Union Board (UB) announced on Wednesday, March 21, that heavy metal rock band Slipknot will replace O.A.R. as the headlining band for this spring’s "Big Show."

The announcement comes less than a month after UB announced O.A.R. for the annual spring concert event.

"The decision to drop O.A.R. was strictly based on numbers," said Jennifer Schreer, Union Board advisor. "We want everyone on campus to show up for the concert at the end of the year, and the best band available at the time to draw such a crowd was Slipknot."

According to Marc Roburge, O.A.R.’s lead singer, the band was not surprised that Slipknot was chosen to replace them.

"Certainly we’re disappointed at being replaced, but as soon as they [UB] told us Slipknot was the band replacing us, we stopped arguing and asked why Slipknot hadn’t been chosen in the first place," Roburge said. "Slipknot’s music has so much noise and power to it. They even have a few songs where you can actually understand what they’re saying.

"We’re [O.A.R.] considering still coming to Albion, just to watch them perform."

The band has also performed in mainstream events such as Ozzfest and the Let There Be Darkness Tour with rock colleagues Satan’s Entourage.

"Slipknot is the best thing to come to Albion since the electric key card openers on the residence hall doors," said Domenic Alexander, Caseville sophomore and Slipknot groupie. "If the day of the concert is cloudy, raining and downright miserable, their music will set the mood perfectly."