Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg meets teenager whose blistering cover of Unsainted went viral

Slipknot's Jay Weinberg (Image credit: Gabriel Olsen - Getty)

Last month, 14-year-old drummer Maren Alford released a video showing her drum cover of Slipknot’s Unsainted.

The lead track from the band’s new album We Are Not Your Kind was unveiled in May this year, with Maren’s cover becoming an instant hit on YouTube.

At the time, Maren said: “Jay Weinberg is one of my favourite drummers and I'm excited to cover one of his songs – the moment I heard Slipknot's Unsainted I knew this was the one!"

And Maren got the chance to meet her drumming hero at the Knotfest Roadshow at the Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday.

Maren said: “Best day ever hanging out with Jay Weinberg before Knotfest in Dallas! Not only is he a beast behind the kit, but he’s also the most encouraging, kind and generous guy! Really a dream come true to meet and spend time with him – and the Slipknot show was incredible!

“Thank you for everything Jay – you’re the best!”

Maren, who is the drummer for Not Ur Girlfrenz, also plays a SJC Custom Drums kit – the same make Weinberg uses.

Slipknot’s next live appearance will be at Louisville’s Louder Than Life festival on September 27. They’ll follow that with a set at Sacramento’s Aftershock Festival on October 11 before heading to Australia.

They’ll play Knotfest Mexico on November 30 and Knotfest Colombia on December 6 before returning to the UK and Europe in early 2020.

Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.