Urbandale police said a man was found dead in a hotel room in Urbandale on Monday morning.
Police identified the man as Paul Dedrick Gray, 38. They said he was found at 10:50 a.m. at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott at 8800 Northpark Johnston Drive in Johnston on Monday.
Urbandale police said Gray's family members could not reach him by phone and became worried. They asked hotel staff to check on him. A staff member found him dead inside his room. Gray performed bass and back up vocals for the band Slipknot since 1995 and was a founding member.
Police said there was no evidence of foul play observed, but a complete investigation of the death will be completed by Urbandale police detectives.
The Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting in the death investigation and will perform an autopsy on Tuesday morning. Toxicology testing will be completed to determine if there were any contributing factors in the death of Gray, police said.
Witnesses reported that items from the hotel room, including a bass guitar, were carried out of the hotel around 2 p.m.
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Everyone at the Guitar Center in West Des Moines knew of the band Slipknot on Monday.
"They put Des Moines on the map as far as rock and metal goes," said worker Harold Waits.
Waits said he knew Gray and didn't put too much stock in rumors posted on some websites that Gray had died.
"Because I talked to him just the other day," said Waits.
The rumors Monday were not the first time news had spread that a member of Slipknot has died.
"There are so many rumors that go around but you see them the next day and you find out their just rumors," said Waits.
Waits met Gray back when Slipknot first started in Des Moines back in 1995. He said Gray was a great writer and always had time to give advice to other bands trying to make their way in the music business.
"Never had an attitude or a rock star attitude at all," said Waits. "He will be missed like you won't. You won't believe how mush he'll be missed."
Background
Gray was born in Los Angeles, Calif., and later moved to Des Moines.
Wikipedia shows that Gray has been married for two years to GodsGirls' Brenna Paul and has a tattoo of her name on his knuckles. Paul and Brenna are expecting their first child in 2010.
Slipknot is a heavy metal band from Des Moines formed in 1995 that has gained a national reputation.
The band consists of Sid Wilson, Joey Jordison, Paul Gray, Chris Fehn, Jim Root, Craig Jones, Shawn Crahan, Mick Thomson and Corey Taylor.
