NME Festival Guide
2009

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Anthrax to play Sonisphere despite singer leaving band

Plus an ABBA tribute band joins the bill

July 22, 2009 | 5 Comments
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Anthrax are set to reunite with former vocalist John Bush for a one-off performance at this year's Sonisphere Festival (August 1-2).

The band will appear on August 1 at Knebworth House. There had been some doubt about Anthrax's appearance after it was announced recent singer Dan Nelson was leaving the band due to an "unexpected illness".

However despite cancelling some US and European shows, the band have confirmed their appearance with their old singer.

“Anthrax is thrilled to announce that they will play the August 1 Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, England, with their good friend John Bush joining them for a very special one-off performance," the group explained in a statement.

They added: "The members of Anthrax have confirmed the departure of vocalist Dan Nelson. In light of this development, Anthrax's slot on the US Slipknot dates set for August and September, has also been cancelled. Anthrax is already actively considering lead singer candidates, and looks forward to hitting the road before the end of the year."

Meanwhile the festival has unexpectedly confirmed that ABBA tribute band Bjorn Again have joined the line-up.

The Sonisphere line-up is:

Airbourne
Alice In Chains
Anthrax
Attack! Attack!
Avenged Sevenfold
Bjorn Again
Blackhole
Blakfish
Bullet For My Valentine
Cancer Bats
Corey Taylor Acoustic Set
The Crave
Dear Superstar
The Defiled
Dinosaur Pile-Up
Dirty Little Rabbits
Exit Ten
Failsafe
Feeder
Fighting With Wire
Fin
Flood Of Red
Heaven's Basement
Lauren Harris
Killing Joke
Lamb Of God
Limp Bizkit
Linkin Park
Machine Head
Mastodon
Metallica
Nine Inch Nails
Oceansize
Rise To Remain
Rolo Tomassi
Skindred
Sylosis
Taking Back Sunday
Telegraphs
The Chapman Family
Thin Lizzy
Thunder
Twin Atlantic
Young Guns

To check the availability of [url=http://www.seetickets.com/see/event.asp?artist=sonisphere &filler1=see&filler3=id1nmestory]Sonisphere Festival tickets[/url] and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

Moz_1983

Jul 22, 2009

Machine Head aren't playing.

chaliceofblood

Jul 23, 2009

dont wanna sound rude here but i just think if your not gonna get the facts right then dont bother, he was never ill, nor did he quit the band, they just threw him out the band pure and simple.here's part of a statement dan nelson made: "I was never seriously ill or sick at all, as reported in ANTHRAX's July 17, 2009 press release. This extremely inflammatory statement hurt me tremendously. This statement misled fans, friends and family members into believing that I was seriously ill when I was not. I was not aware such a statement was being issued and it came as a total shock to me, as I'm sure it did to all of you. It was the other band members' decision to cancel the tour dates, not mine. I was ready, willing and able to do my job."After issuing the press release, the other band members decided, on their own accord, that I had 'resigned' from the band. I never resigned from the band."Even in view of this action and stance taken by the band, as late as earlier today I made it clear that I was ready willing and able to continue to fulfill my obligations. After that offer was made, the most recent press release was issued which announced my 'confirmed' departure from the band. I was not aware of the contents of this release until after it was issued, nor was I aware that ANTHRAX was canceling the European and SLIPKNOT tours."