Craig Alan Jones (born February 11, 1972) also known as 133 (or 133 MHz), Pinhead, The Silent One, or by his number #5, is an American musician, best known as the former sampler and keyboardist of Slipknot.
Personal life and career[]
Jones was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He previously played in various local extreme metal bands, including Modifidious, before joining Slipknot in February 1996. He was the replacement for the band's original guitarist, Donnie Steele, who left during the recording of their first album, Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. Because the band was almost completed with the album, he did not contribute to it, but he did receive credit for its sleeve concept and graphics in the liner notes. Before the year was over, Jones had been replaced by guitarist Mick Thomson, and he began to assume his role as the band's sampler and keyboardist.
Jones is the only member of the band who is not interviewed completely unmasked on Voliminal: Inside the Nine. While he does not wear a mask during the interview, his face remains obstructed by a constant blur. Also, he does not speak during the segment featured on the film, nor during the extended version of the footage featured on user-submitted content websites such as YouTube (originally from the Outside The Nine released DVD: Fan Club Propaganda Reel 1). He also speaks for 2 seconds at the beginning of the Welcome To Our Neighborhood DVD.
Departure from Slipknot[]
On June 7th, 2023, the band announced that it had parted ways with Craig.[1] The social media posts about Jones' departure had been subsequently deleted within the hour.[2]
Personality[]
His background is unquestionably the most elusive of any other member of Slipknot, so much that he has been known to keep silence throughout even a series of questions. That is why he earned his second nickname, "The Silent One". This is not to say he has never spoken outside the confines of the band, however. In fact, Jones has engaged an interview with Cakewalk regarding their equipment, which he prefers when performing Sampling. He begins most interviews with the zipper covering his mouth opened, and closes the zipper before making any reply to the questions asked. Jones prompted a burst of complaint letters when, another time he broke his silence during an interview, he was quoted as having made the sole statement that, "If I wasn't in this band, I'd probably be out killing people!" He has answered this question also, "If I wasn't in the band today, I'd be driving forklifts in a warehouse all day long."
Former Slipknot vocalist Anders Colsefni has implied that Jones is a misanthrope. While expressing distaste for Jones' behavior, Colsefni revealed that Jones was in fact the inspiration for the song "Killers Are Quiet". However a close friend of the band at the time, Frank Plumley, is credited for the song's fitting title. Colsefni provided further insight into Jones' personality when he claimed that, "Computers are Craig's best friend." According to music producer Ross Robinson, Jones was disturbingly quiet during their studio sessions.
However, contrary to popular belief, Jones has been known to be very open and somewhat talkative with fans after Slipknot's performances. This may suggest that his dangerously taciturn behavior is an affectation or exaggeration for the sake of publicity and/or intrigue. Some have commented that the "serial killer" comments he has made may be his attempt at dark humor, in addition to his preference to speak during interviews exclusively with the zipper covering his mouth closed. However he has done two online text interviews after the release of the Slipknot (album), and readers of the interview have noticed that online he is a lot less hostile than he lets on. In the video of the making of "Sulfur", Craig is actually shown talking to the camera.
On Nine: The Making of All Hope Is Gone, the DVD that comes with the special edition of All Hope Is Gone, Craig is the only member of the band to have his face pixelated while everyone else appears with their face clear and uncensored.
Masks[]
Jones originally wore pantyhose over his head, accompanied with a Spam (food) t-shirt. Other times, he would wear a wolf mask.
When Jones became sampler after being replaced by Mick Thomson as guitarist, he then began using a white racing helmet adorned with a Sinclair Oil sticker, probably obtained from drummer Jordison who was a former employee at a local Sinclair gas station. This helmet was later painted black and had nails hammered through the top to vaguely resemble spiky hair but it was fake.
He didn't enjoy wearing the masks and worn in conjunction with a military gas mask; a camera's Flash was also added to the top of the helmet, but this was removed shortly after. It was said to represent pain.
His Vol3, AHIG, .5, and WANYK variations of the mask has a collection of nails rising from its head. It has two small slits for eyeholes, two even smaller circular nose holes, and a big silver zipper in between its lips, similar to a Bondage hood. This contrasts heavily to the mask he used during Slipknot. His most recent version has short nails around the head but bigger ones in the top forming a mohawk made of nails.
Equipment[]
MFKR era[]
- Gibson Explorer Guitar
Slipknot era[]
- AKAI MPC2000XL sampler
- Clavia Nord Lead Synth or a Yamaha Cs6x for 74126000027
- Roland JP8000
- Yamaha controller
- Yamaha PSR 720
Iowa era[]
- Roland SP-808 "groove sampler"
- Roland SP-808EX "e-mix station"
Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) era[]
- Hardware and software samplers
- Korg MicroKontrol Midi keyboard/pad controller
All Hope Is Gone era[]
- Korg Kontrol 49 Midi keyboard/pad controller
- Cakewalk Sonar
Gallery[]
Masks[]
Replica Masks[]
Trivia[]
- When Craig played guitar for Slipknot, he used a white Gibson Explorer.
External Links[]
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| Slipknot | |
|---|---|
| Current Members: | #0 Sid Wilson • #4 Jim Root • #6 Shawn "Clown" Crahan • #7 Mick Thomson • #8 Corey Taylor • (V) Alex Venturella • Michael Pfaff • Unidentified sampler |
| Former Members: | Anders Colsefni • #4 Josh "Gnar" Brainard • #2 Paul Gray • #1 Joey Jordison • Donnie Steele • Kun Nong • #3 Greg "Cuddles" Welts • #3 Chris Fehn • #5 Craig "133" Jones • (J) Jay Weinberg Live Only: (ᗺ) Brandon Darner |
- ↑ (June 7, 2023). Slipknot Part Ways With Keyboardist Craig Jones. The Rock Revival. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ↑ Alderslade, Marlin (June 6, 2023). Slipknot announce departure of Craig Jones, then delete announcement. Louder Sound. Retrieved June 8, 2023.