Joey Jordison reveals multiple sclerosis left him unable to play drums at the end of Slipknot career

(Image credit: Jesse Wild/Future Publishing/REX/Shutterstock)

When Joey Jordison parted ways with Slipknot back in 2013, both camps were notably silent about the reason for his exit, citing "personal reasons" as the motive behind the split.

Now, Jordison has opened up about what these personal reasons could have been. While accepting an award at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods, he revealed a crippling disease left him unable to play drums at the end of his tenure with the Iowa metallers.

"Towards the end of my career in Slipknot, I got really, really sick with a horrible disease called transverse myelitis," he disclosed. "I lost my legs; I couldn't play any more.

I got myself back up, and I got myself in the gym and I got myself back in f**king therapy, to f**king beat this s**t!

"It was a form of multiple sclerosis, which I don't wish on my worst enemy. I got myself back up, and I got myself in the gym and I got myself back in fucking therapy, to fucking beat this shit! And if I can do it, you can do it.

"It's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, more than fucking anything. To people with multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, or anything like that, I am living proof that you can fucking beat that shit!"

Jordison is now back with a new band, VIMIC, whose debut album is set to land later this year via Roadrunner Records. Look out for more from Joey on MusicRadar soon.

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Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.