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Iron Maiden have been confirmed as the first headline act for next year's Download Festival.
As rumoured by fans online throughout the day, Iron Maiden will top the bill at the Donnington event next June.
The annual metal festival, held at Donnington, revealed the news at 6pm this evening (Sept 20). Iron Maiden were the initial favourites to be revealed, however others were tipping Green Day, Paramore, Rammstein and Slipknot.
Posting on Twitter, the festival wrote: "First headliner for Download 2013 will be announced at 6pm TONIGHT #DL2013"
Download 2012 was a huge success with headline slots from Black Sabbath, Metallica and The Prodigy.
Now the identity of Download's first headliner is known fans can rest assured there will be no hologram revival of a dead legend filling either of the other two slots. Despite seeing the huge success of Tupac's return to Coachella earlier this year, Download organiser Andy Copping has ruled out the possibility of reviving a metal legend through similar technology at his event.
Speaking to Metal Hammer about the chances of doing something similar at the annual metal festival, Copping said: "Absolutely not. If you're going to a live show, you want to see live bands with proper interaction. You're not going to see cartoons. I think the whole thing with Tupac and Dre and Snoop at Coachella was great, but it was a moment in time."
Adding: "Why would you want to go and see a fucking hologram? It doesn't sit comfortably with me at all. I don't get it."
Below: potential bands to perform at Download 2013
