Life & family
Matt Sorum is an American drummer and percussionist. He was a member of hard rock band Guns N’ Roses. Other members of the band include/have included Steven Adler, DJ Ashba, Duff McKagan, Melissa Reese, Axl Rose, Slash, and Izzy Stradlin. He was also a member of hard rock supergroup Camp Freddy, with Mark McGrath, Dave Navarro, and Scott Weiland; and hard rock supergroup Velvet Revolver, along with Dave Kushner, McKagan, Slash, and Weiland.
Matt is married to Ace Harper.
Matt’s paternal grandfather was Kermit Burdette Sorum (the son of Nels Sorum and Berith/Betsey Haugen). Kermit was born in South Dakota. Nels was born in Minnesota, to Norwegian parents. Berith was from Norway.
Matt’s paternal grandmother was Corolla Zelphia Paffrath (the daughter of William/Wilhelm Paffrath and Anna Bellig). Corolla was born in Minnesota. William was born in Illinois, to German parents, Caspar Paffrath and Barbara Schnad. Anna was born in Minnesota, to a Swiss-German father, Samuel Bellig, and a Bohemian mother, Francis Jirousek.
Matt’s maternal grandfather was Robert Wallace Winslow (the son of Leon Arnold Winslow and Elizabeth J./G. Rogers). Robert was born in Portland, Cumberland, Maine. Leon was the son of William H. Winslow and Addie Fisk. Elizabeth was the daughter of Frank E. Rogers and Elizabeth McGraw.
Matt’s maternal grandmother was Josephine Gurnee (the daughter of Morris C. Gurnee and Lillian A. DeMocker). Josephine was born in New York. Morris was the son of John R. Gurnee and Eva/Ella. Lillian was the daughter of Jacob L. Demoeker, who was Dutch, and of Margaret B. Lindsey, who was Irish.
Sources
Marriage record of Matt’s parents – https://www.familysearch.org
Matt’s paternal grandfather, Kermit Burdette Sorum, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Matt’s paternal grandmother, Corolla Zelphia Paffrath, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Matt’s paternal great-grandfather, William/Wilhelm Paffrath, on the 1875 Minnesota State Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Matt’s paternal great-grandmother, Anna Bellig, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Matt’s maternal grandparents, Robert Wallace Winslow and Josephine Gurnee – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Matt’s maternal great-grandparents, Leon Arnold Winslow and Elizabeth J./G. Rogers – https://www.familysearch.org
Matt’s maternal great-grandfather, Morris C. Gurnee, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Matt’s maternal great-grandmother, Lillian A. DeMocker, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org