Paul Gray, bassist for heavy metal band Slipknot, was found dead Monday morning in an Iowa hotel. Foul play has been ruled out, but no cause of death has been determined. Toxicology tests will be done on Tuesday. Paul had just joined the metal revival supergroup Hail!, and his wife Brenna is pregnant with the couple's first child. Gray had done one stint in rehab, and in interviews talked at length about his struggles with drug addiction and abuse.
For myself, I'm not going to lie and say I'm a Slipknot fan, but it's always sad to see a member of the metal community pass much before their time. Paul was a talented bassist probably with some good music still in him. It's really a shame to see him, or any musician, die so young.
It's been a rough year for metal with the untimely death of The Rev, Peter Steele, Ronnie James Dio, and now Paul Gray. But band together friends, we will get through it.
Paul Gray was 38.