Monsters Of Rock headliners announced

Monsters of Rock, the legendary one-day hard rock festival from the '80s and early '90s, returns to the UK festival calendar on 3 June 2006 at Milton Keynes Bowl.

Deep Purple and Alice Cooper will headline the event, with the full bill expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan said: "For Deep Purple to headline the return of the mighty Monsters of Rock Festival in 2006 is somewhat appropriate, as this brings two venerable giants of hard rock together for the first time. I have great memories of playing the Monsters of Rock as a solo artist back in 1982, and am very much looking forward to Deep Purple's debut appearance."

Monsters Of Rock is synonymous with the very cream of hard rock and heavy metal. Acts such as AC/DC, Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Kiss, Metallica, and Van Halen have all graced its stage over the years.

Tickets are priced £38.50 and will be on sale from this Friday, 20 January.

A spokesman for the event said: "While hard rock has never gone away, it has to be said that interest in heavy music's glorious heritage has never been more intense, with new young rock fans eager to check out legendary colourful giants of hard rock and heavy metal such as Deep Purple and Alice Cooper."

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