Eloy Casagrande , drummer for Slipknot , commented in a recent YouTube interview with ProMark Drumsticks (the drumstick brand that sponsors Eloy) about his journey to being accepted into the band. The drummer, who recently played with the group for the first time in Brazil , gave details about his audition process, as well as revealing his insecurities during the tests.
The drummer recalls how the first contact went: “I ended up receiving a call from the manager. He asked me if I was interested in auditioning for the band. So, I came to the US and spent 10 days with the band.”
Regarding the auditions, he comments: “We were just jamming to see if there was any kind of chemistry between us. We spent about four or five days just recording new things. I think they wanted to see if I was able to compose some drum parts and also see if I was able to record drums in the studio, because that's a totally different world. So, it was a very thorough audition.”
Eloy also remembers how he was notified of his acceptance and the rush to learn the songs: “Then I went back to Brazil. And they called me two days later saying I was in the band, that I had made it. That was super cool. I had 15 days to learn the songs. They gave me a big list of songs I had to learn. Every day at rehearsal, we tried different songs, choosing different things from different albums. But, of course, I already knew how to play some of the songs.”
Nervousness during the first rehearsal
Despite his vast experience, the former Sepultura member revealed his nervousness when playing with the Americans for the first time: “I remember the first day I was there. I was warming up in the studio, and the guys from the band started arriving and I was in shock. When we played the first song, I made several mistakes because I was in shock seeing all those people in front of me. I couldn't think, I couldn't even breathe.”
Although the first impression wasn't the best, the group quickly reassured him: “But they said, 'Okay, we understand you're in a difficult situation right now. We understand your side. So relax and have fun. We're just here to see the vibe.' And then, from the second day onwards, I think everything improved. I was more relaxed to play the drums and let the music flow.”
Finally, Eloy also praised the nostalgic value he holds for the band, in addition to highlighting their influence on his career: “I’ve been listening to Slipknot since I was a teenager and it was very important for my musical development. When I was, I don’t know, 12 years old, I watched them on MTV playing 'Duality', that impressed me. It’s an honor to be here now.”
See below for the full interview in English with Portuguese subtitles available:
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