Corey Taylor is set to be a guest speaker at Oxford University’s student union.

The Slipknot frontman – who has faced a tough time along with his band members after 38-year-old bassist Paul Gray died suddenly last year – admitted he was surprised at being asked to speak at the education facility, because he wasn’t very successful at school.

He told Kansas City radio station – 98.9 The Rock: “I’ve been asked to speak at Oxford University, which is very ironic seeing as I didn’t graduate from high school.

“They took a vote about who they would want to speak at their student union and I was the number one pick, apparently, so I was like ‘yeah, okay, let’s do this.’ I’m probably going to swear and sweat a lot.”

Corey – who also fronts heavy metal band Stone Sour – is due to speak at the union in June, ahead of the release of his ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ book, and the 37-year-old songwriter explained he does not take his career for granted.

He added: “I’m very lucky to be able to do this. I’m very grateful to have a career. It could be gone at any minute.

“To me, it makes more sense to face ahead and try to accomplish the things that I want to do rather than try to define myself by the fame and the money and all that stupid idiocy.

“I’ve got stuff that I want to do for the rest of my life, the fame is just a by-product.”