The Sonisphere Festival was a touring rock music festival which took place across Europe between the months of June and August. The festival was owned by John Jackson and Kilimanjaro Live. It was jointly promoted by K2 and Kilimanjaro Live. It hosted heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Slayer, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Avenged Sevenfold and Babymetal (the latter group would make their UK debut at the 2014 event).
The festival has not taken place in the UK since 2014. Stuart Galbraith, chief executive officer of Kilimanjaro Live, revealed in 2018 that Sonisphere will not return to the UK, due to financial issues.
Event history The idea for Sonisphere was first conceived by John Jackson in the late 90s. Jackson chose the name Sonisphere, from a combination of Sonic and Sphere. In 2008 Stuart Galbraith had formed business partnership with AEG Live called Kilimanjaro Live. John Jackson approached Stuart Galbraith with the idea of a pan-world touring festival that aligned with Kilimanjaro Live's plan for a UK festival. John Jackson is the Creator and Director of Sonisphere and Galbraith the Producer.
The first run of festivals ran throughout the summer of 2009 at six venues, returning in 2010 and 2011 with 11 venues.
Plans for future festivals consist of increasing the number of festivals, making the event global rather than local to Europe, expanding the UK event into a 3-day festival, and increasing the UK capacity from 40,000 to 60,000 attendees.
Sonisphere 2009 The 2009 Sonisphere festival tour was made up of six one-day festivals across Europe with a seventh festival in England spanning two days. The festival had a core group of bands that played each of the six dates with a number of extra bands added to each date individually. The locations for the 2009 festivals include Goffert Park, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Hockenheimring, Germany; The Forum, Barcelona, Spain; Folkets Park, Hultsfred, Sweden; Kirjurinluoto, Pori, Finland; and Knebworth House, Knebworth, England. Metallica were the main headliners for each of the 2009 Sonisphere Festivals.
Netherlands The Dutch edition of the Sonisphere Festival took place on Saturday 20 June 2009 at Goffertpark in Nijmegen.
Down Kamelot Korn Lamb of God Metallica Pendulum Slipknot Blaas Of Glory
Mastodon could not make it to Sonisphere due to scheduling issues. This was announced at Sonisphere itself, although some heard the news whilst traveling.
The Sword cancelled their show a few days before Sonisphere began.
Germany The German edition of the Sonisphere Festival took place on Saturday 4 July 2009 at Hockenheimring with Metallica as headliners. Anthrax Die Toten Hosen Down In Extremo Lamb of God Mastodon Metallica The Prodigy
Spain The Spanish edition of the Sonisphere Festival took place on Saturday 11 July 2009 at The Forum, Barcelona with headliners Metallica. Down Gojira Lamb of God Machine Head Mastodon Metallica Slipknot Soziedad Alkoholika The Eyes Blaas Of Glory
Sweden
The Swedish edition of the Sonisphere Festival took place on Saturday 18 July 2009 at Folkets Park, Hultsfred with Metallica as headliners. Adept Conspiracy Cradle of Filth Dead by April Lamb of God Machine Head Mastodon Meshuggah Metallica Primal Scream The (International) Noise Conspiracy The Cult The Hives
Finland
The Finnish edition of the Sonisphere Festival took place on Saturday 25 July 2009 at Kirjurinluoto Arena, Pori with Metallica as headliners. Diablo Lamb of God Linkin Park Los Bastardos Finlandeses Machine Head Mastodon Metallica Saxon Turisas Blaas Of Glory
Machine Head were forced to cut their set short, due to lead guitarist Phil Demmel collapsing on stage.
England The British edition of the Sonisphere Festival took place over two days, on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August 2009, at Knebworth House, Knebworth with headliners Linkin Park (Saturday) and Metallica (Sunday). The festival featured four stages of music over the weekend, with the main two being staggered staging, the others being within the Bohemia village. The Bohemia stage (the third of four stages) was an undercover stage and was able to continue past the sound curfews placed upon the main stages. This was The Rev's final live performance as Avenged Sevenfold's drummer before his death in December 2009. It was also the last European appearance of Ronnie James Dio before he died of stomach cancer in May 2010.
Avenged Sevenfold played their final concert with The Rev before his passing on 28 December 2009. The band's final song together was Almost Easy. Dead by Sunrise appeared on the Apollo Stage on the Saturday night as part of Linkin Park's encore. Coheed and Cambria were late arriving, due to them missing their ferry and as such were moved onto the Bohemia stage to play a later slot originally intended for the band FACT. As such, FACT played the Apollo stage. Lamb of God's guitarist Mark Morton missed the band's slot on 2 August as his wife was due to give birth around that time. Unearth's Buz McGrath filled in for him for the band's show at Sonisphere UK. Nine Inch Nails performance was said to be their last in Europe as they were set to stop touring at the end of that tour after 20 years. Ultimately the resumed touring, returning to the UK in 2013 at Reading and Leeds festivals and playing several dates in the UK in May 2014. Thunder played their last set as well after 20 years of performing. Anthrax played what was billed as a one-off show with former vocalist John Bush as the originally intended vocalist, Dan Nelson, was no longer part of the band. Machine Head pulled out when Limp Bizkit's addition bumped them down the bill; however, they did return to play the fourth slot on the Apollo stage as Special Guests. Frank Turner pulled out for undisclosed reasons, though he has claimed to fans that he was forced to choose between this festival and Leeds and Reading festivals, ultimately choosing the latter. Fear Factory cancelled tour dates for what they claimed to be recording of a new album, but was ultimately found out to be legal disputes over the use of the name Fear Factory. Thin Lizzy pulled out as the band parted ways with guitarist-vocalist John Sykes. Dirty Little Rabbits pulled out before the festival due to their drummer suffering from exhaustion after months of touring with Slipknot. The Ataris pulled out after one of their members contracted swine flu.
Sonisphere 2010 The Sonisphere 2010 tour visited eleven locations around Europe between 16 June and 8 August 2010. The locations for Sonisphere 2010 were Poland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden and Finland. Unlike in 2009, there was not a core group of headliners performing all dates. The headliners for 2010 were Iron Maiden, Metallica and Rammstein.
Poland Warsaw, Poland was the host city for the first of the 2010 festivals; that was first announced on 9 December 2009. The 2010 Sonisphere in Poland took place on 16 June 2010. Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, bands which make up the big four of thrash metal, played together for the first time. Anthrax Behemoth Frontside Megadeth Metallica Slayer
Switzerland Switzerland was the second nation to host the Sonisphere festival in 2010 with the event taking place at Degenaupark in Jonschwil on 18 June 2010. 3 Inches of Blood Airbourne Alice in Chains Amon Amarth Anthrax As I Lay Dying Atreyu Blaas Of Glory Bullet for My Valentine Dear Superstar DevilDriver Hellyeah Mastodon Megadeth Metallica Motörhead Overkill Rise Against Slayer Smoke Blow Stone Sour Volbeat
Czech Republic Czech Republic hosted the festival in Milovice on 19 June 2010; this was also a one-day festival. Metallica headlined this event. Alice in Chains Anthrax DevilDriver Fear Factory Megadeth Metallica Panic Cell Rise Against Slayer Stone Sour Therapy? Volbeat
Bulgaria Bulgaria held its first Sonisphere over two days in Sofia on 22 and 23 June 2010. The venue was the Vasil Levski National Stadium.
Day 1 – Tuesday 22 June Anthrax Megadeth Metallica Slayer
Day 2 – Wednesday 23 June Alice in Chains Manowar Rammstein Stone Sour
This concert was also broadcast live around the world in movie theaters as part of the Big Four Tour. This was the first time in their history that all four bands played together on one stage, performing the Diamond Head song "Am I Evil?".'The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria': New DVD Trailer Released blabbermouth.net. 21 September 2010. Retrieved on 2010-10-01.
Greece The Sonisphere festival in Greece was held on 24 June 2010 at Terra Vibe Park in Athens in front of 30,000 people.
Anthrax Bullet for My Valentine Megadeth Metallica Slayer Stone Sour Suicidal Angels
Romania Romania held the Sonisphere festival from 25 to 27 June 2010 in Bucharest at Romexpo.
Day 1 – Friday 25 June Accept Manowar Orphaned Land Paradise Lost Volbeat
Day 2 – Saturday 26 June Anthrax Megadeth Metallica Slayer Vița de Vie
Day 3 – Sunday 27 June Alice in Chains Anathema Rammstein Stone Sour
Turkey Turkey held the Sonisphere festival at the same time as Romania: 25 to 27 June 2010. This part of Sonisphere was at the BJK İnönü Stadium in Istanbul. Akbank sponsored the event.
Day 1 – Friday 25 June Alice in Chains Black Tooth Pentagram Rammstein Stone Sour
Day 2 – Saturday 26 June Accept Hayko Cepkin Manowar Volbeat
Day 3 – Sunday 27 June Anthrax Megadeth Metallica Slayer
The bands on 27 June were on the stage one after another, but did not play altogether.
This was the first time Rammstein and Anthrax came to Turkey.
The bass player of Manowar, Joey DeMaio, made a speech to the audience in Turkish.
Spain Spain hosted Sonisphere on 9 and 10 July 2010, at Getafe Open Air in Madrid.
Day 1 – Friday 9 July Anathema Bullet for My Valentine Faith No More Porcupine Tree Saxon Slayer Suicidal Tendencies Volbeat W.A.S.P.
Day 2 – Saturday 10 July Alice in Chains Annihilator Coheed and Cambria Deftones Megadeth Meshuggah Rammstein Soulfly
United Kingdom Sonisphere arrived in the UK for a three-day festival, taking place at Knebworth House between Friday 30 July – Sunday 1 August. Music included a Rocky Horror Show theme with Alice Cooper, and headliners Iron Maiden and Rammstein.
Day 1 – Friday 30 July 65daysofstatic Alice Cooper And So I Watch You from Afar Bigelf Blaas Of Glory Black Spiders Chrome Hoof Deaf Havana Delain Europe Fei Comodo Gary Numan Hawk Eyes Karma to Burn Lower Than Atlantis Sylosis Terrorvision Throats Turisas Winnebago Deal
Day 2 – Saturday 31 July Anthrax Apocalyptica Audrey Horne Blaas Of Glory Corey Taylor earthtone9 Enforcer Evile Family Force 5 Fear Factory Feeder Gallows Good Charlotte Heaven's Basement InMe Katatonia Lacuna Coil Little Fish Mötley Crüe Outasight Papa Roach Placebo Polar Bear Club RSJ Rammstein Sabaton Sick of It All Skunk Anansie Soulfly Therapy? Turbowolf Young Legionnaire
Day 3 – Sunday 1 August Alice in Chains Army of Freshmen Blaas Of Glory Bring Me the Horizon CKY Dir En Grey Fightstar Funeral for a Friend Henry Rollins Iggy and the Stooges Iron Maiden Karnivool Kylesa Love Amongst Ruin Madina Lake Pendulum Rise to Remain Sacred Mother Tongue Skindred Slaves to Gravity Slayer Sweet Savage The Cult The Defiled The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster The Union The Xcerts
Band dropouts Outcry Collective pulled out due to the band breaking up. Municipal Waste pulled out due to exhaustion and injury.
Sweden