Thrash titans Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax are set to play together on one bill for the first time in metal history!
The Big Four are set to play at Sonisphere, Europe's newest travelling metal festival, in Poland on June 16, 2010 and the Czech Republic on June 19, 2010.
"Who would have thought that more than 25 years after its inception, thrash metal's Big Four would not only still be around and more popular than ever, but will now play together for the first time?" gushed Metallica's Lars Ulrich. "What a mindfuck! Bring it on!"
"It's about fucking time this happened," added Slayer's Kerry King "And about time the fans finally get what they want. This is fucking awesome!"
And Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian agrees: "People have been talking about these four bands playing together since 1984. That's twenty-six years of expectation! And the thing is, I believe not only will we live up to the expectations, we will shatter them!"
Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine is also pleased as punch about the gigs: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for heavy metal fans to see the four greatest heavy metal bands in American history back together on one stage! If there are any heads left at the end of this Festival that haven't banged, they don't belong there!"
The British leg of Sonisphere will take place between July 30 and August 1 at Knebworth and will be headlined by Iron Maiden and Rammstein.
However, while the organisers of Sonisphere deny that the Big Four will be appearing as part of the UK bill, they still haven't confirmed exactly who will be headlining the opening night of the festival...
Tickets for Sonisphere UK are on sale now at www.aloud.com. And, what's more, the first several thousand people who buy tickets to the UK festival will get a free ticket to the Polish Sonisphere. Nice!