Slipknot reveal Paul Gray replacement for summer gigs

Slipknot have announced that original member Donnie Steele will rejoin the metal band this summer.

It follows the death of bass guitarist Paul Gray last year.

The band are due to headline the Sonisphere festival in July and are playing other live shows across Europe.

A statement on the band's website said: "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 at the beginning."

It continued: "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.

"The eight of us are looking forward to being onstage again and honouring Paul's legacy with our families in Europe and Brazil this summer."

Donnie Steele left Slipknot in 1996.

His replacement Paul Gray died last 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.