Slipknot announced as final Download festival headliner

Slipknot have been announced as the third and final headliner for next year's Download rock festival.

The Iowa metal band will top the bill at Donington Park on Friday 14 June 2013.

Iron Maiden (15 June) and Rammstein (16 June) are the other two headliners for next year's festival.

Slipknot headlined last year's Sonisphere Festival and performed at their own festival in America this summer.

The band last played at Donington Park in 2009.

Andy Copping, Vice-President of promotions at Live Nation, said: "Slipknot's last appearance at Download has gone down in the festival's history as one of the best ever headline sets.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how they'll top the last one."

'Created memories'

Earlier this summer they released their first album since bassist Paul Gray's death, a compilation record called Antennas To Hell.

Gray died of a prescription drug overdose at a hotel in Iowa in 2010.

An American doctor who looked after him has been charged with eight counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Daniel Baldi denied the charges at a court hearing in Des Moines, Iowa, earlier this month.

Slipknot has eight members - Shawn Crahan and Chris Fehn on percussion, lead singer Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson on turntables, guitarists Jim Root and Mick Thomson, Craig "133" Jones on sampling and drummer Joey Jordison.

Shawn Crahan, who's known as the Clown, said: "We are extremely honoured to have been asked once again to headline the Download Festival.

"This most definitely will be an experience not to be missed. Every time we've played Download we have created memories.

"This summer cannot come soon enough."

They have sold more than 20 million records and won a Grammy music award in 2006.

More than 100,000 people attended this year's Download Festival, headlined by The Prodigy, Metallica and Black Sabbath.

A new deposit scheme has been launched for 2013 which will allow festival-goers to pay in instalments for the first time.

Weekend Download tickets with camping go on sale at 9am Friday 28 September.