SLIPKNOT Plays First Headlining Show Since Passing Of PAUL GRAY; Video Available

SLIPKNOT played its first headlining show since the death of bassist Paul Gray last night (Tuesday, June 21) at Columbiahalle in Berlin, Germany. As was the case with the band's appearances at the Sonisphere festivals in Greece and Turkey over the weekend, Gray's red jumpsuit, mask and bass guitar stood at the back of the stage while his bandmates performed. The rest of the group's members donned red jumpsuits and older versions of their trademark masks from SLIPKNOT's earlier days, in tribute to their fallen bandmate.

The band's setlist for last night's concert was as follows:

01. 742617000027
02. (sic)
03. Eyeless
04. Wait and Bleed
05. The Blister Exists
06. Liberate
07. Before I Forget
08. Pulse Of The Maggots
09. Purity
10. Left Behind
11. Disasterpiece
12. Psychosocial
13. The Heretic Anthem
14. Duality
15. Only One
16. Spit It Out

Encore:

17. (515)
18. People = Shit
19. Surfacing

Fan-filmed video footage of the Berlin show can now be viewed below.

SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan told The Pulse Of Radio recently that Gray would somehow still be part of the band's show. "Just because he's gone, does that mean I have to take him out of the scenario and the answer is no," he said. "He will a part of SLIPKNOT's stage, he will be a part of SLIPKNOT's music, he will be a part of everything that we do for the rest of our lives. And he wants me artistically to bring him in, some twisted, maybe even demented way into the show."

Playing bass for the band was Donnie Steele, who was the guitarist in an early incarnation of the group. Steele, however, was hidden from the audience's view.

Frontman Corey Taylor addressed the significance of SLIPKNOT's first concert during last Friday's performance in Athens, Greece by saying to the crowd, "As you know, tonight is very emotional show for us but it is not, NOT, a negative day. It is a positive day. A day for celebration. This is our first show with you. Are you having a good time and will you celebrate with us today?"

Later in the show, he added, "This is very hard for us but [Gray] would have wanted us to come out with you all and celebrate his life. So will you all help me sing a song for my brother? Can you do that, Athens? Sing so loud so he can hear us because he is here with us tonight. Can you feel it?"

Gray passed away in May 2010 from an accidental overdose of drugs, leaving behind his wife Brenna and daughter October, who was born the following August.

SLIPKNOT will be playing European festivals for the next three weeks. Taylor has expressed doubts about making another SLIPKNOT record without Gray, although other band members have expressed their desire to record again.