Metallica ready to rock Sonisphere at Knebworth

SONISPHERE Festival headliners Metallica are due to blow the competition off stage with a spectacular show tomorrow (Sunday) night.

The metal legends will close the main stage activities at Knebworth with a full two-hour set on the Apollo stage, starting from 8.45pm.

Stuart Galbraith, director of the touring festival, predicts fireworks when James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo bring the curtain down on the first Sonisphere at the stately home.

Speaking exclusively to the Welwyn & Hatfield Times, the man behind Sonisphere said: "I've got to say having seen Metallica now for many years they are absolutely at the top of their game at the moment.

"Their live show is absolutely fantastic.

"Then again we've got a number of other highlights, including Nine Inch Nails' last ever show in Europe.

"Trent [Reznor] has said that Nine Inch Nails are retiring.

"They have got a run of shows in the autumn in America, some small club shows, and this is their last show of the tour in Europe."

Tonight (Saturday) will also see one of the Sonisphere groups play their final concert in the Bohemia tent after main stage headliners Linkin Park have finished.

Galbraith added: "We've also got Thunder's last ever show before they all go off and do proper jobs!"

Two bands, however, have dropped out of the festival at short notice.

The Sonisphere director said: "Unfortunately, The Ataris have had to cancel coming over from America because the lead singer has got swine flu.

"Also we have lost Dirty Little Rabbits - that's Shawn from Slipknot - due to general fatigue.

"They've cancelled the whole tour and again they've not made the journey from America.

"But to be honest you always expect this. At the last count we had almost 60 bands, so you always get a couple that pull out.