James Donald Root (born October 2, 1971)
is an American guitarist. He is one of two guitarists for
heavy metal band
Slipknot, in which he is designated #4, as well as the former lead guitarist for
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band
Stone Sour
Stone Sour is an American rock band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1992. The band performed for five years before disbanding in 1997. They reunited in 2000 and since 2015, the group has consisted of Corey Taylor (lead vocals, guitar), Josh Rand ...
.
Life and career
Root began performing with the
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
band Atomic Opera from Iowa in the early 1990s, not to be confused with the
hard rock
Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...
band
Atomic Opera
Atomic Opera is an American hard rock band from Houston, Texas. Their style blends progressive rock, art rock, metal, medieval influences, and eastern music.
History
Formed in September 1991, the band began when founding member Frank Hart move ...
from
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
, Texas. Soon after they split up he went on to perform in bands such as DeadFront and Stone Sour; he joined the latter in 1995, and returned to it along with vocalist
Corey Taylor
Corey Todd Taylor (born December 8, 1973) is an American musician, songwriter and actor. He is the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Slipknot (band), Slipknot, in which he is designated #8, as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the ...
during its revival in 2002. Prior to joining Slipknot, he worked as a
screenprinter,
waiter, and
busboy
In North America, a busser, more commonly known as a busboy or busgirl, is a person who works in the restaurant and catering industry clearing tables, taking dirty dishes to the dishwasher, setting tables, refilling and otherwise assisting the ...
.
He joined Slipknot in January 1999, replacing their original guitarist,
Josh Brainard
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, drummer Joey Jordison and bassist Paul Gray. After several lineup changes in its early years, the band settled on nine members for ...
, who left the band during the recording of their
self-titled album, reportedly after having fulfilled his recording duties. In fact, the only song Root recorded during the album's sessions was "Purity", the former being featured on the short-lived first pressing of ''Slipknot'' as well as the 10th Anniversary Edition, and the latter being its replacement. Despite this, the song has become a staple for most of the band's live performances. Slipknot vocalist
Corey Taylor
Corey Todd Taylor (born December 8, 1973) is an American musician, songwriter and actor. He is the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Slipknot (band), Slipknot, in which he is designated #8, as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the ...
invited Root to join the band based on Taylor's past experiences working with him in Stone Sour.
Although filling in the spot of rhythm guitar in 1999, Root is considered to be one of the band's main songwriters and has written lead guitar parts for Slipknot's later albums particularly on ''
All Hope is Gone
''All Hope Is Gone'' is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot, released on August 26, 2008 by Roadrunner Records. The album was published in two versions: the standard album in a CD case and a special edition packaged ...
'' and ''
.5: The Gray Chapter''. Of Slipknot's nine member lineup which lasted between 1999 to 2010, Root was the last to join the band. Root typically performed lead guitar in Stone Sour, although he sometimes played rhythm. He has spoken of both bands' guitar style as being twin guitar: "In both bands, I fulfill both roles. In Slipknot, Mick
homsonhas some solos, and in Stone Sour, Josh
and
or AND may refer to:
Logic, grammar, and computing
* Conjunction (grammar), connecting two words, phrases, or clauses
* Logical conjunction in mathematical logic, notated as "∧", "⋅", "&", or simple juxtaposition
* Bitwise AND, a boolea ...
has some solos." During the recording of Stone Sour's ''Audio Secrecy'', he and Rand recorded their parts simultaneously.
Outside Slipknot and Stone Sour, Root has appeared on Slipknot
turntablist
Turntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating new music, sound effects, mixes and other creative sounds and beats, typically by using two or more turntables and a cross fader-equipped DJ mixer. The mixer is plugged into a PA system ...
Sid Wilson
Sidney George Wilson (born January 20, 1977) is an American musician. He is the turntablist for the heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #0. Wilson was the youngest member of the band until bassist Alessandro Venturella and dru ...
's DJ Starscream album ''
The New Leader
''The New Leader'' (1924–2010) was an American political and cultural magazine.
History
''The New Leader'' began in 1924 under a group of figures associated with the Socialist Party of America, such as Eugene V. Debs and Norman Thomas. It was ...
'' and
John 5
John 5 is the fifth chapter of the Gospel of John of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It relates Jesus' healing and teaching in Jerusalem, and begins to evidence the hostility shown him by the Jewish authorities.Plummer, A. (1902)Cambri ...
's ''
The Devil Knows My Name
''The Devil Knows My Name'' is the third solo studio album by American heavy metal guitarist John 5. It was released on April 3, 2007, by 60 Cycle Hum.
Guest appearances
Several artists including Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Jim Root ( Slipknot ...
'', for the song "Black Widow of La Porte", and also appeared on the
Roadrunner United
''Roadrunner United'' was a project organized by American heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It culminated in an album released worldwide on October 11, 2005, entitled ''The All-Star Sessions''. Four ...
project, performing the solo and harmony guitars on "Tired 'N Lonely" from the project's album ''The All-Star Sessions''. He also appeared on
Jonathan Davis and the SFA
Jonathan Davis and the SFA (Simply Fucking Amazings) was an American alternative metal band, formed as a side project for Korn frontman Jonathan Davis. The band functioned as a musical collective, with a rotating cast of musicians involved wi ...
's cover of
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman (rapper), ...
's "
Got Money
"Got Money" is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne featuring fellow American rapper and singer T-Pain, released as the third single from the former's sixth studio album ''Tha Carter III'' (2008). Both artists use the Auto-Tune effect in the song ...
".
On May 17, 2014, Stone Sour released an official statement saying that Root was no longer a member of the band. Moments before their statement, Root told a fan on Instagram of his departure, explaining "Not my decision. Not happy about it." In interviews, Root accused the band of being financially motivated and pursuing a more commercial musical direction, but also observed that he "wasn't really happy in that band anymore". Corey Taylor noted that the split initially put a strain on his and Root's relationship, which nonetheless was mended through channelling their frustrations into new Slipknot material.
Equipment
In July 2007,
Fender released the
Jim Root Telecaster
The Fender Jim Root Telecaster is a signature model of the Fender Telecaster electric guitar customized for American musician Jim Root. In January 2010, a Jim Root Signature Fender Telecaster was unveiled on the Fender website, similar to the one ...
. Prior to his endorsement deal with Fender, Root had been seen using
PRS,
Jackson
Jackson may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name
Places
Australia
* Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region
* Jackson North, Qu ...
,
Charvel
Charvel is a brand of electric guitars founded in the 1970s by Wayne Charvel in Azusa, California and originally headquartered in Glendora, California. Since 2002, Charvel has been under the ownership of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.
H ...
, and Maverick electric guitars, and
Guild
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometimes ...
and
Martin Martin may refer to:
Places
* Martin City (disambiguation)
* Martin County (disambiguation)
* Martin Township (disambiguation)
Antarctica
* Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land
* Port Martin, Adelie Land
* Point Martin, South Orkney Islands
Austral ...
acoustic guitars as well as a wide range of effect pedals and amplifiers. In a 2009 performance for Eurockeennes, and from 2010 to 2012, Jim used a
Gibson Flying V
The Gibson Flying V is an electric guitar model introduced by Gibson in 1958. The Flying V offered a radical, "futuristic" body design, much like its siblings: the Explorer, which was released the same year, and the Moderne, which was designed ...
.
In January 2010, a Jim Root Signature Fender Stratocaster was unveiled on the Fender website, similar to the one he has been seen using on stage, as of March 2009. In 2012,
Orange
Orange most often refers to:
*Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis''
** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower
*Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum
* ...
announced a new signature Tiny Terror amp based on their Rockerverb 100, Root's main amp, called the "#4". Then, the Squier Telecaster signature model was released, similar to the first Fender Telecaster Jim Root signature. The white model comes with a black pickguard and the black model comes with a white pickguard. Both Squiers have a maple neck and rosewood fretboard (22 frets). Jim's signature Squiers do not contain EMG 81 and EMG 60, instead containing Covered Passive Humbucking Pickups (Neck and Bridge).
The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster was unveiled at the 2014
NAMM show
The NAMM Show is an annual event in the United States that is organized by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), who describe it as "the industry’s largest stage, uniting the global music, sound and entertainment technology commun ...
. It has the same specs as the Jim Root Stratocaster. It only comes in flat black with an ebony fretboard.
In 2016, Fender released a sandblasted version of Root's Jazzmaster with red and black grain. This model is not available for purchase but can be seen used in several of Root's instructional videos on YouTube (as part of "The Sound and the Story") and has occasionally been seen live.
While Root primarily uses Orange Rockerverb heads live, he has been known to use a variety of amplifiers in the studio, including a modified Bogner Uberschall and Mesa Boogie Mark IIC, the later of which has appeared on 2004's Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses and 2019's We Are Not Your Kind.
In the music video for
Unsainted
"Unsainted" is a song by American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Slipknot (band), Slipknot. It was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album ''We Are Not Your Kind'' on May 16, 2019, accompanied by its music video. This is the ...
and a performance on
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. The nightly hour-long show debuted on January 26, 2003, at Hollywood Masonic Temple in Hollywood, Los ...
Root was seen using
EMG Retroactive pickups, with EMG's
Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
account suggesting that they are working on a signature set for him. This was later confirmed on the EMG Facebook page announcing that the set would debut at NAMM 2020. EMG released the JR "Daemonum" signature set in early 2020.
On October 21, 2021, Root announced he was working on a signature model with Charvel guitars. His signature series is set to release in August 2022 for $1,499.99. Root later added that he remains a Fender signature artist, as Charvel is owned by Fender.
Discography
![Slipknot fire 2013](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Slipknot_fire_2013.jpg)
;Atomic Opera
*1990: ''The Judgement''
;Deadfront
* 1998: ''Nemesis''
;Slipknot
* 1999: ''
Slipknot''
("Purity" only)
* 1999: ''
Welcome to Our Neighborhood
''Welcome to Our Neighborhood'' is the first video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released on November 9, 1999, by Roadrunner Records and later reissued in DVD format on November 18, 2003. Characterized as a band's home vid ...
''
* 2001: ''
Iowa
Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...
''
* 2002: ''
Disasterpieces
''Disasterpieces'' is the second video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Unveiled at an advance screening in New York City on November 1, 2002, and released on November 22 by Roadrunner Records, the two-disc set features a concert at ...
''
* 2004: ''
Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)''
* 2005: ''
9.0 Live''
* 2006: ''
Voliminal: Inside the Nine''
* 2008: ''
All Hope Is Gone
''All Hope Is Gone'' is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot, released on August 26, 2008 by Roadrunner Records. The album was published in two versions: the standard album in a CD case and a special edition packaged ...
''
* 2010: ''
(sic)nesses
''(sic)nesses'' is the fourth video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released on September 28, 2010 by Roadrunner Records. The double-disc release features a recording of their headlining performance at the 2009 Download Fes ...
''
* 2012: ''
Antennas to Hell
''Antennas to Hell'' is the first greatest hits compilation album by American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Slipknot (band), Slipknot. The album was released on July 23, 2012, in the United Kingdom and July 24, 2012, in the United States by ...
''
* 2014: ''
.5: The Gray Chapter''
* 2019: ''
We Are Not Your Kind
''We Are Not Your Kind'' is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Recorded at EastWest Studios in Hollywood, California with co-producer Greg Fidelman (who previously produced the band's 2014 album '' .5: The Gray Chapter ...
''
* 2022: ''
The End, So Far
''The End, So Far'' is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released on September 30, 2022, through Roadrunner Records. This is the band's final album to be released through Roadrunner, whom the band signed wit ...
''
;Stone Sour
* 2002: ''
Stone Sour
Stone Sour is an American rock band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1992. The band performed for five years before disbanding in 1997. They reunited in 2000 and since 2015, the group has consisted of Corey Taylor (lead vocals, guitar), Josh Rand ...
''
* 2006: ''
Come What(ever) May
''Come What(ever) May'' is the second studio album by American rock band Stone Sour, released on August 1, 2006, by Roadrunner Records. It was recorded and produced by Nick Raskulinecz and the band at Studio 606 in Los Angeles, California. Writing ...
''
* 2007: ''
Live in Moscow''
* 2010: ''
Audio Secrecy
Audio most commonly refers to sound, as it is transmitted in signal form. It may also refer to:
Sound
*Audio signal, an electrical representation of sound
*Audio frequency, a frequency in the audio spectrum
*Digital audio, representation of sound ...
''
* 2012: ''Live in Brighton''
* 2012: ''
House of Gold & Bones – Part 1
''House of Gold & Bones – Part 1'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band Stone Sour, and is the first of two consecutive albums to feature the ''House of Gold & Bones'' concept. Its reprises are featured on the second ''House of Gol ...
''
* 2013: ''
House of Gold & Bones – Part 2
''House of Gold & Bones – Part 2'' is the fifth studio album by American rock band Stone Sour, and is the second and final album of the House of Gold & Bones concept. The album was released on April 3, 2013, in Japan, April 8 in the UK, and Apr ...
''
;Roadrunner United
* 2005: ''
The All-Stars Sessions''
;Other appearances
* 2006: ''
The New Leader
''The New Leader'' (1924–2010) was an American political and cultural magazine.
History
''The New Leader'' began in 1924 under a group of figures associated with the Socialist Party of America, such as Eugene V. Debs and Norman Thomas. It was ...
'' (
DJ Starscream)
* 2007: ''
The Devil Knows My Name
''The Devil Knows My Name'' is the third solo studio album by American heavy metal guitarist John 5. It was released on April 3, 2007, by 60 Cycle Hum.
Guest appearances
Several artists including Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Jim Root ( Slipknot ...
(
John 5
John 5 is the fifth chapter of the Gospel of John of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It relates Jesus' healing and teaching in Jerusalem, and begins to evidence the hostility shown him by the Jewish authorities.Plummer, A. (1902)Cambri ...
)
* 2008: ''
Got Money
"Got Money" is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne featuring fellow American rapper and singer T-Pain, released as the third single from the former's sixth studio album ''Tha Carter III'' (2008). Both artists use the Auto-Tune effect in the song ...
'' (
Jonathan Davis and the SFA
Jonathan Davis and the SFA (Simply Fucking Amazings) was an American alternative metal band, formed as a side project for Korn frontman Jonathan Davis. The band functioned as a musical collective, with a rotating cast of musicians involved wi ...
)
* 2008: ''Pay for It (The Son of a Clown Mix)'' (
Mindless Self Indulgence
Mindless Self Indulgence (often referred to as MSI) is an American electropunk band formed in New York City in 1997. Their music has a mixed style which includes punk rock, alternative rock, electronica, techno, industrial, hip hop, and breakb ...
)
* 2009: ''
A Song for Chi
"A Song for Chi" is an instrumental alternative metal song recorded by several high-profile rock and metal musicians to raise money for poet and Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who was severely injured in a car crash in Santa Clara, California ...
'' (
Fieldy
Reginald Quincy Arvizu (born November 2, 1969), also known as "Fieldy", is an American musician, best known as the bassist for nu metal band Korn. He is also the guitarist/bassist for rock band StillWell.
Musical career
Prior to Arvizu's tim ...
)
Filmography
* 1999: ''
Welcome to Our Neighborhood
''Welcome to Our Neighborhood'' is the first video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released on November 9, 1999, by Roadrunner Records and later reissued in DVD format on November 18, 2003. Characterized as a band's home vid ...
''
* 2002: ''
Disasterpieces
''Disasterpieces'' is the second video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Unveiled at an advance screening in New York City on November 1, 2002, and released on November 22 by Roadrunner Records, the two-disc set features a concert at ...
''
* 2002: ''
Rollerball''
* 2006: ''
Voliminal: Inside the Nine''
* 2008: ''
Nine: The Making of "All Hope Is Gone"''
* 2009: ''
Of the (sic): Your Nightmares, Our Dreams''
* 2010: ''
(sic)nesses
''(sic)nesses'' is the fourth video album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released on September 28, 2010 by Roadrunner Records. The double-disc release features a recording of their headlining performance at the 2009 Download Fes ...
''
* 2011: ''
Goat
The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the a ...
''
* 2013: ''Jim Root: The Sound and The Story''
* 2016: ''Jim Root: The Sound and The Story: .5 The Gray Chapter''
* 2017: ''
Day of the Gusano: Live in Mexico''
* 2018: ''Loud Krazy Love''
References
External links
Slipknot websiteStone Sour website*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Root, Jim
1971 births
Alternative metal guitarists
Musicians from Las Vegas
Grammy Award winners
Living people
Roadrunner Records artists
Slipknot (band) members
Lead guitarists
Rhythm guitarists
Stone Sour members
Guitarists from Iowa
American male guitarists