Rumors of Sid Wilson‘s musical demise may have been premature. Just days after news emerged that the longtime Slipknot member had been ousted from his gig as the masked band’s turntablist after more than 28 years, guitarist Jim Root seems to have different information.
TMZ reported on Friday (July 31) that a source close to the band confirmed that Wilson was notified that day that he has been permanently booted from the Iowa-bred group known for their punishing hard rock, black and red jumpsuits and movie villain-worthy scary masks. The gossip site offered no additional information on why or when Wilson was reportedly let go, five months after the DJ reportedly broke off his engagement to Kelly Osbourne.
At press time, spokespeople for Slipknot’s label and Root’s Vomit Face Records had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment.
Slipknot guitarist Root, aka #4, seemed to question the news in a since-expired Instagram Story posted the same day as the Wilson firing report. According to People, Root wrote, “Don’t believe everything you read. Stop. Think. Take a breath. Sit with it for awhile. Maybe. Just maybe even wait until there’s more information.” At press time, it did not appear that Slipknot had commented on reports of Wilson’s departure and his signature stage costume, an ominous gas mask with round mouth and eye holes, was still present on the band’s official website.
Wilson joined the nu-metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995 by the lone remaining original member, percussionist Shawn Crahan, late bassist Paul Gray and former singer Anders Colsefni. He appeared on their 1999 self-titled debut album and five subsequent studio releases, as well as group’s most recent LP, 2022’s The End, So Far.
In addition to performing and recording with Slipknot, Wilson — who was born in Des Moines to English parents — tours as DJ Starscream and has released solo material under his solo band name, SID. He welcomed a son with Kelly Osbourne in 2022 and the couple got engaged before Ozzy Osbourne’s Back to the Beginning final gig in Birmingham, U.K. last summer.
This story originally appeared on Billboard
