Manic Street Preachers defend Metallica against Glastonbury controversy

Manic Street Preachers have defended the decision to book Metallica as Glastonbury headliners, as the band face controversy around their hunting habits and not being 'Glasto friendly'. 

The heavy metal icons have so far proven a somewhat controversial choice to top the bill on the Pyramid Stage this year, due to their hard rock sound not really seeming like the typical booking for Glasto. Then, the controversy was only heightened when a petition was launched by Glastonbury-goers, aiming to ban Metallica from performing at the festival, due to frontman James Hetfield's support of bear hunting. - with many arguing that it is not in-keeping with the green and peace-loving ethos of the festival.

"No, I've got no opinion about that issue that's arisen," said frontman James Dean Bradfield. "I don't buy into it and I'm kind of looking forward to seeing them. I must say I'm a very natural person to be very anti-hunting of any degree whatsoever, but that's not going to make me not want to see Metallica at Glastonbury."

He continued: "I think that one picture that they paraded around is not actually James Hetfield either."

Bassist and lyricist Nicky Wire added: "Lars Ulrich is so desparate to play anyway that they're going to make it a full-on rock set."