By ESTHER BRADBURY
Eminem has been confirmed as the top act for next year's Reading and Leeds festivals.
His appearance will mark twelve years since his previous headline appearance at Reading in 2001, where he famously finished his set with a duet with controversial rocker Marilyn Manson.
The 40 year old rap artist exploded onto the music scene in 1999, and has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
He is best known for songs such as The Real Slim Shady, Lose Yourself and Stan, which featured Dido on vocals.
The twinned Reading and Leeds Festivals have typically been dominated by rock and indie acts, and the choice of Eminem is reminiscent of Martin Eavis's controversial decision to headline Jay-Z at Glastonbury 2008.
Fans then were outraged that a rap artist was headlining what has been traditionally a rock festival, but Jay-Z won over the crowds and his appearance was hailed a success.
Eminem's latest album, Recovery, was the worldwide best selling album of 2010, and his next studio album is due for release next year. The rapper starred in the semi autobiographical film 8 Mile with Kim Basinger in 2002, and won an Oscar for Best Original Song from the soundtrack, with Lose Yourself.
Eminem was due to perform in London in 2005 but cancelled the European leg of his world tour citing exhaustion, although it later emerged he was addicted to sleeping pills.
source: dailymail
