* 2012 EVENT CONFIRMED FOR JULY 6th - 8th: TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY * 

Sonisphere Festival sold out this year as each day 60,000 festival-goers from all across Europe made the pilgrimage to Knebworth. The first time the Metallica-led Big 4 show has appeared on these shores, Biffy Clyro's first-ever major British festival headline performance and Slipknot's triumphant and emotional return on the last night of their tour proved irresistible to rock fans across the country. Sonisphere is set to return for its fourth year at Knebworth next year July 6th - 8th, with a limited amount of tickets going on sale on Wednesday 13th July at the same price as 2011 tickets. Any people who snap up the Early Bird tickets will also receive an exclusive T-shirt with one of the killer designs that Sonisphere is becoming increasingly infamous for.

In addition to the tens of thousands in attendance, nearly a million people (ONE MILLION PEOPLE) across the world watched the webcast, including half a million people who viewed Slipknot's "heaviest show of the tour" online, as Sonisphere made internet history with live streaming of shows powered by BT.

Sonisphere CEO Stuart Galbraith said:
"I've been promoting rock festivals for 30 years and I can honestly say that this bill is one that I am most proud of. To say we're happy is an understatement and we never dreamed we could come this far in just three years."

Highlights of Sonisphere 2011 included comedian Bill Bailey's "most exciting gig ever"; The Sisters of Mercy’s first UK festival show in 20 years; a reformed House of Pain celebrating their 20th anniversary, a rare UK festival performance from The Mars Volta; Parkway Drive playing with their guitarist in a wheelchair after he broke his leg just before the tour; and Jackass’s Steve-O’s debut UK stand-up performance. 

The audience was arguably even more impressive. Having worked very closely again with Hertfordshire police, the weekend was free of any major incidents and there was a 300% reduction in tent crime and not a single car break in. 

Metallica frontman James Hetfield probaby put it best on stage before their encore when he said: "You guys kick ass"."

SONISPHERE 2012 will take place July 6th - 8th at KNEBWORTH. Tickets are on sale from 9am Wednesday 

Band quotes on Sonisphere:

"We were waiting this whole tour to say this. Hello Knebworth. How the fuck are you crazy English bastards doing today? This is not a night for negativity, it's a night for positivity. It's a celebration." Corey Taylor, Slipknot


"It was amazing. Nothing else compares to it," Winston McCall, Parkway Drive

"You guys stole my heart today. I definitely didn't play my best (adrenalin, nerves etc) but I know how lucky I am to have such amazing people share such incredible experiences alongside me and my brothers," Dave McPherson, Inme 

"It was EPIC!!!! Biffy rocked mightily, Mastodon a towering vortex of sound , Slipknot a colossal tornado of mask-based metalising and for me, the sight of many thousand metal fans dancing to my Rammstein re-invention of Scarborough Fair will stay with me for ever. Can't wait for Sonis 2012 End Of the World!" Bill Bailey


"My dad just texted me saying he watched me on stage on the webcast and said 'we killed it, oh and nice socks!!" Brann Dailor, Mastodon