Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg was recently interviewed on The Downbeat Podcast about his time with Slipknot, Bruce Springsteen, metal music, and other topics. Weinberg said that Springsteen didn’t give him a pass because he was filling his father’s shoes as the touring drummer for Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: “Bruce told me at the beginning of the show, he was like, ‘Our commitment to this experience,’ he was like, ‘We know you know it because you’ve been watching it forever. But just because we chose you doesn’t mean you get a free pass or an easy ride.'” The drummer expressed his thoughts on Springsteen’s words:
“I knew that, and I desired it.” I wanted the complete experience, and I wanted to do everything in my power to rise to the occasion of what was expected of me. They took a big chance on me because I’d only been playing drums for three years at the time.” Weinberg explained why he didn’t want to do a lousy job in the band: “Because my uncle and aunt were in that band, and I didn’t want to do a bad job, they knew I was serious, and Bruce was giving me a list of five songs a day to learn on the way to a show.” He also stated that the five songs were bonus tracks.
In a previous interview, the drummer said that being asked to fill in for his father in the band was ridiculous, and that Springsteen had asked his father whether he felt his son could play in the band without cracking under pressure. According to reports, the Slipknot drummer’s father answered with: “I’m not sure. “We’re going to find out.” See the podcast episode below for more information.
