Metallica and Linkin Park are already confirmed headliners of this groundbreaking touring festival that travels throughout Europe and finishes in the UK at Knebworth House on 1st and 2nd August 2009. Lamb of God and Mastodon join the line-up at every Sonisphere Festival.
Sonisphere Festival 2009
We are extremely proud to announce that Alice In Chainswill take time out from preparations for their first new album in 13 years (the first since the passing of former frontman Layne Staley), to make Sonisphere Festival their only UK date in 2009. They have recently returned to live shows after 2 years with singer William DuVall, a long time friend and collaborator of guitarist Jerry Cantrell. The return of the band that put Seattle on the music map in the early 1990s, is hotly anticipated by UK fans.
Every festival needs a band to lead the rock n roll debauchery, an honour that Avenged Sevenfold have enthusiastically taken on. Forming while still in high school, Ax7 have everything you could ask for in a rock band – big songs, shredding riffs, screaming solos and true rock ‘n’ roll spirit. Like Alice In Chains, Aveneged Sevenfold are flying into the UK especially and only to play Sonisphere – so you only need to lock up your daughters for one day.
Also from California, the mighty Machine Head will be bringing the mosh to Knebworth. Latest album, The Blackening, is credited with recapturing their blistering early form that first hooked in UK metalheads when they toured with Slayer in1994. Within months, the band returned to headline the same venues they had just opened at and have since maintained their place as metal titans.
But Sonisphereis not just about the established rock giants. Bringing the underground to the surface at Knebworth this summer are young Texans The Sword. Handpicked by Metallica’s James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich for their world tour, these cult doomsters combine classic British 1970s metal from the likes of Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden with a thunderous sound, wrapped in classic heavy metal fantasy and mythology.
The historic return of rock to Knebworth House needed to be marked by a legendary band and in Thin Lizzy Sonisphere has one of music’s true touchstones. Simply one of the most important bands in rock history and arguably the most successful band ever to come out of Ireland, Thin Lizzy at Knebworth will underline that The Boys Are Back In Town. With Mastodon covering blistering Thin Lizzy classic Emerald, a live collaboration between the two bands could be on…..
Sonisphere is already massive, but the best is yet to come. The first 9 bands are in place, further announcements in the coming weeks will include some VERY special guests….
**Next announcement 9AM this Wednesday**
Line Up So Far:
Metallica / Linkin Park / Alice In Chains / Avenged Sevenfold / Mastodon / Lamb Of God /Machine Head / Thin Lizzy / The Sword