Paul Gray, bassist for Grammy-winning metal band Slipknot, has been found dead in an Iowa Town Plaza Hotel room, say police.
A hotel employee found the band's bassist, age 38, dead in a room of the Town Plaza Hotel in Urbandale, a suburb of Des Moines, police said. Foul play is not suspected, with Gray's autopsy planned for Tuesday.
Sciarretto, publicist at the band's record company Roadrunner Records, confirms Gray's death and declines any further comment. Slipknot's self-titled debut album released in 1999 sold more than a million copies, with most band members growing up in the Des Moines area.
The Slipknot metal band is known forgrotesque masks, trashing sound and aggressive lyrics, winning a Grammy award in 2006 for best metal performance of the song "Before I Forget." Concert industry trade publication Pollstar ranked the Slipknot band as #18 in its Top 20 Concert Tours listed for 2009.
The Slipknot bassist is described by a friend as "a talented bass player who was also one of the friendliest, most caring people", stating, "this is a big blow, not only to the community of Des Moines but fans of metal at large, worldwide", says Andy Hall, music director of Des Moines rock station Lazer 103.3. "It's a devastating loss. Paul was a wonderful human being."
The local Lazer 103.3 Des Moines radio station will be broadcasting an hour-long tribute to Paul Gray on Monday night.