Well I now have a working taskbar application, many thanks mskeel.
To summarize...
The download from that site does all the funky stuff and the step by step instructions for creating your user control are real easy (especially if you don't try to translate it!) so i made a blank control for the taskbar.
I then created a normal custom control in vb.net with all the functionality i wanted on the taskbar.
compiled my dll, added it to the example, GAC'd it, REGASM'd it, and VOILA.
Many thanks again
Dill