Rdxfbgrtj

Jim Root
Root performing with Stone Sour in 2013.
Background information
Birth name	James Donald Root[1]
Also known as	#4 The Peach Mr. Bigs The Jester Stuperbee The Paint Face
Born	(1971-10-02) October 2, 1971 (age 47) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.[2][3]
Genres	Heavy metal nu metal thrash metal death metal grindcore alternative metal groove metal speed metal metalcore alternative rock post-grunge hard rock
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter guitarist
Instruments	Guitar bass keyboards drums
Years active	1991–present
Labels	Roadrunner
Associated acts	Slipknot Stone Sour Deadfront[4] John 5 Atomic Opera[5] Anal Blast
Website	(External links)

James Donald Root^[1] (born October 2, 1971),^[2][3] also known by his number #4, is an American musician, songwriter and guitarist, best known for being the lead / rhythm guitarist for the American heavy metal band Slipknot, and the former lead guitarist for the American alternative metal band Stone Sour.

Life and career

Root began performing with the thrash metal band Atomic Opera ^[6][7][8] from Iowa in the early 1990s, not to be confused with the hard rock band Atomic Opera from Houston, Texas. Soon after they split up he went on to perform in bands such as DeadFront and Stone Sour; the latter which he joined in 1995, and returned to along with vocalist Corey Taylor, during its revival in 2002. Prior to joining Slipknot, he worked as a screenprinter, waiter, and busboy.^[9]

He joined Slipknot in January 1999, replacing their original guitarist, Josh Brainard, who left the band during the recording of their self-titled album, reportedly after having fulfilled his recording duties. In fact, the only two songs Root recorded during the album's sessions were "Purity" and "Me Inside", 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 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 and .5 The Gray Chapter (from what has been said it seems like he wrote the large majority of the songs). 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 [Thomson] has some solos, and in Stone Sour, Josh [Rand] has some solos."^[10] During the recording of Stone Sour's Audio Secrecy, he and Rand recorded their parts simultaneously.^[11]

Outside Slipknot and Stone Sour, Root has appeared on Slipknot turntablist Sid Wilson's DJ Starscream album The New Leader and John 5's The Devil Knows My Name, for the song "Black Widow of La Porte", and also appeared on the Roadrunner United 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´s cover of Lil Wayne´s "Got Money".

On 17 May 2014, Stone Sour released an official statement saying that Root was no longer a member of the band.^[12] Moments before their statement, Root told a fan on Instagram of his departure, explaining "Not my decision. Not happy about it."^[13] 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.^[14]

Equipment

Root endorsing Orange, 2013

In July 2007, Fender released the Jim Root Telecaster. Prior to his endorsement deal with Fender, Root had been seen using PRS, Jackson, Charvel, and Maverick electric guitars, and Guild and Martin 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.^[15][16]

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.^[17] In 2012, Orange 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 NAMM 2014. 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").

Discography

Root with Slipknot at the Mayhem Festival, 2008

Root with Slipknot, 2009

Slipknot

• 1999: Slipknot ("Purity" and "Me Inside" only)
  


• 1999: Welcome to Our Neighborhood
  


• 2001: Iowa
  


• 2002: Disasterpieces
  


• 2004: Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
  


• 2005: 9.0 Live
  


• 2006: Voliminal: Inside the Nine
  


• 2008: All Hope Is Gone
  


• 2010: (sic)nesses
  


• 2012: Antennas to Hell
  


• 2014: .5: The Gray Chapter
  

Stone Sour

• 2002: Stone Sour
  


• 2006: Come What(ever) May
  


• 2007: Live in Moscow
  


• 2010: Audio Secrecy
  


• 2012: Live in Brighton
  


• 2012: House of Gold & Bones - Part 1
  


• 2013: House of Gold & Bones – Part 2
  

Roadrunner United

• 2005: The All-Stars Sessions
  

Other appearances

• 2006: The New Leader (DJ Starscream)


• 2007: The Devil Knows My Name (John 5)
  


• 2008: Got Money (Jonathan Davis and the SFA)


• 2008: Pay for It (The Son of a Clown Mix) (Mindless Self Indulgence)


• 2009: A Song for Chi (Fieldy)

Filmography

• 1999: Welcome to Our Neighborhood
  


• 2002: Disasterpieces
  


• 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
  


• 2011: Goat
  


• 2013: Jim Root: The Sound and The Story ^[18]
  


• 2016: Jim Root: The Sound and The Story: .5 The Gray Chapter
  


• 2017: Day of the Gusano: Live in Mexico
  

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jim Root.

• Slipknot website


• Stone Sour website


• 
  Jim Root on IMDb