Slipknot: 10 Hidden Song Details You Totally Missed

2. Purity - Jim Root’s Only Contribution To Self-Titled Album

Guitarist Jim Root is such an integral part of the band, many would imagine him being one of the driving forces from the very earliest days of Slipknot.

When it comes to 1999’s Slipknot, however, this is not necessarily the case, in fact the guitarists on all but two songs from the completed album are long time member, and knife fight enthusiast, Mick Thomson, and the little-known Josh Brainard.

Root would replace Brainard, who left of his own accord, joining from Stone Sour (who he continued to play for until 2014), towards the very end of the recording of Slipknot. The guitarist would slightly rework Brainard’s version of Me Inside, but the only track for which he can be given proper writing credits for is Purity.

Listening to the track, it is indistinguishable in style to the rest of the album and is testament to both Root’s ability to get on board with the Slipknot project, and the band’s ability to absorb fresh blood without compromising their sound.