Queen, KISS, Faith No More For Sonisphere

The first acts have been announced for this year's Sonisphere and organisers have bagged more than a few exclusive sets.

Perhaps most intriguingly will be QUEEN - who play a world exclusive set at Knebworth. It's sure to be an emotional performance from Brian May and Roger Taylor who haven't played with Queen at the venue since their final concert with Freddie in 1986. Frontman duties on the night will be taken on by Adam Lambert.

KISS will play their only show in Europe at the festival where they will undoubtedly premiere some of the songs from their forthcoming studio album, Monster.

And FAITH NO MORE complete the headliner line-up and they will play their only UK show of the year at the festival.

Elsewhere on the bill there will be exclusive UK shows from EVANESCENCE, INCUBUS, MARILYN MANSON, REFUSED (their first show in the UK since 1998) and WITHIN TEMPTATION.

Meanwhile, there will be sets from the likes of MASTODON, THE DARKNESS, CYPRESS HILL and WOLFMOTHER and the now traditional comedy headline slot on the Saturn Stage will be taken by hilarious musical comedian TIM MINCHIN.

Sonisphere 2012 takes place at Knebworth House on the weekend of 6-8 July and tickets for the festival go on sale on THURSDAY 23 FEBRUARY at 9AM from www.planetrock.com 

On top of the host of talent on offer at SONISPHERE KNEBWORTH, organisers are offering a limited number of tickets to SONISPHERE MADRID (which takes place 25th and 26th May) when a weekend ticket for Sonisphere Knebworth is bought. Headliners METALLICA - who play their Black album in its entirety - are joined by an impressive cast featuring the likes of SOUNDGARDEN, SLAYER, CHILDREN OF BODOM, KYUSS LIVES and many more - that’s two SONISPHERE festivals for the price of one!

There's still a load more acts to be announced but here's the first batch:

Exclusive headline sets from:

KISS (European Exclusive) - QUEEN (World Exclusive) - FAITH NO MORE (UK Exclusive)

ANDREW W.K, *

THE BLACKOUT

CYPRESS HILL

EVANESCENCE **

FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM

FLOGGING MOLLY *

GHOST *

GOJIRA *

I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN

INCUBUS**

KATATONIA *

LACUNA COIL *

MARILYN MANSON**

MASTODON *

REFUSED**

SWITCHFOOT *

THE DARKNESS

TIM MINCHIN

WITHIN TEMPTATION **

WOLFMOTHER **

** Denotes only UK show of 2012

• Denotes exclusive festival appearance