Slipknot Self-Titled Drum Setup: Joey Jordison's 1999 Debut Gear Breakdown | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Joey Jordison use on the Slipknot debut?

Joey Jordison recorded Slipknot's 1999 self-titled debut on a Tama Rockstar kit with poplar shells, in the pre-Pearl endorsement era. The configuration included double 22-inch bass drums and a standard tom spread with rack toms at 10, 12, and 14 inches plus a 16-inch floor tom. This was a mid-range Tama setup rather than a custom artist kit — the performances that launched Slipknot's career came from a drummer playing the best gear he had access to, not a corporate-backed custom specification. Joey would transition to Pearl Masterworks for the Iowa sessions in 2001.

How did the Slipknot debut kit differ from the Iowa kit?

The key differences between Joey Jordison's debut (1999) and Iowa (2001) setups were the drum brand and construction, the cymbal brand, and the pedals. On the debut, Joey used a Tama Rockstar with poplar shells and Zildjian A Custom cymbals driven by a Tama Iron Cobra double pedal. For Iowa, he had transitioned to a Pearl Masterworks Custom with maple and African mahogany hybrid shells, Paiste RUDE and 2002 series cymbals, and Pearl Demon Drive pedals. The Iowa kit also featured a more extensive six-tom configuration compared to the debut's four-tom spread. The sounds differ accordingly: the debut is rawer and more organic; Iowa is heavier and more controlled.

What was Joey Jordison's first endorsement deal?

Joey Jordison's first major endorsements came through the commercial success of Slipknot's 1999 self-titled debut. The debut was recorded with pre-endorsement gear — a Tama Rockstar kit, Zildjian A Custom cymbals, and a Tama Iron Cobra double pedal. After the album went Platinum and Slipknot became a mainstream phenomenon, Joey secured endorsement relationships with Pearl drums, Paiste cymbals, and Promark sticks. By the time the band recorded Iowa in 2001, Joey was fully endorsed by Pearl and Paiste — the combination that would define his sound for the remainder of his career with Slipknot.

What cymbals did Joey Jordison use on the Slipknot self-titled album?

Joey Jordison used Zildjian A Custom cymbals on Slipknot's 1999 debut — the pre-Paiste era of his career. The A Custom setup included 14-inch hi-hats, crashes in 16 and 18 inches, a 20-inch ride, an 18-inch China, and a 10-inch splash. The Zildjian A Custom series delivered a bright, articulate sound with fast response — notably different from the raw, unlathed aggression of the Paiste RUDE series Joey would adopt for Iowa in 2001. The transition from Zildjian to Paiste coincided with his broader gear transition from Tama to Pearl hardware, reshaping the Slipknot drum palette for the Iowa era.