Jim Root Opens Up on Slipknot’s Touring Struggles, New Members, and the Fight for Creativity
Slipknot guitarist Jim Root has never shied away from being brutally honest about the realities of life in one of metal’s most intense and mysterious bands. But in a rare candid moment on the Turning Wrenches podcast, Root opened up like never before, revealing that Slipknot’s relentless touring schedule is putting a serious strain on the band’s creative process — and on his own mental well-being.
The guitarist, known for his explosive stage presence and razor-sharp riffs, shared his frustration with how nonstop touring has left little to no room for the band to focus on what matters most: writing new music. With a follow-up to their 2022 album The End, So Far expected by fans and insiders alike, Root is calling for a much-needed pause.
“It’s really hard for me personally to be creative when you know you have a tour looming over your shoulder,” Root explained. “I need to know that I’ve got some time off… I need time just to sit here and come up with ideas and layer and make arrangements.”
From the outside, Slipknot’s schedule might look like the dream gig. Alongside Metallica and Iron Maiden, they’re among the most tireless road warriors in the metal world. But behind the masks and pyrotechnics, the grind of being constantly on the move is starting to take its toll — particularly for a band in transition.
A Band in Flux
Over the past year, Slipknot has undergone significant lineup changes. The departure of drummer Jay Weinberg sparked controversy, with Brazilian powerhouse Eloy Casagrande (formerly of Sepultura) stepping in as his replacement. Before that, the band quietly parted ways with longtime sampler Craig Jones in 2023, replacing him with a still-unnamed musician whose identity remains under wraps.
With two new members and the pressure to evolve creatively, the need for cohesion — and breathing room — has never been greater. Root believes the band owes it to Casagrande to bring him fully into the fold by creating new music together, not just throwing him into the chaos of live shows.
“We owe it to Eloy to write a record,” Root said firmly. “We need to get Eloy in a room and start jamming and getting creative… We need to start riffing out and then building them into songs.”
The Money Dilemma
But taking time off isn’t that simple. As Root explained, some of the newer members — who are not full-time band members with shares in the band’s business — depend on touring income to support their families. That creates a tough balancing act between financial responsibility and artistic integrity.
“Some of the newer guys, they need the money ’cause they’re family guys… And they’re hired members of the band,” Root revealed. “We don’t wanna have to have them go back to work when we get off tour.”
Root continued, pointing out a hard truth that many fans don’t realize:
“You can’t do that unless you have revenue to do that.”
In essence, if the band stops touring, the cash flow dries up. And without that revenue, they can’t afford to keep paying the newer hires — let alone fund studio time or creative sessions.
Putting His Foot Down
Despite the logistical challenges, Root is adamant: it’s time for a reset.
“I told our manager, I’m, like, ‘Stop booking tours, dude. Stop it,’” he recalled. “We need to stop, man. We just need to stop.”
That decision, while bold, is a crucial one — not just for Root’s personal sanity, but for the future of Slipknot’s sound. He wants to return to the raw, collaborative process that made the band iconic in the first place: bandmates jamming in a room, building songs from the ground up, with no looming show dates hanging over them.
“I wanna write a record… Plus, I need the time for myself just to sit here at this desk and be creative. And it’s coming back.”
The Road Ahead
What Root is describing isn’t a band in crisis — it’s a band at a crossroads. With 25 years under their belt, numerous lineup shifts, and fans constantly hungry for more, Slipknot is juggling the brutal reality of being a business with the need to stay artistically relevant.
For now, Root’s message is clear: they need time. Time to write. Time to breathe. Time to remember why they started this in the first place. Whether the rest of the Slipknot machine agrees — and whether fans will wait patiently — remains to be seen. But if Jim Root has his way, the next Slipknot record will come not from burnout, but from a place of genuine passion and purpose.
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