Organizers for the 2009 Wacken Open Air festival, which is scheduled for July 30th - August 1st in Wacken, Germany, have issued the following update:

"ANTHRAX has decided to break up with their singer Dan Nelson. As a consequence of this they had to cancel almost all upcoming dates. However, it is not clear if the Anthrax show at W:O:A will be cancelled, too. Currently we are negotiating and going after a cooperation between their former singer John Bush and the band. But at the moment we do not have any news."

As previously reported, Rockalarm will be presenting the W:O:A 2009 exclusively on the internet. Fans who have to stay at home will have the chance to watch the sold-out 20th Wacken Open Air live stream at rockalarm.com. The transmission will start in the morning and will continue until the early next morning. Simultaneous concerts at two stages will be recorded and delivered in addition. Check out the ticket-portal eventim.de/wacken for prices.

Confirmed acts on the W:O:A 2009 bill for the festival include: ADORNED BROOD, AIRBOURNE, AMON AMARTH, ASP, AXEL RUDI PELL, BAI BANG, BLOODWORK, BON SCOTT, BORKNAGAR, THE BOSSHOSS, BRING ME THE HORIZON, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, CALLEJON, CATHEDRAL, COHEED AND CAMBRIA, CUMULO NIMBUS, D-A-D, DER W, DORO, DRAGONFORCE, DRONE, EINHERJER, ENDSTILLE, ENGEL, ENSLAVED, EPICA, ETHS, THE FADING, FEJD, FEUERSCHWANZ, 5th AVENUE, GAMMA RAY, GRAND MAGUS, GWAR, HAMMERFALL, HEAVEN & HELL, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, IN EXTREMO, IN FLAMES, INGRIMM, INSIDIOUS DISEASE, KAMPFAR, KINGDOM OF SORROW, KORPIKLAANI, LACUNA COIL, MACHINE HEAD, MAMBO KURT, MOTÖRHEAD, NAPALM DEATH, NEVERMORE, NERVECELL, ONKEL TOM, PAIN, PENTAGRAM, RABENSCHREY, RAGE, RAGNARÖEK, RETROSPECT, SARKE, SAXON, SCHANDMAUL, SKYLINE, SUBWAY TO SALLY, SUIDAKRA, TESTAMENT, TORMENT, TRACEDAWN, TRISTANIA, TROUBLE, TURISAS, UFO, UK SUBs, VICTIMS OF MADNESS, VOLBEAT, VREID, WALLS OF JERICHO, THE WALTONS, WHIPLASH.

A tentative running order is available - click here to download.