Slipknot bassist Paul Gray, aka #2 or The Pig, was found dead in a hotel room near the group's home town of Des Moines, Iowa on Monday morning. The cause of the 38-year-old rocker's death is not yet known and at press time, the band had not yet released a statement. CNN reports that "Gray's body was found by staff members at the TownePlace Suites, said Sgt. Dave Disney of the Urbandale Police Department. "An autopsy, including toxicology tests, will be performed Tuesday, Disney said." The AP reports that "Foul play isn't suspected."
Rock Radio reports that last December Gray announced he was to become a father for the first time and called the pregnancy of his wife Brenna "the best Christmas present". She's due to give birth in September.
Gray had a drug related arrest in 2003 for possession after an auto accident where police found of a small amount of marijuana, "two syringes and a substance that field-tested positive for cocaine," according to CNN.
MTV contacted some of Paul's contemporaries. Here is one tribute from Shadows Fall frontman Brian Fair, "I'm so crushed to hear about the passing of Paul Gray," Fair told MTV News. "I had the pleasure of first getting to know him on a press trip to New York City before our tour with Slipknot and Lamb of God in 2005 and then sharing stages and good times with him and the boys around the world.
"He was a great musician, an underrated songwriter and a truly warm soul underneath the evil mask he rocked onstage," he continued. "This is a huge loss to the metal world. He will be missed deeply." You can read more tributes at MTV
