Former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg has announced that he is leaving longtime crossover thrash/hardcore veterans Suicidal Tendencies after nearly 18 months behind the kit with the California band. The drummer shared his decision on social media, expressing deep gratitude for his time with the group and outlining the personal priorities and creative ventures that are now taking precedence as he heads into 2026.
Weinberg’s tenure with Suicidal Tendencies began in early 2024, when he stepped into the band’s lineup alongside vocalist Mike Muir, guitarist Dean Pleasants, rhythm guitarist Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan) and bassist Tye Trujillo (son of Metallica’s Robert Trujillo). During his time with the band, he toured extensively and helped bring the band’s intense live energy to audiences across the globe.
In his heartfelt announcement, Weinberg reflected on the “incredible year and a half of shows” and thanked both the band and the fan community — known as the Suicidal Army — for the experience. He wrote that playing with Suicidal Tendencies was an “absolute blast”, and he expressed deep respect for the history and influence of the band he had joined.
Weinberg made it clear that family considerations played a major role in his decision. He and his wife, Chloe Weinberg, recently announced they are expecting their first child, and he explained that preparing for fatherhood has shifted his priorities. In addition to his growing family, he said he’s been dedicating time to passion projects including an evolving artistic series called Portraits of an Apparition, building a dedicated at-home creative space, and unannounced musical work he hopes to complete this year.
Though he didn’t go into detail about the nature of these projects, Weinberg’s message suggested that a significant creative chapter is unfolding outside of touring, with some of the work aimed at reaching artistic finish lines before his focus turns fully to family life.
Despite stepping away from Suicidal Tendencies, Weinberg made it clear his appreciation for the band — and for the fans he played for across six continents — remains profound. “I can’t possibly overstate the love and respect I have for them, the Suicidal Army and extended family, and all the cyco fans I’ve met,” he wrote.
Weinberg, now 33, first rose to prominence as the drummer of Slipknot, joining the band in 2013 as the replacement for original drummer Joey Jordison. He played on several Slipknot albums and toured extensively before parting ways with the band in November 2023, in what was described at the time as a “creative decision” by Slipknot.
After that departure, Weinberg quickly found new musical avenues. Alongside his role in Suicidal Tendencies, he also joined Infectious Grooves — the long-running funk-metal side project co-founded by Mike Muir and Robert Trujillo — further broadening his creative footprint.
In 2025, Weinberg also made his debut as a solo artist with the release of the track “Sandstone”, featuring George Clarke of Deafheaven on vocals. That song was described as the first of a series of collaborations that Weinberg has been developing over several years, signaling deeper artistic ambitions beyond band roles.
As Weinberg steps away from Suicidal Tendencies, the band continues forward — including plans for a new album in 2026 and major touring opportunities alongside acts such as Metallica.
For his part, Weinberg’s departure feels less like a chapter closing and more like a pivot into a new creative and personal era. With fatherhood on the horizon and long-term solo work in motion, 2026 promises to be a year of evolution for one of modern metal and punk’s most visible drummers.
