how his years of perseverance through earlier financial struggles had prepared him to seize major opportunities when they presented themselves.
The culmination of Casagrande’s journey came in May 2024. His official biography confirmed that he was officially announced as Slipknot’s new drummer, representing a significant achievement for a South American musician on the world stage. This milestone validated his earlier decision to persevere through the financial struggles he described. It showed how his commitment to drumming ultimately transcended the economic barriers he faced in Brazil.
His story serves as a powerful example of how artistic dedication can overcome geographical and economic obstacles, transforming a struggling musician from São Paulo into the drummer for one of the world’s most successful metal bands.
