Everything we’ve seen play out in public indicates that Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg is SUPER grateful to have gotten the gig some years back and handles himself like a total mensch in general. Seems like the kinda fellow who knows his place, is perennially polite and does not overstep his bounds as the new guy. In other words, he’s exactly kind of the person you’d want to replace a well-liked former member.

And while Weinberg replaced Joey Jordison, not late bassist Paul Gray (who died more than three years before Weinberg joined), a recent event shows he’s grateful not just to his own role’s predecessor but to everyone who came before him.

A Slipknot fan recently visited Gray’s gravesite at Highland Memory Gardens in Des Moines and posted a photo on Reddit of a drumstick Weinberg left there with a personal, handwritten message on it. It’s not clear when the drumstick note was left, but the presence of the phrase “We are not your kind” and allusion to the record of the same name would suggest it was somewhat recently.

Here’s what the drumstick says:

“Dear Paul – I hope you’re proud of the music we’ve created. Your presence guides this band in spirt + and sound. I think you’ll dig the new record. At least I hope you do. All the respect and love in the world. We are not your kind. Long live the Knot – Jay.”

I mean, wow, right? Bravo, Jay, bravo. You are welcome to give a eulogy at the funeral of any of my family members any time, God forbid.

[via Loudwire]