Download Festival - the UK’s ultimate rock feast - has this evening announced Iron Maiden as 2016 event headliners. The appearance on June 12 will be Maiden's only UK date next year.
The three day rock and metal fest is set to take place between June 10 and 12, 2016 at the spiritual home of rock in Donington Park, Leicestershire.
The band will fly in to East Midlands Airport on their enormous Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet Ed Force One, piloted by Bruce Dickinson and carrying band, crew, stage production and equipment over 55,000 miles around the world, visiting 35 countries on The Book Of Souls World Tour. “Download is a very special place for us," said frontman Bruce Dickinson.
"Not just because it’s always great to play on home turf but because there’s a truly unique vibe there, it’s the very heart of England and of Metal, so a fitting place for Iron Maiden!
"The crowd is always fiercely passionate and the whole band feeds off that famous Donington energy. We aim to deliver a really memorable show for our fans to close the 2016 Festival.
"Although this is our sixth time headlining at Castle Donington, it’s the first time we’ve been able to land Ed Force One right on the doorstep of the Festival site!” “We haven't decided on the set list as yet and won’t until we start rehearsing but we really look forward to playing a number of new songs live, especially as the recording was so much live.
"However, as it’s been a while since we saw you all, I am sure we will include plenty of older fan favourites too. I think the fans will be delighted by what we have in mind," he added.
"We are also in the middle of creating the new show and rest assured we are working hard to bring you all something spectacular, something with a lot of heart! You certainly deserve it for your patience. “ IRON MAIDEN’s new studio double album The Book Of Souls debuted at No.1 in the UK and in over 40 other countries around the globe. After the Download show, the band will continue The Book Of Souls tour across Europe.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, at 9am. Visit http://downloadfestival.co.uk/ for more.
