With dates scheduled across Europe, Sonisphere has nabbed Metallica for the headlining spot in Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Finland. Faith No More, Evanescence, Marilyn Manson, Wolfmother, Machine Head and Soulfly will perform at the Sonisphere Festival in France.
A rumor making the rounds earlier this month claimed Lambert would join Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor for a lengthy tour. Lambert quickly refuted various media reports by tweeting he had been talking about his past performance with Queen at the MTV European Music Awards, according to London’s Daily Star.
“Ooh them clever reporters takin’ my quotes outta context,” Lambert tweeted. “I haven’t confirmed any guest appearances. I was talking about the EMAs.”
But you can’t stuff that genie back into the bottle and while Lambert claimed his remarks were about the past, there were plenty of indications in the British press that he would join Queen for a one-off performance at Sonisphere. Today, Queen and Sonisphere made it official.
In a posting on the band’s website, Queen confirmed the band would perform a “headline set” with Lambert at Sonisphere in England’s Knebworth Park July 7. Other headliners booked for the July 6-8 festival include KISS (July 6) and Faith No More (July 8). Sonisphere’s U.K. lineup also includes Evanescence, Incubus, Marilyn Manson, Within Temptation, The Darkness and Cypress Hill.
The gig will have a special meaning to Queen vets May and Taylor. Queen’s final concert with extraordinary frontman Freddie Mercury was at Knebworth Park in August 1986.
Tickets for the U.K. Sonisphere go on sale Feb. 23. Visit SonisphereFestivals.com for more information.