Knebworth Rocks: From Mick Jagger's pants to Metallica and Sonisphere

MICK Jagger's red underpants are currently on show in Knebworth. As the excitement of Sonisphere dies down, Knebworth Park is celebrating its colourful history of hosting rock concerts over the past four decades with a special exhibition. And among the it

MICK Jagger's red underpants are currently on show in Knebworth.

As the excitement of Sonisphere dies down, Knebworth Park is celebrating its colourful history of hosting rock concerts over the past four decades with a special exhibition.

And among the items on display are the red Y-fronts that the legendary Rolling Stones singer famously left at the bottom of the bed when he stayed at the house in 1976.

Henry Lytton Cobbold said: "Mick Jagger's underpants have just as much interest to some people as Winston Churchill's letters or Charles Dickens' letters.

"They are part of Knebworth House's history."

The list of artists that have played the iconic venue reads like a who's who of rock music.

Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Stones, Genesis, The Beach Boys, Deep Purple, Queen, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Oasis, Robbie Williams, The Who and now Metallica, who headlined the Sonisphere Festival on Sunday, have all played Knebworth.

The occupiers of Knebworth House have plenty of souvenirs and memorabilia from those era-defining gigs and placed some on show in the Banqueting Hall earlier this week.

The Knebworth Rocks exhibition includes tickets, passes, brochures, posters, T-shirts, concert photos taken by the family, Freddie Bannister's letter of February 1974 which started the amazing journey, photos of the fans through the ages and items from last weekend's Sonisphere spectacular.

An estimated 80,000 metal fans saw the likes of Metallica, Linkin Park, Nine Inch Nails, Lamb of God, Limp Bizkit, Machine Head and Heaven & Hell, a group made up from members of Black Sabbath.

Henry added: "We're very proud of 35 years of rock concerts at Knebworth.

"It's part of our heritage. We are famous worldwide for rock shows."

* The rock exhibition opened on Tuesday of this week and runs until the end of the month.

It is based on the book, Knebworth: 30 Years Of The Greatest Rock Venue In The World! compiled and edited by Henry Lytton Cobbold.

To mark the occasion, visitors will be able to purchase the full colour 48-page hardback illustrated copy for the special price of just �3.99, instead of the usual price of �10.

A selection of reproduction and original posters will also be on sale.

The exhibition is open daily from midday until 5pm (last tour 4pm) and entrance is included in the cost of the house tour.

All tours are guided, except on weekends when the house operates a free flow system.

Visitors will be given more time to view the exhibition at the end of their tour.

Adult admission costs are unaltered from 2008 at �9.50 including the house, with special rates for groups, senior citizens and children.

A family day ticket for four people is �33 including the house and an annual season ticket costs �34 per person.

The entrance cost includes the exhibition, park, adventure playground, miniature railway, gardens and dinosaur trail. Parking is free.