Right...Who will headline?

[AR93]

Okay, so it is almost certain that there will be an announcement soon. So who will be the three headliners?

Just a guess, I would expect it to be any of the following:

Iron Maiden

Kiss

Rage Against The Machine

Van Halen

Rammstein

Foo Fighters

Muse

I have a feeling we might get a first time UK festival headliner, potentially Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine or Machine Head.

Discuss people...

[kipper64]

Guns N Roses - have a date heavily rumoured in Poland on 30th June.

Tool - not too likely but they are touring the USA at the moment, so not likely to be there during the summer. New album out in May, might do a festival stint to promote it

Kiss - said on the One Show they'll be here next summer

Van Halen - world tour being announced soon, not been in the UK for 28 years (with David Lee Roth).

Queen (W/ Adam Lambert) - said they'll be doing some dates this year, french radio station leaked they're playing Sonisphere France - same weekend as Soni UK and has shared headliners past year.

Faith No More - also rumoured for Sonisphere France.

Soundgarden - Very unlikely as Matt is with Pearl Jam on saturday, could fly over to do Friday or Sunday headline set with Soundgarden?

Foo Fighters - Unlikely, probably at Reading and Leeds, but soni was in talks with them.

Green Day - Very unlikely as they are massive but Soni said they'd like them to play one year and are due a return to the UK

Muse - NME guessed that they'd do Sonisphere this year - I don't think it'll happen, but who knows?

Linkin Park - Chester says they have more dates to announce, doing Rock am Ring so far

It won't be Iron Maiden as they aren't doing festivals this year afaik, and it won't be Machine Head as they are nowhere near big enough, A7X and BFMV probably will headline festivals, but not untill next year, no reason to bump them up as they subbed last year and haven't gotten any bigger since.

[thedudeman]

Van halen announced us/can tour ends on june 28. I think they will be one headliner.

[jump]

Van halen announced us/can tour ends on june 28. I think they will be one headliner.

[spitfireman]

I've previously stated that a 'very good source' informed me that Rush, Van Halen and Kiss are VERY likely to play Sonisphere. Only 2 of those are likely to headline and i suggest that it'll be Rush (hopefully with an extended set) and Van Halen. Kiss may well do a symphonic set.

I was previously accused of being a 'troll' so have kept my next potential headliner to myself since well before xmas .... but i have heard more than one rumour (again from insider sources) that Queen are very likely to play.

Tbh i daren't wish for it but Rush, VH and Queen (with guests) would be an awesome line up, especially when it'd be supported by the usual fantastic range of other Sonisphere bands.

None of this is written in tablets of stone but i would put good money on Rush and VH .... Queen i'm a little more suspect of.

Also hoping for Alice in chains and skindred again .... and surely Anthrax can't miss a UK Sonisphere?

Can't wait for the announcements which must come soon

[kipper64]

Queen will be with Adam Lambert, rather than random guests, judging by what Roger has been saying in recent interviews.

Kiss are doing their monster tour in support of their new album which is hitting this year. It won't be a symphonic set and if they played, they'd headline. I'm seriously doubting Van Halen will be over in Europe this summer at all. Tour dates end right at the end of June, but they can and probably will easily add more assuming their tour sells out - which is likely. There's much more money for them to make in the USA and assuming the new album is a success and judging by the buzz over there, it will be, then they'll have no reason to come over to here for a UK date when they've missed most of the hard rock EU festivals. Maybe in 2013. Rush were indeed looking to do a big UK rock festival this year, but from what I've heard, they've since said they won't be here this summer, won't be back till 2013 according to Alex Lifeson

[t8yman]

Van Halen dont give a flying fuck about the uk/europe. we are so low down on their list of priorities you would not believe.

in the states they are huge, they could tour the US for 2 years selling out everywhere they go.

dont get me wrong - they are on my list of bands to see before I die, Ive loved them since jump, which was one of the very first records I ever bought.

the "live without a net" video (which I had on VHS) is awesome. to see Eddie play eruption and cathedral live would make me soil myself!

[kipper64]

Aye, alot of people are saying "Oh the tour ends just before Soni so they can still make it over for that". Like that'll happen! They're playing 2 nights at Madison Square gardens next month, both of which will sell out instantly no doubt...there is no way they could make that sort of money over here! I do expect them to come over eventually, but considering they're missing half the big hard rock EU festivals as it is, I can't see it happening this summer for the sake of a few EU dates. If anything they'll probably add more US dates in July rather than change continent. Or maybe go to South America if they are massive there...I know many big Rock acts are.

My current thoughts on most likely headliners are:

Friday: Faith No More. Originally thought Soundgarden perhaps, but it's unlikely with Matt's Pearl Jam commitments, still possible he could fly over before going to Sweden, but I think FNM are more likely.

Saturday: KISS

Sunday: Queen (w/ Adam Lambert).

According to Metal Hammer, they've heard it's 2 big classic rock headliners this year, which would fit that, and Kiss still not really announcing the dates for their monster tour I can imagine it's one of the stumbling blocks. The other possibly being Queen who have been dropping hints at a few lives dates this year but have yet to make it official.

[t8yman]

and the other consideration - which I wasnt aware of until today, is Eddie Van Halen has a fear of flying. he will be in no rush to take an 8 hour flight to the UK for a small handful of summer dates followed by all of the international flights between.

[5co77ie]

and the other consideration - which I wasnt aware of until today, is Eddie Van Halen has a fear of flying. he will be in no rush to take an 8 hour flight to the UK for a small handful of summer dates followed by all of the international flights between.

[gazza_20]

Aye, alot of people are saying "Oh the tour ends just before Soni so they can still make it over for that". Like that'll happen! They're playing 2 nights at Madison Square gardens next month, both of which will sell out instantly no doubt...there is no way they could make that sort of money over here! I do expect them to come over eventually, but considering they're missing half the big hard rock EU festivals as it is, I can't see it happening this summer for the sake of a few EU dates. If anything they'll probably add more US dates in July rather than change continent. Or maybe go to South America if they are massive there...I know many big Rock acts are.

My current thoughts on most likely headliners are:

Friday: Faith No More. Originally thought Soundgarden perhaps, but it's unlikely with Matt's Pearl Jam commitments, still possible he could fly over before going to Sweden, but I think FNM are more likely.

Saturday: KISS

Sunday: Queen (w/ Adam Lambert).

According to Metal Hammer, they've heard it's 2 big classic rock headliners this year, which would fit that, and Kiss still not really announcing the dates for their monster tour I can imagine it's one of the stumbling blocks. The other possibly being Queen who have been dropping hints at a few lives dates this year but have yet to make it official.

[AR93]

Okay, so updating my original list and added more bands in:

Iron Maiden - I doubt it due to the guitarist side project.

Kiss - Very likely by the look of things, nothing official as yet.

Rage Against The Machine - Still a possibility, nothing planned this year.

Van Halen - Like many of you have said, it's unlikely EVH and co. will want to head over here for a short time after those U.S dates.

Rammstein - Are here this year so may return in the summer.

Foo Fighters - Nothing official from both Sonisphere of Reading ruling them in or out yet.

Muse - Still a possibility

Queen with Adam Lambert - I'm a bit unconvinced by this, but a lot of you think it'll happen.

Aerosmith - Are working on new material and are due back here but it's unlikely

Linkin Park - As someone said, Chester is looking to have some dates next year.

Blink 182 - A lot of negativity towards this rumour but could have an outside chance.

Bon Jovi - No real rumours about them, have recently finished a massive tour so unlikely.

David Bowie - A strange rumour going around...surely not?!

Black Sabbath - There was a "supposedly official" rumour back that they would be headlining along with Manowar, no other U.K dates in their world tour this year, but they are obviously at Download.

Faith No More - Probably unlikely but they are also due back

Green Day - Seems to be lots of talk for them on the forums. Billie Joe tweeted this last year so not too sure:

"A festival? With GD? It's my nail and your coffin pal..."

So there you have it.

[5co77ie]

Black Sabbath - There was a "supposedly official" rumour back that they would be headlining along with Manowar, no other U.K dates in their world tour this year, but they are obviously at Download.

Edited January 10, 2012 by 5co77ie

[jump]

Black Sabbath - There was a "supposedly official" rumour back that they would be headlining along with Manowar, no other U.K dates in their world tour this year, but they are obviously at Download.

[kipper64]

It was fake, posted by beardy on the DLF as an obvious hoax. Black Sabbath are unlikely to even be at Download at the moment all things considered, no way would they do Sonisphere as well.

[5co77ie]

Kiss - Very likely by the look of things, nothing official as yet.

Motley Crue - touring with Kiss, subheadliners?

So there you have it.

[Justiceforcedave]

Yes please to KISS & Crue

[Justiceforcedave]

...it does seem strange that at this stage in the game, not even a little iddy biddy smidgeon of information has snuck out. Considering that it's a touring festival, surely there are far more oppertunities for a leak to happen?

[5co77ie]

Meat Loaf's just announced a new album for release in February.

[jump]

...it does seem strange that at this stage in the game, not even a little iddy biddy smidgeon of information has snuck out. Considering that it's a touring festival, surely there are far more oppertunities for a leak to happen?

[she bangs the drums]

Yes please to KISS & Crue

[thejimbola]

One man's dream is another man's nightmare, I really cannot stand Kiss or Motley Crue, Motley Crue even more so, they were everything wrong with rock music in the 80s until thrash metal came along, as for Kiss, there shows are just a poor man's Rammstein.

[t8yman]

, as for Rammstein, their shows are just a poor man's KISS.

[Justiceforcedave]

I've only ever seen "New" Kiss at Download in 2008 and Wembley Arena in 2010 and I was blown away both times.

A True fucking spectacle, Paul Stanley may not quite hit the high notes like he used to but I'll be damned if I've ever seen 59 year old man move around a stage or command such attention like that anywhere else!

I love big dirty riffs and a bit of moody rock as much as the next man, but I'll always tip my hat to a good old fasion pyrotechnic spewing rock show!

[kipper64]

Yeah I'm not really a fan of KISS on record, but I've seen them live and I must admit they are a really good live band, would be a worthy headliner, and better than a repeat.