Urbandale police are investigating the death of the bass guitarist for Grammy award-winning Slipknot at a local hotel.
Paul Dedrick Gray, 38, of Johnston was found dead at approximately 10:50 a.m. today (May 24) by an employee at TownePlace Suites, 8800 Northpark Drive, police said.
There was no evidence of foul play, police said, but the investigation is ongoing.
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. Toxicology tests will be done.
Gray was a founding member of Slipknot and one of only two members not born in Iowa. The band broke into the mainstream with a platinum-selling self-titled debut in 1999. Two follow-ups, 2002’s “Iowa” and 2005’s “Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses)” also went platinum. The band has been nominated for seven Grammy awards, winning in 2006 for best metal performance.
“It’s just a devastating loss for the Des Moines music scene and the world’s music scene,” said Matt Nyberg, who was dubbed “First Maggot” by Slipknot’s Shawn Crahan. Nyberg’s band Facecage is on Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor’s Great Big Mouth Records. “He was always one of the nicest guys. You never heard anything negative from him.”
In 2008, Slipknot released its most recent album, “All Hope Is Gone,” and toured arenas, including its first-ever show at Wells Fargo Arena in January. The band ended its tour cycle in October, and members of the band have been working on individual projects since then.
Gray was arrested on drug charges in June 2003, after he crashed his Porsche into a Des Moines motorist at Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Carpenter Avenue.
Police charged Gray with marijuana possession, cocaine possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and a red-light violation. He later pleaded guilty to operating while under the influence of drugs, and was sentenced to one year of informal probation.
His court file included a handwritten note from Dr. Joe Takamine, who described a conversation with Gray about his “sporadic use of various drugs and of the long periods of abstinence in between.”
Takamine concluded that Gray was not addicted to any drug and understood the consequences of drug use.
“In light of his past and present history and because of his great love of music, I feel that Mr. Gray will refrain from future use of mind-altering chemicals,” Takamine wrote.
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The 0800 Jukebox crew.
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Two years after his first visit, Jack Johnson will once again be at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands with a new album under his belt, and a back catalogue of hits spanning his multi-platinum selling albums “Brushfire Fairytales”, “On and On”, “In Between Dreams” and “Sleep Through The Static”.
Performing such classics as “Inaudible Melodies”, “Sitting Waiting Wishing”, “Flake”, “Taylor”, and “Times Like These”, alongside his latest hit “You And Your Heart” Jack brings in tow his ever faithful travelling companions, and will be touring once again with long time band members Adam Topol (drums), Merlo Podlewski (bass) and Zach Gill (keys).
After selling an astonishing 18 million records worldwide, Jack Johnson, is set to release his fifth studio album – the aptly titled “To The Sea” – produced by Robert Carranza, and Jack Johnson, which also features guest appearances from long time collaborator and friend G. Love, and Paula Fuga. The first taster from the record comes in the shape of single and first track on the album “You And Your Heart” – a beautiful, melodic slice of acoustic bliss, that is indicative of – and perfectly introduces – “To The Sea”, to Jack’s ever faithful, and ever growing audience.
As with his last world tour in 2008, and in a continuing effort to acknowledge and support the important work that non-profit groups are doing in communities across the planet, Jack Johnson’s 2010 world tour is reaching out to groups who are activating positive change in the realms of water quality, community and school gardens, land preservation, environmental education and more. Jack Johnson has again engaged a number of these organisations to be present at his Australian shows to raise awareness of their objectives.
100 per cent of Jack Johnson’s 2008 tour profits were used to establish the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, an endowment founded by Jack and Kim Johnson to support environmental, art and music education now and into the future. This initiative is building upon his philanthropic efforts, and Jack Johnson will once again donate 100 per cent of his 2010 world tour profits to support the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation and will offer direct and matching donations to All At Once partner non-profits.
http://www.newplymouthnz.com/VisitingNewPlymouth/MajorEvents/JackJohnsonConcert.htm
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The 0800 Jukebox crew.
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As hard as it is to believe Shihad have been strutting their stuff for near on twenty one years now. Never ones to waste an opportunity to party, the boys will be playing two intimate shows but only in Sydney and Melbourne to celebrate.
To ensure that these gigs are extra special Jon Toogood and co will play two of the band’s most iconic albums – Killjoy and The General Electric – back to back, giving us all an excuse to re-discover the joy of wearing cargo shorts at night.
Ten premium tickets will also be available to each show, allowing the ticket holder to meet the band and take home an exclusive limited edition screen printed and individually signed poster.
With their eighth studio album due for release this September, there may just be another twenty-one years to come from Shihad.
Dust off the Vans and celebrate Shihad turning twenty-one at the following gis:
Friday 13th August playing KILLJOY – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Saturday 14th August playing THE GENERAL ELECTRIC – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Friday 20th August playing KILLJOY – The Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Saturday 21st August playing THE GENERAL ELECTRIC – The Annandale Hotel, Sydney
http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/local/23757/Shihad-turn-twenty-one.htm
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
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In 2008 a topiary tribute to The Beatles was unveiled on a traffic island in Liverpool. Unfortunately someone chopped Ringo’s head off after he admitted he misses nothing about his hometown.
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The 0800 Jukebox crew.
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Ronnie James Dio, the metal god who replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath and later piloted the bands Heaven & Hell and Dio, has died, according to his wife and manager. He was 67.
Dio announced last fall he was suffering from stomach cancer. He was being treated at a Houston hospital, according to his website.
“My heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7.45am,” said a statement by Wendy Dio posted on the site and confirmed by publicist Maureen O’Connor.
Wendy Dio said that friends and family were able to say their goodbyes to her husband, and asked for privacy.
She concluded: ”Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.”
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio
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The 0800 Jukebox crew.
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/3704756/Black-Sabbath-singer-dies-at-67
Elvis’s first public performance was at the Mississippi-Alabama competition Fair and Dairy Show. The young Elvis entered the singing dressed as a cowboy, and had to stand on a chair to reach the microphone. His performance of “Old Shep” by Red Foley earned him second prize.
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
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