Slipknot bassist death 'a mistake'

The wife of the late Paul Gray has insisted that the rocker's death was "a mistake".

The Slipknot bassist was found dead in his Iowa hotel room in May after suffering a drug overdose.

In a tribute to Gray in the new Revolver magazine, widow Brenna said that she would rather her husband be remembered for his music and personal achievements than his shortcomings.

"I don't want people to judge him for the mistake that he made. He wasn't just a drug addict. That was a little part of his life that he couldn't overcome," she explained.

"He was a great guy, a great musician, a great husband, a great friend, a great brother, a great son. And I just want people to know that."

Brenna went on to reveal that she hopes to help others learn from the tragedy via advocacy work.

"I've been working with the organisation MusiCares, and if they can get my story out there, as hard as it is to tell... if one person can save their life with my husband losing his, that's what matters," she said.