Derrick Green, the frontman for the heavy metal institution Sepultura, has opened up about the sudden exit of longtime drummer Eloy Casagrande. The percussionist departed the group in February 2024 to join Slipknot, making the move less than a month before Sepultura was scheduled to launch their “Celebrating Life Through Death” farewell tour. The band quickly recruited Greyson Nekrutman, previously of Suicidal Tendencies, to take his place.
During a new interview with “The Razor’s Edge“, Derrick Green reflected on the chaotic period leading up to the tour and the initial reaction to the drummer’s resignation.
“Yeah, in the moment [when Eloy told us he was leaving Sepultura], it was shocking because we had no idea [he had auditioned for Slipknot and eventually got the gig]. And it was also a week out, maybe a week and a half, before even starting the tour. I was literally packing my things to go to Brazil to start rehearsals that we had all set up and agreed upon. So, yeah, it sucked. It sucks when anyone decides to leave, and the way that it happened,” Derrick stated (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
Addressing the fact that Eloy Casagrande landed a spot in Slipknot, a group he had previously named as a dream band, the vocalist expressed understanding for the career move while acknowledging the difficult timing.
“I’m happy for him. I understand the opportunity. I think we all did. It was just the fact of how everything really rolled out was not the greatest. These things happen. Now looking back, it’s in the past. It’s, like, everything worked out the way that it was supposed to, honestly. And, of course, it was very difficult to see that at the time. It just seemed like, ‘Oh, man. Here’s another big surprise coming out of nowhere. How are we gonna be able to survive through this?’ We’ve had so many throughout the history of the band. So, we were able to really push forward quickly. And we’re very lucky, and very fortunate, that Greyson was available to do it and down to do it. And the fact that we got along is another thing, personality-wise. This is also an incredible factor that many people probably don’t think of when it comes to creating a band or keeping a band together — the communication and the ability to get along with another person. So, all those boxes were checked with Greyson, and we were very lucky that we were able to find somebody to fill out the farewell tour at the very last minute — literally. That day we were already searching [for a new drummer] when we found out [that Eloy was leaving]. So, yeah, I think everything worked out the way that it is. I hope Eloy‘s happy where he’s at. I’m sure he is. And we’re definitely happy with the way the tour has been going,” he explained.
Derrick Green had previously provided a detailed timeline of the split during an August 2024 appearance on the “One Life One Chance With Toby Morse” podcast. He recalled receiving the unexpected news directly from Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser.
“We had already announced that we’re going to do a farewell tour. It was in December [2023] that we announced it. And so then I think it was February of 2024], we started playing shows. And so it was, like, Andreas calls me was, like, ‘Yeah, we’re gonna do rehearsals. It’s all set. Everybody’s in line. You’ll come down to Brazil and then we’ll rehearse a few days and then we’ll start the tour.’ And I was, like, ‘Great.’ [I was] literally waking up, packing my s**t. I think I was flying out literally the next day to start rehearsals. Andreas [gets in touch with me and he] is, like, ‘Yo…’ I was, like, ‘What’s going on?’ He’s, like, ‘He’s out.’ I was, like, ‘What do you mean? What are you talking about? Who’s out?’ And then he was just, like, ‘Yeah, Eloy‘s out.’ And I was just kind of like falling in a black hole, like, ‘What are you talking about?’ It was totally surreal. It was like literally in slow motion. I was just trying to get my breath. And he explained everything. [Eloy] wanted a meeting with everybody in the band and with the managers and everything, and I wasn’t there. But he came in and it was just, like, ‘I’m doing this gig. I signed a contract. And I’m out.’ And I was just trying to get my head around it, because it’d been 13 years playing with this guy. And I was just really in shock. I was, like, ‘Dude, what are we gonna do?’ And we’ve been in this position where it’s just, like, so crazy changes. I’m sure when Max [Cavalera] left [Sepultura], [Andreas] was in that position, like, ‘What are we gonna do?’ And then when Jean [Dolabella] left and Igor [Cavalera] left, like different people: ‘What are we gonna do?’ It wouldn’t be the first time of total chaos… I’m on the phone with [Andreas]. He’s, like, ‘My son showed me a video of Greyson.’ I was, like, ‘Greyson, he’s in Suicidal. Yeah. I just saw the show.’ And he’s, like, ‘I was thinking of maybe calling him.’ I was like, yeah. ‘Call him up. Call him up and see what’s up with him.’ I was, like, ‘You should call him immediately.’ He’s, like, ‘I am. I’m gonna get his number. I’m gonna call him up, see what’s up. Just to see what’s up.’ I was, like, ‘He’s playing with Suicidal. Maybe he has some off dates.’ And we’re just, like panicking because we had no clue what to do. We weren’t expecting this at all,” the vocalist detailed at the time.
Eloy Casagrande officially joined Sepultura in November 2011, stepping in for Jean Dolabella.
Sepultura launched their ongoing farewell tour in March 2024 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Alongside their final live performances, the band continues to issue new material through Nuclear Blast, recently releasing the EP The Cloud Of Unknowing.
Rest Of Sepultura Farewell Tour Dates:
North American Tour 2026:
- May 13 – Reading, PA – Reverb
- May 15 – Chicago, IL – Ramova Theatre
- May 16 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple
- May 17 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
- May 19 – Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom
- May 21 – Denver, CO – The Ogden Theatre
- May 22 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
- May 23 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
- May 25 – Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues
- May 26 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park
- May 28 – Berkeley, CA – UC Theatre
- May 29 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
European Tour 2026:
- June 06 – Maastricht, Netherlands – South Of Heaven
- June 07 – Plzen, Czech Republic – MetalFest
- June 08 – Zagreb, Croatia – Tvornica Kulture
- June 09 – Milan, Italy – Circolo Magnolia
- June 10 – Rome, Italy – Eur Social Park
- June 12 – Interlaken, Switzerland – Greenfield Festival
- June 13 – Nickelsdorf, Austria – Nova Rock
- June 14 – Würzburg, Germany – Posthalle
- June 17 – Saarbrucken, Germany – Garage
- June 19 – Clisson, France – Hellfest
- June 20 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
- June 21 – Lisbon, Portugal – Rock In Rio Lisboa
- June 23 – Oberhausen, Germany – Turbinenhalle
- June 24 – Potsdam, Germany – Waschhaus Potsdam
- June 25 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell
- June 26 – Huskvarna, Sweden – Folkets Park
- June 27 – Oslo, Norway – Tons Of Rock
- July 29 – Wacken, Germany – Wacken Open Air
- August 01 – Helsinki, Finland – Tavastia
- August 02 – Tallinn, Estonia – Tallinn Rock Festival
- August 05 – Villena, Spain – Leyendas del Rock
- August 07 – Walton-on-Trent, UK – Bloodstock Festival
- August 09 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
