"e;The only plan right now is to kill everybody"e; Joey Jordison, drummerIgnoring every rule in the book and more besides, Slipknot are a notoriously controversial band who combine a talent for outrage with their music. Reminiscent of the outlandishness of punk, 'nu metal' has become the fastest growing area in rock, with Slipknot selling over 2 million copies of their debut album. And yet Slipknot spit, swear and risk injury night after night in their extraordinary live performances. Incredibly, their apparel of masks and boiler suits, which they refuse to remove, means that their fans still do not know what they look like. Jason Arnopp, the first British journalist to interview Slipknot face to mask, describes the transformation of the Des Moines crew into unorthodox mega stars. Featuring an introduction by the legendary Gene Simmons of Kiss, this biography will be the first published on the band either in the UK or America and will include exclusive interviews and in-depth information on the mysterious nine masked men.

Ignoring every rule in the book and more besides, Slipknot have achieved unprecedented success, selling two million copies of their debut album worldwide. Outraging authorities and courting controversy at every turn, they have wowed crowds across the globe by risking life and limb during extraordinary live performances. This is a tale of struggle, fear, madness and hideous injuries, all seen through the eyeholes of the band. And best of all, no one knows what they look like.

Featuring an introduction by the legendary Ozzy Osbourne and an afterword by Gene Simmons, plus exclusive quotes from Slipknot themselves, Inside the Sickness, Behind the Masks fully documents the Des Moines crew's transformation into unorthodox mega-stars.

With 'nu metal' as the new punk, Slipknot are the most significant and electrifying new band since the Sex Pistols.