Metallica to headline new festival

Metallica are set to headline new festival Sonisphere.

The US metal legends are set to be the main act of the new music event, while Linkin Park will top the bill the other night.

The festival will tour across Europe and will include a stop at legendary UK concert venue Knebworth on August 1 and 2.

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, 45, can't wait to play Knebworth, which has hosted some of he biggest shows in history.

He said: "Knebworth is the ultimate. Donington is great, as is Reading and Wembley Stadium, but Knebworth is the paramount concert experience.

"To be part of the significant history that's been there - Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Oasis - is incredible."

Huge open-air shows at Knebworth - located in Hertfordshire, Southern England - have been held by a host of performers including the Rolling Stones in 1967, Led Zeppelin in 1979, Queen in 1985, Oasis in 1996 and Robbie Williams in 2003. Playing the venue is seen for many as the peak in an artist's career.

The Sonisphere festival is a new type of event which will host a number of top acts on one stage, with very few little-known bands playing.

Other groups believed to be in talks to perform include Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters, Muse and the Stereophonics.

Stuart Galbraith, producer of Sonisphere, said: "We're focusing on having 12 to 14 acts of massive quality. There's no point in going to a festival with a load of bands there, but most of them are rubbish.

"We're starting an entirely new brand, with one of the biggest rock bands in the world. We've seen increasing levels of complaints from fans that rock festivals are too diluted, with four or five stages going on at the same time when you can only ever watch one."

The tour will visit Holland, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Finland before coming to England.

Tickets for the festival go on sale on Wednesday (11.02.09) and are priced at £125 each.