Calling potential Popular Music students – Sid from Slipknot is taking your questions

The turntablist from Grammy award-winning band Slipknot will be appearing at the University of Northampton next month.

Sid Wilson will be performing and taking questions from the floor at the event, which has been organised by the Popular Music department to provide current and would-be students with an insight into the music industry.

Controversial American heavy metallers Slipknot shot to international fame in the late 1990s, with their aggressive sound and image and headline-grabbing, chaotic live shows. Sid, who also performs under the names Ratboy and DJ Starscream, celebrates his 20th year with the band in 2018.

Dr Jasmine Shadrack, Senior Lecturer in Popular Music, said: “We are very excited to welcome DJ Starscream, aka Sid Wilson from Slipknot, to the University. Slipknot have been one of the most influential metal bands of the last 20 years, fusing different genre elements together to create something new.

“Sid has a wealth of experience to share, from being part of a band and touring internationally through to forging a solo career and conquering new markets. We can’t wait!”

The event is open to current University of Northampton students, plus local school and college students who would like to find out more about the Popular Music course. School and college pupils/staff can register their attendance by emailing schools.liaison@northampton.ac.uk.

Sid’s appearance, which takes place on Wednesday 7 February, is just one of a series of special events lined up by the Popular Music department during Changing Futures Week – a five-day University wide showcase of industry speakers.

On Monday 5 February, filmmaker and ethnographer, Nelson Veraz-Diaz, will hold a question and answer session live from Puerto Rico, following a screening of his award-winning film, The Metal Islands.

The same day will see Stuart Belsham talk to students about the work of PRS, which pays royalties to artists when their work is performed, broadcast, streamed, downloaded, reproduced, played in public or used in film and TV.

On Tuesday 6 February, BBC Introducing and UK Music will host workshops and panels to prepare students for life in the UK music industry. More details can be found on the event page.

Radio One rock DJ, Daniel P Carter, will be appearing on Thursday 8 February.

A panel featuring Popular Music course graduates, Chris Pettifer, Jen Dobson and Jamie Sykes takes place on Wednesday, while on Friday, Associate Lecturer Daniel Johnson will talk about forging a career in the music industry, plus his social inclusion and enterprise initiatives.