Meshuggah for Bloodstock as only UK appearance

Meshuggah appear as special guests of an, as yet unnamed, act who will now headline at Bloodstocks 10th anniversary festival.

With the cancellation of Heaven & Hell's summer appearances, Bloodstock have been left with boots to fill that are simply far too big for just one band - the metal legends are irreplaceable. So their vacant headline slot will be filled by not one, but two names from the world of metal, in the form of a headliner, plus a very special guest. Those special guests will be Meshuggah. The Swedish pioneers will be making their only 2010 UK appearance as special guests to the headline act.

Metal legend Ronnie James Dio was originally scheduled to appear as one of the headliners of this year's festival, and as a tribute to one of metal's leading and legendary lights, the Bloodstock Main Stage will be re-named the Ronnie James Dio stage.

The festival's founder Paul Gregory, responsible for the cover artwork for Dio's 'Angry Machines' and 'Inferno - Last In Live' albums said on behalf of the Bloodstock family, "It is indeed a sad time for me and I know for metalheads throughout the world; the demise of one of the true legends of metal has come to pass. I had the privilege of doing two albums for Dio and only got the opportunity to meet him once, a true gentleman in every sense and a giant of the genre. My condolences to the family and all true fans of the music we love.

"As the UK's only true outdoor metal festival, it seems only fitting that we pay tribute to a man who has done so much for our beloved genre, and so - with overwhelming support from our social networking users - we wish to pay tribute by renaming our main stage the Ronnie James Dio stage, and ensure the spirit of this metal icon lives on."

In other news, Twisted Sister's headline slot has been moved to the Sunday, in order to close the festival with a bang. Welsh death metallers Desecration have been also been announced for the Sophie Lancaster Stage. The band gore lovin' death metallers said, "...with Bloodstock fast becoming 'THE' UK metal festival for real metal fans we're over the moon to be included in this year's line-up..." Look out for the announcement of the new Friday night headliner on Tuesday 15th June, (the day after Download could that be a clue?).

Bloodstock's 10th Anniversary will take place from Friday 13th until Sunday 15th August 2010 at Catton Hall, Walton-on-Trent, in South Derbyshire.

They join a line-up that includes headliners Twisted Sister, Children Of Bodom, and Fear Factory, plus GWAR, Gojira, Korpiklaani, Obituary, Suffocation, Behemoth, and more. Expect Bloodstock to provide a line-up of both established and the yet to be announced unsigned metal bands. For the line-up details of those acts announced so far please click here.

As well as the international heavy metal bands across three stages, Bloodstock offers a large selection of merchandise stalls, metal karaoke, a campsite and a wide selection of food and bars.

Tickets are available and include camping priced at £99.95 for adults and £40 for children, and £30 for a campervan ticket, and £10 for a car parking pass. Day tickets are expected to be on sale at a later date. To buy tickets, click here.

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