After various rumours circulated late last night (March 28th), it appeared unlikely the UK leg of the Sonisphere Festival would go ahead as planned.

Within the last hour this morning (March 29th), the festival organisers have issued an official statement, which reads as follows:

“It is with very heavy hearts and much regret that we announce the cancellation of Sonisphere Knebworth 2012.
Putting the festival together in what is proving to be a very challenging year was more difficult than we anticipated and we have spent the last few months fighting hard to keep Sonisphere in the calendar. Unfortunately circumstances have dictated that we would be unable to run the festival to a standard that both the artists and that Sonisphere’s audience would rightly expect.
We want to express our deepest regrets to the artists and to thank all the staff, suppliers and contractors who worked so hard with us to try and pull off what has proven to be an impossible task and we know how much they share in our disappointment. We also want to send a huge thanks to the Sonisphere fans who stuck by us and we are so sorry that we can’t fulfil what we set out to do.
Ticket holders will automatically receive a full refund direct from their ticket agents.
Team Sonisphere.“

It is unknown whether some of the featured artists will reschedule their appearances. The UK Sonisphere Festival was to be the only UK appearance by the reformed Faith No More.

Also lined up to appear, among others, were: Tim Minchin, Marilyn Manson, Incubus, Black Stone Cherry and The Darkness.

REAL GONE SAYS: We suspected nobody was going to shell out that kind of money to see a glorified tribute band fill a headline slot at a major festival show. Still, it gives Brian May more time to devote to his hedgehogs.