Sonisphere Knebworth ends today at Knebworth Park in the UK. Adam Sagir is Head Of Press for the festival and has issued the following report:

Sonisphere UK is sold out today and in the process sold its millionth ticket. IRON MAIDEN’s only British show of the year, RAMMSTEIN’s first-ever outdoor appearance in the UK and ALICE COOPER’s first festival show for nearly 30 years clearly proved unbelievably compelling for hard rock and metal fans in the UK as up to 55,000 people attended each day. The second edition of the festival saw the same great atmosphere at Knebworth. The whole weekend ran without any major incident whatsoever and Team Sonisphere worked very closely with Hertfordshire Police to achieve a significant reduction in reported incidents of crime and in particular were pleased to see great improvements in the numbers of mobile phone, tent and car crimes.

In only its second summer, Europe’s only touring festival smashed through another milestone when it sold its millionth ticket yesterday. There were six shows last year, this year it’s 11 including the largest festivals Poland and Turkey have ever hosted. Next year it will be even more extensive.

Rammstein’s outrageous stage show aside, highlights at Sonisphere UK on Saturday included even more pyrotechnics from MOTLEY CRUE, probably the heaviest set PLACEBO have ever played, comedian Tim Minchin’s first-ever proper rock festival, PAPA ROACH’s only UK appearance of the year and a pulsing, but poignant acoustic set from SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor who dedicated a song to former bandmate Paul Gray who recently passed away.

On Sunday, dance-metal pioneers PENDULUM created three circle pits before IN FLAMES joined them on stage, going one better than ragga-rockers SKINDRED who co-ordinated circle pits that swayed from left to right earlier in the day. The sands of time may be running low, but Iron Maiden are now on stage and the atmosphere out in the crowd is electrifying. Time to bring your daughters to the slaughter.

Band quotes on Sonisphere:

ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello: “This is the best tour we’ve ever done.”

IRON MAIDE drummer Nicko McBrain: “Can’t wait. This is simply great.”

LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia: “A simply fantastic time.”

ALICE IN CHAINS singer William Duvall: “If you’re feeling tired, the crowd here will wake you up.”

SLAYER guitarist Kerry King: “Today was crazier than expected.”