Rock star Marilyn Manson has agreed to coach pop hopefuls. The controversial rock singer will appear on Austrian broadcaster ORF’s "Helden von Morgen" (Tomorrow’s Heroes) show on 21 January, it was announced today (Thurs).

The 42-year-old American performed in Austria many times including a show at the Nova Rock festival in Nickelsdorf in 2007. "The High End of Low", his seventh studio album, was released to mixed reviews in 2009. Vienna’s Kunsthalle museum put a series of paintings by the rock star on display as part of its "Genealogies of Pain" exhibition last year.

German rapper Sido, Austrian singer-songwriter Rainhard Fendrich and English pop star Kim Wilde previously appeared as coaches and jurors on "Helden von Morgen" which started last autumn. The show’s final will be broadcast live on ORF 1 on 28 January.

"Helden von Morgen" has similarities to British singing competition "The X-Factor" and German prime time show "Deutschland sucht den Superstar". ORF created the format after four series of casting format show "Starmania" and just one series of "Musical – Die Show".