Simon Rushworth
Kiss, Queen and Faith No More are the killer headline acts set to rock Sonisphere this summer.
And the big hitting trio will be joined on a typically varied roster by The Darkness, Mastodon, Evanescence, Incubus, Ghost and more from July 6-8. It might have taken the Knebworth crew some time to finalise this summer’s bill but we reckon it’s been well worth the wait!
Kiss, promoting a new album due this year, will headline Friday’s festivities. With a reputation for being the most flamboyant and entertaining band on the planet, the American kings will bring their stage extravaganza to Sonisphere for their only European performance of 2012.
Kiss have gone from strength to strength garnering praise, success and too many accolades to mention – selling more than 100 million albums worldwide and counting. As the band prepare to unleash new album Monster in June they said:
“You wanted the best, you got the best, the hottest band in the world, KISS”.
A quarter of a century has passed since Queen last played Knebworth but the classic rock legends 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 but May and Taylor have 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 May and Taylor, the singer joined them for the closing showcase at the recent MTV Europe Awards where Queen were present to collect their Global Icon award.
May said: “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.”
On Sunday night the legendary Faith No More is the headline act on the Apollo stage. The US stars 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 will make their only UK appearance of 2012. Bass player Billy Gould said:
“It was over 2 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!!”
Joining the three superb headliners are some of the biggest names from the world of rock and metal.
Within Temptation are one of European metal’s greatest success stories, their elegant yet melodramatic symphonic grandeur ensuring sales in the millions. With no less than 30 gold and platinum awards as well as two MTV European Music Awards, the band plays their only UK show of 2012 on the Friday.
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 a slew of major awards.
On the Saturday, the Apollo stage boasts a plethora of talent including Evanescence – initially welcomed to the UK in 2003 when debut 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 10 singles in this country.
Reformed glam-rockers The Darkness arrive at Knebworth armed with a catalogue of classics as well as the promise of the first chance to hear new material this summer. If Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us, the band’s first new song in seven years, is anything to go by, The Darkness are already back to their best.
Celtic folk-punks Flogging Molly make their way from Los Angeles to show UK fans 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.
Gojira, Lacuna Coil, Incubus and Marilyn Manson join Cypress Hill on a bill staying true to Sonisphere’s reputation for mixing rock and metal’s many genres. And Andrew W.K. is back with his own brand of party anthems.
Refused and Mastodon have joined the bill with prog rock drummer supreme Brann Dailor adding: “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.”
Throw in The Blackout, Fields Of The Nephilim and Ghost and there’s something for everyone at Knebworth this summer. Alt rockers Switchfoot return to the UK after dazzling Download a couple of years back and Katatonia will bring some sophisticated cool to proceedings.
Tickets are on sale from 9am Thursday 23rd Feb 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