“We’ve got some headliners planned nearer the summer… I can’t say, it’s not confirmed yet!” Yeah yeah, we’ve heard the rumours. But it would spoil the surprise if we were to tell. We’re excited about it, and to celebrate we embark on the slippery slope into oblivion as we spy the three bottles of vodka on the table.

“I’m usually pretty buzzed when we get onstage. It’s usually at the end of the show where I’ll kinda be like, ‘Ooooh, I’ve had a few too many Brown Eyes through the set!’ It gets messy. I did that at Brixton once, when we recorded the Hellalive DVD and I ended up talking to the crowd for 10 minutes just saying, ‘Maaan ahhhh luuurve you guuysh…’ Not recommended. Especially when you forget how to play your own songs…”

The Machine Head party is one that everyone is invited to and it’s flattering that we’re invited to stay while they warm up to go onstage, which is usually ‘us time’ for most bands. It’s here we get a sense of how down to earth they are. Hammer’s snapper has just become a father for the second time, so talk between he and Robb turns to their respective offspring.

“There’s nothing like having a family to bring you down to earth when you get off tour,” Robb reassures us. “My eldest son who’s three isn’t quite old enough to understand what daddy does. ‘What are you doing, daddy?’ ‘I’m headbanging, son.’ ‘But why?’ And you know what? I don’t really have an answer to that…” Neither do we, but who cares when there are more pressing matters at hand.

“I didn’t really know what to wear tonight,” says Phil Demmel as the ever-smiling guitarist strides into the room. “I opted for the black sleeveless shirt,” he beams, brushing down his none-more-black thrashing threads. Wow, Phil. That must have been a really tough choice…

Slipknot’s dressing room is off limits pre-show. That’s not to say they’re rock star dicks. Far from it, as Corey ribs us for the third time about a ‘difficult algebra’ question we asked in an earlier interview. It’s simply because trying to squeeze a couple of shameless hacks into a modest room with nine band members plus various girlfriends and tour personnel is a little too cosy. Half of the band aren’t interested in the limelight either. “Craig [Jones, samples guy] was out in the crowd for Machine Head’s set,” their PR lady informs us.

To be honest we wouldn’t know Craig if we fell over him. “No one would. He likes it that way.” Horses for courses: some are attention seekers – we guess Corey, judging from the profanities currently emanating from their inner sanctuary. We’ve never heard a vocal warm up tape with those lyrics before, Mister! Some just don’t give a shit – that’ll be DJ Sid Wilson, who is in the corridor fixing his mask and is happy for us to take photos… as long as his face isn’t in them.

“The worst thing about this tour,” admits Corey, “is that we have to follow Machine Head. They’re a great fucking live band and if we don’t step it up we’d get smoked every night. Positive competitiveness. It’s the best adrenaline switch.”

Get your final installment here!