Iron Maiden to Headline Download 2013

Iron Maiden to Headline Download 2013 -

East London metal elders, Iron Maiden have beenunveiled as next summer's Download Festivalheadliner.

The announcement comes 25 years after the band first headlinedDonington Park and will mark the fifth time they've performed atthe sprawling outdoor venue, with two appearances at theMonsters Of Rock event and two previous Downloadappearances already under their belt.

Frontman Bruce Dickinson said:

"We're absolutely over the moon to be headliningDonington again. The idea of returning exactly 25 years later witha show inspired by that same 1988 Seventh Son Tour was too good anopportunity to be missed."

Speaking to NME about theslot, Dickinson said:

"I'm incredibly excited about it. It's been 25 yearssince we first did Donington and to go back with this setlist,which is very similar to the one we played then, is a joy. I've notseen the rest of the bill yet, but I look forward to findingout."

This year's edition of the hard-rock & metal fiesta sawheadline performances by the newly reformed BlackSabbath and dance-punk specialists TheProdigy.

The 2013 event takes place on the weekend of June 14-16 withtickets going on general sale on September 28.