Drummer Jay Weinberg revealed on Sunday (November 19th) that he underwent surgery on both his hip and femur this past Tuesday (November 14th). The stickman insisted that the medical procedures were long planned, and not related to his firing from Slipknot earlier this month.
Weinberg shared a photo of himself on crutches via Instagram, explaining that he had scheduled the surgery knowing that he had an extensive break in his touring schedule, even had he remained with Slipknot. The band’s next show is scheduled for April at Las Vegas’ Sick New World festival.
His full post reads as follows:
“This Tuesday, after three years of careful planning, I underwent an outpatient procedure to repair the torn labrum of my left hip and shave down a misshapen part of my femur — a condition that never impacted my drumming in any way, but I’ve wanted to take care of during downtime from my recording and touring schedule. Since 2020, my priority has been for my playing to go uninterrupted, until a window in the schedule would allow me to complete an expected recovery of about four months. In May, that schedule started to show that this window would be now.
After a follow-up MRI in August, I made the decision (alongside those close to me in my personal and professional life) to schedule this surgery immediately following the last performance of 2023, with the ambition and expectation of myself and my doctors to be stage-ready for the next show in April. A commitment I made to myself and to you — although news of this was kept internal. In fact, knowing I wouldn’t be able to play for a few months was partially my motivation to create my @mixwave instrument — so I could remain collaborative with my own sound until I could return to my drums. Though my commitment to healing remains the same, I’ll be disappointed to not see all of you in Vegas as planned.
Perhaps some of you are facing your own challenges — we all do. No matter how down-and-out you might feel, there are reasons to be hopeful, and to keep an actively positive mindset. Have your own back. Surround yourself with positive people. Focus on what gives your life meaning and purpose.
I spent today in a part of NYC that first inspired me to pursue a creative life. It was affirming to revisit a place that brings back memories of discovering metal, punk, and hardcore.
I believe I’ve always shot from the hip (lol) with you. No reason to change that now. I look forward to sharing my journey with you, and keeping you up-to-date in my adventure back to 100%. Thanks to my awesome team of doctors, I’m already on the path back to what I love doing the most! The path forward through this recovery will be a challenge, but it’s one I’m up for.”
Slipknot announced on November 5th that they were parting ways with Weinberg, calling it a “creative decision.” Roughly a week later, Weinberg issued a lengthy statement, saying he was “heartbroken and blindsided” by the firing.
Following his ouster from Slipknot, Weinberg received notes of encouragement from such drummers as Mike Portnoy, Matt Sorum, and Tré Cool, as well as his dad, Max Weinberg of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band fame. However, his former Against Me! bandmate Laura Jane Grace seemingly took pleasure in Jay’s firing, calling him a “little bitch boy.”
See Jay Weinberg’s Instagram post detailing his surgeries below.
