Metallica and Deftones for Download

United Kingdom | | 08 February 2006

Metallica have been officially confirmed to headline this year's Download Festival at Donington. According to their website, they will also appear at a new Irish spin-off event.

This will mark the seventh appearance at Donington for the legendary band, forming part of their 'Get Out Of The Studio World Tour 2006'.

On the official website www.metallica.com, they have described how they planned to use the year to write and record but have been persuaded to play five dates, including Rock Am Ring in Germany.

Metallica will join previously confirmed acts Trivium, The Prodigy and Bullet For My Valentine at the Donington event, and are expected to headline the Saturday night (the same night as the Prodigy are performing).

Festival director Stuart Galbraith commented, "With the announcement of this amazing artist we are set to have the biggest and best Download ever. Metallica's performance at Download 06 will be exclusive and will be their only UK show this year. To have Metallica come back to Download after Lars not being able to play in 2004 will be the completion of their latest Donington chapter in the band's 25th year."

Deftones have also announced, via their official website, that they will be appearing at Download, on a yet-to-be-specified day.

Download 2006 takes place at Donington Park, Leicestershire, from 9-11 June. Tickets (priced £115 or £135 with camping and parking) are selling faster than ever before. With this announcement the event is likely to sell out in record time. Click here to buy now.

Metallica's last UK performance (headling Download in 2004) was a legendary show, which saw members of Slipknot and Slayer filling in for absent drummer Lars Ulrich, at the eleventh hour.

Stay posted for more announcements on Download including the Ireland event and the two other main stage headliners.

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Click here for more info on Download, including all the latest rumours on who else might be playing...