Slipknot’s current percussionist, Michael ‘Tortilla Man’ Pfaff, has earned praise from fans for showing respect to his predecessor, Chris Fehn, through a tribute post. The gesture was documented on Tortilla Pfaff’s Instagram.
Slipknot’s official Instagram account shared tribute posts for their debut album, ‘Slipknot’. The posts featured photos of the original band members. Pfaff responded by sharing Chris Fehn’s picture on his Instagram story with a simple message of respect.
“Respect,” Michael ‘Tortilla Man’ Pfaff wrote while sharing Chris Fehn’s picture.
The tribute sparked positive reactions from Slipknot fans on Reddit. Fans viewed the gesture as a sign of maturity and professionalism.
“Tortilla does what many don’t: he maintains respect,” one fan wrote. “Tortilla isn’t Chris. Each has their own characteristics. Both are excellent at what they do. If Tortilla did what many fans do, he would disrespect Chris to create a feud; but that’s not the reality. Respect prevails.”
Another fan expressed similar sentiments about the respectful approach.
“I honestly like Chris more, but I love and respect tortilla man for being respectful towards past members and knowing his place within the band,” another fan wrote.
The Slipknot community has well-received the tribute as an example of professional courtesy between band members.
This respectful gesture takes on additional significance given the complex history between the band and Fehn’s departure from Slipknot.
Wikipedia reported that Chris Fehn served as Slipknot’s percussionist from 1998 until his departure in 2019. This made him a long-standing member who contributed to the band’s rise to fame. Fehn was widely recognized as percussionist #3. He played a crucial role in the band’s signature sound for over two decades.
Loaded Radio noted that the circumstances surrounding Fehn’s exit were contentious. His departure followed a lawsuit against the band over withheld payments and financial disputes. The legal battle created tension within the Slipknot community. It left fans divided about the situation.
Wikipedia confirmed that Michael Pfaff was officially announced as Slipknot’s new percussionist in March 2022. This occurred nearly three years after Fehn’s departure. This lengthy transition period highlighted the difficulty of replacing such an established member of the band.
Pfaff’s tribute demonstrates a mature approach to acknowledging his predecessor’s contributions despite the fraught circumstances that led to the personnel change. Blabbermouth revealed that Fehn later reflected on his time with the band. He stated that “the fans were the only part that was great for me.” This makes Pfaff’s respectful acknowledgment even more meaningful to the Slipknot community.
You can see Michael ‘Tortilla Man’ Pfaff’s post about Chris Fehn via Instagram stories below.
