Joey Jordison has been forging ahead with his new project VIMIC, but many questions still surround his departure from Slipknot. Joey revealed last year that he was battling Acute Transverse Myelitis around that time, which took him away from the drums, but he wants people to know that he still wanted to be in that band forever.

In a new interview with Jay Nanda of AXS.com, he had this to say to the fans: “I didn’t quit Slipknot. I would never have quit Slipknot, ever. I just want the fans to know that. It’s important for everyone to know that.”

On why the band didn’t bring up his health when they announced he was no longer in the band: “That’s a really great question, and that’s a hard question to answer as I know that everything is publicized right now so I gotta really watch my words. The thing is, I got visited in the hospital by one member of the band when they all knew I was in there … and next thing you know, I got exited from the band. And I don’t know why. I don’t understand what the deal was. There’s been a bunch of rumors and stuff like, you know, why it was, and it is absolutely untrue … but it’s okay. Life takes you down weird paths.”

Listen to the whole chat with AXS.com below:

As for the status of his health right now, Joey recently told Neomedia Group, “I have no symptoms, I’m fully back. I’m totally alright. I’m literally stronger than I’ve ever been in my life. I play now more than I ever have, especially with the two bands. Other than that, I just go to the gym and eat healthy, and get plenty of rest. That’s all I do. I was really lucky, really, really, really fortunate to beat this.”