2009 MARKS A DECADE OF SLIPKNOT

Slipknot will head out on its first solo headlining tour in support of the band's latest album, All Hope Is Gone, starting January 23rd in St. Paul, Minnesota. The trek marks the beginning of what promises to be a significant year for the Iowa-based band, as frontman Corey Taylor explains: "2009 marks the 10 year anniversary, obviously, of the band's professional debut, and the great thing about that is, we didn't go to the industry. The industry came to us. You know, for 10 years we've played by our rules, for 10 years we've done things our way, and this tour's going to be no exception. There's nothing that the world can do about it, so try and stop the celebration."

Slipknot's self-titled debut on Roadrunner Records came out in 1999 and was the current band's first worldwide release, although an earlier configuration of the group had been active in Des Moines for a few years before that.

The upcoming 33-city tour will run through mid-March and feature Slipknot's first-ever gig at New York City's prestigious Madison Square Garden. Joining the bill as opening acts will be Trivium and Coheed and Cambria.

Slipknot last appeared on the inaugural Rockstar Energy Mayhem tour this past summer, co-headlining with Disturbed.

AUDIO: SLIPKNOT'S COREY TAYLOR ON CELEBRATING THE BAND'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY

MARILYN MANSON HITS 40

Marilyn Manson turns 40 years old on Monday (January 5th). Born Brian Warner in Canton Ohio to Barb and Hugh Warner, he later moved to Florida and attended Broward Community College, where he studied journalism and began writing for local magazines. He also met several local musicians with whom he would form Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids in 1989, shortening the name to just Marilyn Manson in 1992. With each band member taking the first name of a female sex symbol and the last name of a serial killer, Warner also took Marilyn Manson as his own stage name, a combination of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson.

The group's controversial imagery, morbid visuals and shocking lyrical content garnered attention right from the start, with Manson himself the focal point of attacks by politicians and religious figures whom he slammed right back. The singer and other group members wore outrageous makeup and costumes, indulged in provocative behavior on and off stage, and flaunted a lifestyle of decadence, drugs and sex. Naturally this led to massive success as well, with platinum albums such as the 1995 EP Smells Like Children, 1996's Antichrist Superstar, and 1998's Mechanical Animals, plus hits like "The Beautiful People," "The Dope Show" and a cover of Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)."

Senator Joe Lieberman led Congressional hearings in 1997 to gauge the effect of the band's music on young people, while Manson shows were picketed by religious organizations worldwide. The band was also indirectly blamed for the 1999 Columbine High School massacre when it was learned that the killers were fans of the group.

Over the years, Marilyn Manson the band and Marilyn Manson the frontman have become more or less interchangeable. The singer has reshuffled the lineup of the group constantly, with himself remaining as the only original member.

Although later albums such as Holy Wood, The Golden Age of Grotesque and Eat Me, Drink Me have not fared as well commercially, Manson continues to make music and will issue a new CD later in 2009.

He has also established himself as a painter, with exhibitions in Europe and more recently Florida, and has appeared in several films as well. Manson's planned directorial debut, a fictionalized look at the life of Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll, has yet to go into production.

Manson candidly admitted going through one of the darkest periods of his life while recording his 2007 album, Eat Me, Drink Me. The shock-rocker went through a painful separation with wife Dita Von Teese in late 2006, at least partially because of his lifestyle. But Manson later said that he eventually became more comfortable with his persona on and off stage: "I feel like I've gotten to that point where I don't have to feel awkward or guilty about one or the other, which has always been a problem in my life. It's either been about who I am offstage or who I am onstage that I've had problems in friendships and romance. I can do whatever I want now and not feel any regrets for it."

Before marrying Von Teese, Manson was previously engaged to actress Rose McGowan. He also began a relationship with actress Evan Rachel Wood, who is nearly half his age, during his separation and divorce from Von Teese. That relationship ended last fall.

AUDIO: MARILYN MANSON SAYS HE'S MORE COMFORTABLE WITH HIMSELF NOW

WHO WILL INDUCT METALLICA INTO ROCK HALL?

Metallica is among the nine nominees for the 2009 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the five final inductees set to be announced this month. We asked frontman James Hetfield if the band has given any thought to who should induct them at the ceremony if they make the cut: "It's tough. We haven't really, you know, hit the ultimate person who we'd like to have do it. It's like you want someone who actually you've inspired, and you want someone who's charismatic, who can tell their story, but also you kind of want someone that people actually know who they are. You know, I was thinking, 'Well, why don't we just get, like, the uber-fan, you know, go up there and induct us, you know. How cool would that be?' So we're still going back and forth with all of that."

Metallica themselves inducted Black Sabbath into the Hall in 2006 and performed a medley of classic Sabbath tunes at the ceremony.

The shortlist of 2009 nominees also includes Jeff Beck, Run-DMC, the Stooges featuring Iggy Pop, Chic, Wanda Jackson, War, Little Anthony and the Imperials and Bobby Womack.

Nominees are eligible on the 25th anniversary of their debut release under their official name. Metallica's debut album, Kill 'Em All, came out in 1983.

This year's ceremony is set for April 4th at Cleveland's Public Hall, with tickets made available to the public.

AUDIO: JAMES HETFIELD ON WHO COULD INDUCT METALLICA INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

ROBERT PLANT HONORED BY THE QUEEN

Robert Plant has been appointed a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) on the Queen's New Years Honors list, marking the first time that any member of Led Zeppelin has received an official accolade from Queen Elizabeth. The Queen's Honors are handed out twice a year, in June and at the New Year, and are awarded to people for all types of service, including the performing arts.

Reuters reported that the Queen's Honors "are bestowed in the name of Queen Elizabeth II and are recommended by a panel that considers suggestions from government departments and political parties as well as from members of the public."

FAST FACTS

There are five British orders of chivalry: The highest being the Knight Grand Cross (GBE) or Dame Grand Cross (GBE); the Knight Commander (KBE) or Dame Commander (DBE); Commander (CBE)
Officer (OBE); and Member (MBE).

Past recipients of the prestigious CBE include Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Rod Stewart, and Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, among others.

In 1965 the Beatles -- John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr -- became the first pop stars to be honored by royalty, when they received the MBE, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. In 1969 Lennon returned his in protest of Britain's political involvement in Biafra and Vietnam.

Both McCartney and Beatles producer George Martin have since received the highest honor of knighthood.

AC/DC VOTED BEST FOR AUTOGRAPH SEEKERS, LED ZEPPELIN WORST

AC/DC topped a list of musicians in 2008 with the best attitude toward signing autographs and meeting fans, compiled by Canadian celebrity news outlet HoundsTV.com. Joining the Australian rockers at the top of the heap were Coldplay and the Guess Who. Meanwhile, the members of Led Zeppelin, along with Bon Jovi and the Eagles, led the list of artists who were the worst.

About AC/DC, HoundsTV.com reported, "It had been more than five years since the last time they breezed through Toronto and everybody remembers how fan friendly they were back then. It was good to see things had not changed with AC/DC and they were still the same great guys in 2008. From the time they checked into their downtown Toronto hotel until boarding the bus to play the sold-out stadium gig...(the band) were signing champs and all round great guys greeting fans and collectors at every turn."

As for Zeppelin members Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, who were in Toronto on separate occasions, the site noted, "Page announced on arrival...regarding autograph requests, 'I'm kinda finished with that,' and stuck to his word. Robert Plant was equally dismissive the few times approached by collectors over the course of the couple of days he was in Toronto. By mutual agreement among many, Page and Plant were the worst rock-god signers to come though during the year."