In a recent interview with Overdrive.ieSepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser returned to Eloy Casagrande’s unexpected decision to leave the group to join Slipknot, as Sepultura prepared to begin their farewell tour.
A sudden and unexpected departure
Andreas Kisser said: “We were very surprised by his decision. We had worked for two years on this farewell tour — with him — and three weeks before the first concert, he decided to leave, without warning. It was really weird. We planned everything together, discussed setlists, effects, and everything else, with his approval. But he decided to leave at that point.”
Kisser quickly thought of Greyson Nekrutman to replace Casagrande: “My son, Yohan, showed me his videos. Derrick [Green, chanteur de Sepultura] had seen him perform with Suicidal Tendencies in Los Angeles. It immediately came to mind. I called him and 48 hours later we were together in rehearsal.”
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Eloy Casagrande: a transition to Slipknot
For his part, Eloy Casagrande explained in an interview for Modern drummer the reasons for his departure: “It all happened at the end of 2023, when Slipknot’s manager called me to offer me an audition. That year, Sepultura decided to stop touring. For me, it was a natural transition. I didn’t want to withdraw, so I decided to audition. It was a big secret. No one, not even Sepultura, could have known.”
Eloy also highlighted his admiration for Slipknot: “I grew up listening to their music. Playing with them, with a mask on my face, was an experience I had always wanted to have. My first show with them, I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is really happening.’”
A new era for Sepultura and Slipknot
With Eloy Casagrande now in Slipknot, Jay Weinberg in Suicidal Tendencies, and Greyson Nekrutman in Sepultura, a new dynamic is taking hold for these iconic groups.
Andreas Kisser concludes: “Maybe it’s better for everyone. For us, for Eloy, and for Jay. Everyone finds their place.”
