Paul Gray
Background information
Birth name Paul Dedrick Gray
Height:6'2"
Also known as #2
Born April 8, 1972 (1972-04-08) (age 36)
Los Angeles, California
Origin Des Moines, Iowa
Genres Heavy metal, nu metal, alternative metal
Occupations Musician, songwriter
Instruments Bass guitar, Guitar, backing vocals
Years active 1996–present
Labels Roadrunner, Nuclear Blast, Pale One, -ismist
Associated acts Slipknot, Anal Blast, Vexx, Body Pit, Inveigh Catharsi, Reggie and the Full Effect
Notable instruments
Ibanez PGB1L Signature Model
Paul Dedrick Gray born April 8, 1972, also known by his number #2 is an American musician best known as the bass player of Slipknot.
Personal life and career
Gray was born in Los Angeles, California, shortly before his family relocated to Des Moines, Iowa. In his youth, Gray performed in bands such as Anal Blast, Vexx, Body Pit and Inveigh Catharsi.
As well as lending his bass talents to the band, Gray has also sung backing vocals on select songs Slipknot has performed live, among them "Spit It Out", "Get This", "People = Shit", "Disasterpiece", "Three Nil", "Pulse of the Maggots", "Before I Forget", and "Psychosocial" – usually when vocalist Corey Taylor's voice has become too dry, tired, or hoarse. Outside Slipknot, Gray has filled in as bassist for Unida during their 2003 tour, appeared on Drop Dead, Gorgeous' Worse Than a Fairy Tale, done a brief tour with Reggie and the Full Effect and appeared on the Roadrunner United project, performing bass on "The Enemy" and "Baptized in the Redemption" from the project's album The All-Star Sessions.
In June 2003, Gray was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs. Turmoil was caused within Slipknot's fanbase when Gray's mugshot from the incident surfaced, as at this time, with the exception of Corey Taylor and guitarist James Root, unobstructed photographs of most members of the band's faces were exceptionally rare.
He is one of the 3 of Slipknot's founding line-up remaining in the band, and the only one who has maintained his original role in the band due to Clown's switch from main drums to custom percussion during the early days.
Masks
Gray used to wear tape around his head for his mask. Later, he switched to a Halloween pig's mask that he used for the self-titled era. The next mask used for Iowa has dark eye holes, & holds the same nose. However, the mouth is missing. His third mask is a face mask that has metal bars in the mouth area, along with a bullet hole decoration. It also has a crack decorated to it. Gray used this for the Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) era.
Gray's recent mask for the All Hope Is Gone era is a gray mask that has iron bars, like his third mask, but the bars are lined up. His mask is also made of leather and was stitched.
With Slipknot
* 1999: Slipknot
* 2001: Iowa
* 2004: Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
* 2008: All Hope Is Gone
Other appearances
* 2005: The All-Star Sessions (Roadrunner United)
* 2007: Worse Than a Fairy Tale (Drop Dead, Gorgeous)
* 2008: "Last Stop: Crappy Town" (Reggie And The Full Effect)
Filmography
* 1999: Welcome to Our Neighborhood
* 2002: Disasterpieces
* 2002: Rollerball
* 2006: Voliminal: Inside the Nine
* 2008: Nine: The Making of "All Hope Is Gone"
* 2008: Behind The Player: Paul Gray
Equipment
Bass guitars
* Ibanez PGB1L Paul Gray Signature left-handed Bass Guitar (A custom version of the ATK bass, with factory tuning BEAD)
* Warwick Thumb Bolt-On left-handed (Formerly Used)
* Warwick Streamer Stage 2 (Formerly Used)
Amplifiers
* Peavey GPS 2600 Power Amp
* Peavey Pro 1600 watt Bass Amp Head
* Peavey Pro 810 Bass Enclosure
