You possibly can fairly safely categorize how Alex “V-Man” Venturella drunkenly talked his manner into auditioning for Slipknot as random.
It is a basic “proper time, proper place” state of affairs because the bassist, who joined Slipknot in 2014, tells Guitar World. An unlikely sequence of occasions transpired that resulted in a cellphone name with the ‘Knot guitarist Jim Root extending him an invitation to check out for the group.
So, the place was Venturella when the cellphone rang?
“I used to be teching with Mastodon in 2014 and we’d simply obtained again from Australia, the place we had been doing the Soundwave Competition. I used to be staying with [Mastodon singer and bassist] Troy Sanders’ brother Darren Sanders in Atlanta. One night time, Darren’s girlfriend obtained a name from Jim Root. I knew Jim as a result of I toured with Slipknot in 2008, teching with Coheed & Cambria,” he begins.
What occurred subsequent turned out to be life-changing, little did he know what was about to occur on the time.
Venturella continues, “So she handed me the cellphone and he mentioned, ‘Have you learnt any bass gamers?’ I requested if it was for Stone Sour and he mentioned, ‘No – the opposite band’ and I immediately mentioned ‘I’ll do it!’ I gave him this complete drunken spiel about ‘I’ll offer you some slap bass in case you want it!’ and we had been having amusing. Then he mentioned ‘Critically, do you truly wish to do that?’ and I mentioned ‘Sure, I’d actually like to do it’.”
Slipknot’s supervisor requested him to be taught six songs, which he did, and an entire lot extra.
READ MORE: How Sid Wilson Proved He Was Crazy Enough to Join Slipknot
“I assumed, ‘Fuck that, I’ll be taught greater than that’ and sat down on the sofa and watched all of [late Slipknot bassist] Paul [Gray’s] previous movies and DVDs, and crammed in as a lot data as I might,” he remembers, noting he enlisted the assistance of his buddy and SikTh bassist James Leach to sharpen his consideration to the main points. “He advised me I wanted to downpick as laborious as I might, so I labored on constructing that up.”
The bassist additionally admits that enjoying within the band got here with a “studying curve,” and discovering a bodily stability that will give him the outcomes he wants whereas additionally lowering the bodily influence it has on him. “My thumb used to harm as a result of I used to be selecting so laborious — it could broaden and blow up,” he says, “so now I choose with extra management and fewer aggression.”
V-Man additionally acknowledged that the LED light-up fretboard on his basses are fairly useful when enjoying with a masks on. “Generally after I’m headbanging ahead I can see the fret markers and I do know I’m within the pocket,” he explains.
You possibly can catch V-Man in motion with Slipknot this summer season because the band hits a variety of European pageant and a few choose ones within the U.S. as nicely at these dates. Wants tickets? Go here and get ’em.
The Evolution of Slipknot’s Terrifying Masks
PLAYLIST: Nu-Metallic Deep Cuts
Pay attention/comply with here and examine the primary 100 songs within the playlist under.
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