Slipknot to headline Sonisphere metal Festival 2011

Slipknot will headline next year's Sonisphere Festival, held at Knebworth in Hertfordshire between 8-10 July.

The metal band will play one of their first live sets since the death of bassist Paul Gray earlier this year.

The band said in a statement: "This tour is about us and our fans. It's about celebrating the life of our brother, Paul and his legacy."

Sonisphere started in 2009 with previous headliners including Metallica, Linkin Park and Iron Maiden.

The 2011 festival is taking place a month earlier than usual in the UK.

More acts will be announced on Monday (6 December).

The touring festival also visits other countries across Europe including Spain, Sweden and Finland.

Slipknot's Paul Gray died in May of an accidental morphine overdose.

Tributes to the 38-year-old were held at last summer's Download festival and rock magazine Kerrang's! annual awards in August.

The Iowa band's last studio album, All Hope Is Gone, debuted at number one in the US Billboard charts in 2008.

Meanwhile, lead singer Corey Taylor is releasing a Christmas single.

His track X-M@$ is released on 12 December and will raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

It'll go up against the winner of this year's X Factor.