Black Sabbath to headline Download 2012?

eFestivals believes that Black Sabbath will be joining Metallica as headliners at next summer's 10th Anniversary of Download at Donington Park over the weekend of Friday 8th to Sunday 10th June 2012.

A second Download 2012 headliner is due to be announced today, Friday 11th November with Festival booker Andy Copping tweeting the news yesterday that, "there is another headliner being announced tomorrow."

The original line-up of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, are making an announcement of a major "special event" tonight at Hollywood's Whisky A Go Go club – the site of Black Sabbath's 1970 LA debut.

As eFestivals previously reported, (here) legends Black Sabbath's announcement is set to take place 11.11am on 11/11/11 in California, on what has been declared by American music press and VH1 Classic as 'National Metal Day' (a reference to Spinal Tap's "These go to 11").

eFestivals has reliable information from a Stateside source that tonight's Black Sabbath announcement at 7.11pm UK time - will include an appearance at Download.

The original Sabbath line-up appeared live back in 2005/06 when the band reunited to play Ozzy Osbourne's touring festival 'Ozzfest', which featured a headlining show at Download Festival.

Before that the 'Paranoid' band also appeared at Ozzfest at Milton Keynes in 2001, and have not released an album together since 1978's 'Never Say Die!'.

Yesterday it was announced that Metallica will be playing their fifth studio album - the untitled 'Black Album' in it's entirety as Saturday night Download headliners in seven months time. The album features the tracks six hit singles including 'Enter Sandman', 'Don't Tread on Me', 'The Unforgiven', 'Nothing Else Matters', 'Wherever I May Roam', and 'Sad but True'.

Andy Copping, VP of Promotions at Live Nation commented, "I am absolutely bowled over that Metallica will be playing 'The Black Album' at the 10th anniversary of Download. The album is up there as one of the greatest albums of all time, everyone knows the songs. The Download festival has come a long way since we first started in 2003 and to have Metallica back to help us celebrate this milestone is just fantastic!"

There are no other acts other than Metallica currently confirmed for 2012. Tickets are not currently on sale. A limited amount of Early Bird tickets went on sale last July. and some VIP packages are still available.

To buy VIP options, click here.



Tickets will go on sale Friday 18th November, prices are yet to be announced.

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