Sonisphere (Knebworth) has announced three headliners and the first batch of bands for its 2012 event, with tickets available from www.sonisphere.co.uk from 9am Thursday, February 23.
Shooting rockets. Blood spitting. Face paint. Shiny boots and utterly jaw dropping triumphant live shows: Sonisphere is proud to announce KISS as Friday’s headliner. With a reputation for being perhaps the most flamboyant and entertaining band on the planet, they will bring their stage extravaganza to Sonisphere as their only European performance of 2012.
With a quarter of a century having since passed, rock legends Queen are to return to play a second concert at the venue that provided them with the setting for one of their biggest and most historic concerts. Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor have confirmed the band will headline the second day of Sonisphere appearing on the Apollo stage on Saturday, July 7. Knebworth was the setting for Queen’s final concert with Freddie Mercury in August 1986. May and Taylor also confirmed that for this very special event they will be joined by US singer-songwriter Adam Lambert.
The potent chemistry between Queen and Lambert broke the surface when at the invitation of Brian May and Roger Taylor, Lambert joined them for the closing showcase at the recent MTV Europe Awards where Queen were present to collect their Global Icon award. Says Brian May: “Judging by my incoming mail, this decision will make a lot of people very happy. It’s a worthy challenge for us, and I’m sure Adam would meet with Freddie’s approval! And what better place to revisit, and walk those emotional paths than Knebworth? It will be a rush.”
For the final, Sunday night, Sonisphere is proud to announce the legendary Faith No More as the headline act on the Apollo stage.
On-stage irreverent, uncompromising, unpredictable and dazzling at every turn, FNM have been setting new standards in exciting rock performance for more than two decades now. With classics such as ‘Falling To Pieces’, ‘Epic’, ‘Midlife Crisis’ and ‘Be Aggressive’, Mike Bordin, Roddy Bottum, Bill Gould, Jon Hudson and Mike Patton are poised to set Knebworth on fire when they close the last night at Sonisphere with their only UK appearance of 2012. Bassplayer Billy Gould says: “It was over two years ago when we decided to reform and play those amazing UK shows. The good news is, we’ve had a couple of years to improve our skills; moving our song to error ratio down 3.5 full percentage points. Watch out UK, we’re going to do it right this time!!” Also appearing are Within Temptation, one of European metal’s greatest success stories, their elegant yet melodramatic symphonic grandeur ensuring sales in the millions. With no less than thirty gold and platinum awards as well as two MTV European Music Awards, WT play their only UK show of 2012 on the Friday at Sonisphere’s Apollo stage. Joining them are Wolfmother, one of the new millennium’s biggest Australian rock exports. Andrew Stockdale and co proudly boast gold records, top 40 singles and awards too numerous to count.
On the Saturday, the Apollo stage boasts a plethora of talent that showcases not only what a truly eclectic festival Sonisphere offers, but also its ability to deliver the biggest names across rocks’ spectrum. Evanescence were welcomed to the UK in 2003 when début album ‘Fallen’ went straight to Number one in the official charts. Since then it has gone on to go triple platinum here, with the multi-million selling US rockers counting no less than four top ten singles in this country. Reformed glam-rockers The Darkness come to Knebworth armed with a catalogue of classics as well as the promise of the first chance to hear new material this Summer.
Celtic folk-punks Flogging Molly make their way from Los Angeles California to show Sonisphere why they are the perfect festival band. Armed with banjos, mandolins, fiddles, tin whistles, accordions and spoons, the seven-piece will entertain the masses with music from their five album career. Sometimes you can’t get enough of a good thing, which is why Sonisphere is proud to welcome back mighty metal powerhouse Gojira. Opening the Apollo stage, the fierce French foursome will ensure a punishingly heavy start to the Saturday of Sonisphere and give UK fans the first chance to hear new material from their fifth album, and first for new label Roadrunner – due later this year. Over on Saturn, Italian goth-metallers Lacuna Coil give you their only chance to see them in the UK this Summer, bringing with them a beautiful bounty of deliciously melodic, ethereal metal from their 18 year career.
Sonisphere’s Sunday showcases more massive names to make sure the festival goes out with a bang. Making their way from Calabasas, California, alt-rock icons Incubus will not so much warm up the Apollo stage for headliners Faith No More as set it on fire.
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Controversial, shocking, provocative; whatever your opinion, there is no doubt about Marilyn Manson’s ability to entertain. With the means and know-how to deliver one of the greatest shows in rock’n’roll, and an array of anthems such as ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)’ and ‘The Beautiful People’, it should be a great show. Multi-platinum selling hip-hopsters Cypress Hill bring their inimitable rap-rock stylings to Knebworth this Summer. With a brand new collaboration with dubstep pioneer Rusko set for a release in April, and classics like ‘Insane In The Brain’ they will deliver an unmissable set at Sonisphere.
Andrew W.K. has been spreading his message of joy, fun love and freedom for over a decade. With irresistible party anthems like ‘Party Hard’, and ‘Tear It Up’, Andrew W.K. will bring the bright California sunshine to make Sunday July 8 even brighter.
Aside from the big names on the Apollo stage, the first three names for Knebworth other main stage – Saturn – can be revealed.
Groundbreaking and highly influential Swedish hardcore pioneers Refused return to the UK for their first show since 1998. That year’s ‘The Shape Of Punk To Come’ re-wrote the rule book, effortlessly melding punk, metal and hardcore with jazzy time changes and techno beats to provide the backing for an angry and politically charged hymn sheet.
Mastadon’s progressive take on the genre has seen them become the one heavy band that everyone can agree on. Hot off the back of a sold-out UK tour in support of latest album ‘The Hunter’ Mastadon will perform their latest opus in its entirety exclusively at Sonisphere. Drummer Brann Dailor says:”Me and the guys couldn’t be more thrilled to play Sonisphere. It’s always a blast, the crowds are always incredible. We look forward to seeing you in person.” The Blackout come armed with heavy hitting numbers like ‘Hard Slammin’, ‘It’s High Tide Baby!’, ‘Save Our Selves (The Warning)’ while Fields Of The Nephilim bring their classic gothic rock to continue the tradition of the late night slots in Bohemia.
Melodic doomsters Ghost bring their highly mysterious band of Nameless Ghouls, led by the inimitable Papa Emeritus. Having been planning the downfall of humanity since their inception in 2008, this secretive satanic sect use beautiful melodic rock to manipulate an unsuspecting public and preach their endtime message. In stark contrast to Ghosts’ evil forces, American alt-rockers Switchfoot come to Sonisphere to offer redemption while Aussie metalcore mob I Killed The Prom Queen come to Sonisphere for their UK festival début at their first show on these shores since the band went on hiatus in 2007, alongside Swedish alternative doomsters Katatonia, who have a new album due later this year.
As well as the exciting names from the world of rock, Sonisphere once again shows its forward thinking nature, and invites musician/comedian Tim Minchin to headline the Saturday night on Saturn. On top of the host of talent on offer at Sonisphere, Knebworth organisers are offering a limited number of tickets to Sonisphere Madrid (which takes place on May 25 and 26) when a weekend ticket for Sonisphere Knebworth is bought. Headliners Metallica – who play their ‘Black Album’ in its entirety – are joined by an impressive cast featuring the likes of Soundgarden, Slayer, Children Of Bodom, Kyuss Lives and many more – that’s two Sonisphere festivals for the price of one!
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Tickets are on sale from 9am Thursday, February 23 from www.sonisphere.co.uk or 0844 871 8803 priced at £145 for weekend tickets, £170 for three days with camping, £180 for four days with camping, a very limited number of day tickets available for £75. A deposit scheme will be launched at the same time for those who want to spread the cost of their ticket. A deposit of £50 will secure a weekend ticket, with the balance due anytime before 30th April 2011.
Rock Royalty and Day VIP packages are also available at www.sonisphere.co.uk.
For more information visit the link.
