In the debut episode of the Beardo and Weirdo podcast, hosted by comedian Craig Gass and Five Finger Death Punch bassist Chris Kael, former Papa Roach drummer Dave Buckner shared a chilling story from his time at the infamous Houdini Mansion with Slipknot.
Buckner, an original member of Papa Roach, played on all their albums until 2006’s The Paramour Sessions before leaving the band in 2007. The band’s breakout hit, Last Resort, recently hit a massive milestone, surpassing one billion streams on Spotify—a topic that kicks off the podcast’s video clip.
During the conversation, Gass and Kael delve into Buckner’s personal journey, including his struggles with weight and sobriety. At one point, Buckner weighed over 425 pounds but has since shed an impressive 225-250 pounds. “You lost a me,” Kael joked, amazed by the transformation.
Buckner opened up about his battle with addiction, explaining that he was trying to get sober around the time he left Papa Roach. “I hadn’t developed the skills or tools to process everything that comes with sobriety, so I ended up eating a lot of my feelings,” he admitted.
When Gass asked if Buckner ever faced any health scares related to his weight, the drummer recounted a bizarre incident involving Slipknot at the Houdini Mansion.
“Around the time we were recording our third album, Getting Away With Murder, Slipknot was at the Houdini Mansion working on The Subliminal Verses,” Buckner recalled. “I went there with my ex-wife and some of the Papa Roach guys—Jacoby [Shaddix] and Tobin [Esperance] were probably there too. They played us their new album in this tiny mixing room with the speakers cranked up to 11. It was so loud that I felt a ringing and buzzing in my ears.”
The next morning, Buckner woke up to a shocking discovery. “I went home, took a nap, and when I woke up, half of my face wasn’t working. I thought I’d had a stroke, but it turned out to be Bell’s palsy, which can be triggered by loud noises,” he explained.
Buckner also shared how acupuncture helped him recover from the condition.
The full clip of the episode is available below, along with more details about the Beardo and Weirdo podcast. To watch the complete episode, click here.
About the Beardo and Weirdo Podcast
Hosted by comedian and rock enthusiast Craig Gass and Five Finger Death Punch bassist Chris Kael, Beardo and Weirdo brings together humor, music, and pop culture. The podcast features special guests ranging from former NFL stars to iconic musicians and other personalities at the intersection of entertainment and heavy music.
Launched on Valentine’s Day, the podcast will release two additional episodes this weekend (Saturday and Sunday), followed by weekly episodes every Thursday. Don’t miss out on the laughs, stories, and rock ‘n’ roll vibes!