Metallica to headline Download Festival at Donington

Metallica performing on stage at the BBC Radio Theatre for Radio 1 in 2008

Metallica will be headlining the Download Festival next summer, which takes place between 8-10 June.

Drummer Lars Ulrich confirmed the band's return to the annual rock festival on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show.

"In hard rock history, there's no more sacred place to play than Donington [Park]. It's the coolest," he said.

The band will perform their Metallica album, also known as The Black Album, in its entirety to coincide with the 21st anniversary of its release.

The band last performed at Download Festival in 2006.

"For me, coming back there is very special," the drummer added.

Metallica fans will see the band play three songs never performed before.

The tracks are The Struggle Within, My Friend Of Misery and Don't Tread On Me.

Joking with Zane Lowe, Lars Ulrich said: "I know the world is definitely waiting for [Don't Tread On Me]. Wow. We have to rehearse."

'Bowled over'

Another headliner performing at next year's Download Festival is to be announced on Friday 11 November.

Last year's headliners were Def Leppard, System Of A Down and Linkin Park.

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich & Zane Lowe compete in Versus on Radio 1

This will be Metallica's eighth visit to Donington Park.

They played at the Monsters of Rock festival in 1985 and headlined Download festival in 2006.

Andy Copping, vice president of promotions at Live Nation, said: "I am absolutely bowled over that Metallica will be playing The Black Album at the 10th anniversary of Download.

"The album is up there as one of the greatest albums of all time, everyone knows the songs.

"The Download festival has come a long way since we first started in 2003 and to have Metallica back to help us celebrate this milestone is just fantastic."

The Black Album was number one in more than 25 countries and has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide.

It includes hits Enter Sandman, Sad But True, Wherever I May Roam, Nothing Else Matters and The Unforgiven.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 18 November.