Slipknot

Slipknot promise to play ‘biggest and most emotional’ shows ever this summer.

Slipknot promise to play 'biggest and most emotional' shows ever this summer.

The ‘Spit It Out’ group will return to performing for the first time since bassist Paul Grey died of a drugs overdose last May, and although they admit it will be hard without him, they will put their all into their shows.

Percussionist Shawn Crahan said:”I’ll be in tears before I even hit the first stair. And I need it very much – and we need it. So I’m looking forward to it, but it’s gonna be very hard.”

Drummer Joey Jordison added: “I’ve been in rehearsal over the last few weeks with our new bass player, Donnie Steele, and my feeling is that these will probably be the biggest and most emotional shows that we’ve ever had.

“I’m just speaking for myself and the rest of the band that we can’t wait. Everything’s on fire right now.”

The pair also confirmed they are hoping the group will continue, write more material and release a fifth album after the tour is done.

Shawn said: “Do I want another Slipknot record? Absolutely. I’m not a fortune teller. Do I know if that will happen? I don’t know.”
Joey added: “As far as I’m concerned, yeah. I personally have, now- I don’t know, probably over 17 songs.”

Slipknot will headline the Sonisphere festival, which takes place in various countries across Europe, this summer.

Slipknot reveal Paul Gray replacement and tribute t-shirt.

Slipknot have announced a touring bassist to replaced the late Paul Gray, and also revealed a tribute t-shirt. The metal monsters announced that Donnie Steele will be wearing Gray’s number two for their forthcoming European shows. They wrote ‘Donnie was in the band at the very beginning, and rather than get an outsider, we thought it would be a fitting tribute to Paul to play with someone from within the family.

‘Donnie was great friends with Paul and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate his memory than with someone who was there with us at the very beginning.’

They have also joined forces with charity MusicCares to reveal a tribute teeshirt to honour Gray’s legacy. It features Gray’s number two on the front and a photo on the back.

It is available to purchase at the MusicCares shop.

Iron Maiden and Bullet For My Valentine to go head-to-head at Metal Hammer Golden God Awards

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden and Bullet For My Valentine will go head-to-head in the Best UK Band category at this year’s Metal Hammer Golden God Awards. The bands face competition from Skindred, Architects and Bring Me The Horizon to win the coveted prize, which is voted for by readers of Metal Hammer magazine.

Publisher Chris Ingham revealed he was ‘thrilled’ to honour the rock legends with the nominations, which come in the magazine’s 25th year.

He said: ‘A whole quarter of a century ago, Metal Hammer magazine began and in that time we’ve worked with some of the biggest and best names in metal and rock music.

‘Some of those names will be joining us for the Metal Hammer Golden Gods and, whether they’re icons or rising stars, their tireless efforts to stay true to the most loyal fanbase around is a massive achievement and one we are thrilled to honour.’

In the Best International Band list, Avenged Sevenfold will take on Dimmu Borgir, Down, Children of Bodom and Stone Sour, while Machine Head, Cancer Bats, Rob Zombie, Skindred and Devildriver are all nominated in the Best Live Band Category.

The awards will be presented on June 13, 2011 at London’s IndigO2.

Best International Band:
Avenged Sevenfold
Dimmu Borgir
Stone Sour
Children Of Bodom
Down

Best UK Band sponsored by Roadrunner:
Iron Maiden
Bring Me The Horizon
Skindred
Architects
Bullet For My Valentine

Best Live Band:
Cancer Bats
Devildriver
Rob Zombie
Skindred
Machine Head

Best New Band:
The Defiled
Kvelertak
Tesseract
The Damned Things
Letlive

Best Underground:
Watain
Kylesa
Primordial
The Dead Lay Waiting
Clutch

Best Breakthrough Parkway Drive:
A Day To Remember
Sylosis
Sabaton
Volbeat

Shredder(s) sponsored by Blackstar:
Gus G (Firewind, Ozzy Osbourne)

Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge)
Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)
Mark Rizzo (Cavalera Conspiracy, Soulfly, Il Nino)
Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold)

Metal As F**k:
Slayer
Behemoth
Slipknot
Zakk Wylde
Deftones

Event of the Year sponsored by Alchemy:
Rob Zombie’s return
Manowar’s return
System Of A Down reforming
The Big 4 UK announcement
Beavis And Butthead’s resurrection