James Root
Background information
Birth name James D. Root
Height:6'6"
Also known as #4
Born October 2, 1971 (1971-10-02) (age 37)
Des Moines, Iowa
Genres Alternative metal, hard rock, nu metal, post-metal
Occupations Musician, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, drums, Vocals
Years active 1992–present
Labels Roadrunner, Nuclear Blast
Associated acts Slipknot, Stone Sour, Anal Blast, Atomic Opera, Deadfront
Notable instruments
James Root Signature Fender Telecaster
James D. Root born October 2, 1971, also known as Jim Root or by his number #4, is an American musician known for being one of the guitarists for Slipknot, and the lead guitarist for Stone Sour. He was the last member to join the current line-up of Slipknot, in January 1999
Personal life and career
Root was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He has performed in bands such as Anal Blast, Atomic Opera, Deadfront and Stone Sour; the latter which he joined in 1995, and returned to along with vocalist Corey Taylor, during its revival in 2002. Prior to joining Slipknot, he worked as a screenprinter, waiter, and busboy. Root joined the band in January 1999, replacing their original guitarist, Josh Brainard, who left the band during the recording of their self-titled album, reportedly after having fulfilled his recording duties. In fact, the only two songs Root recorded during the album's sessions was "Purity" and "Me Inside", the former being featured only on the short-lived first pressing of Slipknot and the latter being it's replacement. Despite this, the song has become a staple for the band's live performances. Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor invited Root to join the band based on Taylor's past experiences working with him in Stone Sour, before leaving the band to join Slipknot.
As well as lending his guitar talents to Stone Sour, Root has also performed drums on one song the band has recorded, the Come What(ever) May bonus track "The Day I Let Go". Outside Slipknot and Stone Sour, Root has appeared on Slipknot turntablist Sid Wilson's DJ Starscream album The New Leader and John 5's The Devil Knows My Name, and also appeared on the Roadrunner United project, performing the solo and harmony guitars on "Tired 'N Lonely" from the project's album The All-Star Sessions. He also appeared on Jonathan Davis and the SFA´s cover of Lil Wayne´s "Got Money".
Root has been dating Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia since 2004, where they met during the Ozzfest Tour taking place that year.
Masks
Root originally used a bondage hood, inherited from Slipknot's original guitarist Josh Brainard following his departure from the band. He had purple hair at the time and would pull parts of it through a hole in the top of the mask. After a couple of performances and one photo shoot, he decided to change masks, as the bondage hood was too uncomfortable for him and would often distract him when playing. He then began using a jester-style mask, said to represent that side of his personality. His most recent variation of the mask remains jester-styled, but has vertical red scars detailing around both eyes, and a zipper in between black lips. It is rumoured that the mask is based on the motion picture The Crow
Slipknot
* 1999: Slipknot
* 2001: Iowa
* 2004: Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
* 2005: 9.0 Live
* 2008: All Hope Is Gone
Stone Sour
* 2002: Stone Sour
* 2006: Come What(ever) May
* 2007: Live in Moscow
Other appearances
* 2005: Roadrunner United - The All-Stars Sessions (Roadrunner United)
* 2006: The New Leader (DJ Starscream)
* 2007: The Devil Knows My Name (John 5)
* 2008: "Got Money" (Lil Wayne remix) (Jonathan Davis and the SFA)
Filmography
* 1999: Welcome to Our Neighborhood
* 2002: Disasterpieces
* 2002: Rollerball
* 2006: Voliminal: Inside the Nine
* 2008: Nine: The Making of "All Hope Is Gone"
Equipment
Signature Fender Telecaster
In July 2007, Fender released a James Root Signature Fender Telecaster guitar. This Telecaster model is available in flat black with a white pickguard and maple neck and fingerboard, or in flat white with a black pickguard, maple neck and ebony fingerboard. Both models feature mahogany bodies, 22 jumbo frets, a single volume control with no tone control, black hardware, and EMG humbuckers (EMG 81 in the bridge and EMG 60 in the neck). In September 2008 an announcement in the official forum of Slipknot said that a new model of Jim's Telecaster was being designed, and that the fans were needed to give their input on where it could be improved. No release date or an official announcement of the new guitar has been made.
