Sonisphere Festival Knebworth organizers report:

Arguably the four most-influential metal bands of all time are set to share the stage at Knebworth today. We asked a bunch of the artists performing over the weekend which of the Big Four (METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH or ANTHRAX) means the most to them musically and why.

IN FLAMES bassist Peter Iwers: "Oh that's a hard question. If I have to pick one! oh, that's a toughie. I really like them all. I like the early Anthrax, all of Megadeth, the early Slayer, the early Metallica. I like it all. Just to name one I would pick Anthrax, but only because you made me choose. I saw Anthrax opening up for IRON MAIDEN around the Persistance of Time record and it was amazing, the energy and the moshing. And they still have it even though they're way older than I am and they still have the energy and they still rock on stage."

ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott: "I grew listening to all four of these bands and I enjoyed all their early albums a lot and they helped shape me into the musician I am today. However, Slayer is the band that has consistently been playing extreme metal and have kept the spirit of THRASH alive! Enter to the realm of Satan!"

FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho: "Metallica, are my favourite band of all time, but I'm really excited to see Anthrax too. They've always been one of my favourites, but haven't really done as much as they could have in the last 10 years. I think these shows are really lighting a fire under their collective arses and they've been playing some great concerts. They're the hometown heroes for me apart from Metallica who are just above and beyond everybody else you'll ever see in your life. I never w.ould have guessed when I was 14 years old in the basement playing 'Seek and Destroy' that some day I would be playing the same festival as Metallica."

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY frontman Max Cavalera: "Mine's probably Slayer. Slayer's just violent man. The old shit. We grew up with that man. I love those fucking records. It's brutal."

SYLOSIS guitarist Josh Middleton: "Metallica is probably my favourite band of all time. They obviously made a huge impact on the metal scene and inspired so many bands ,but I think the sophisticated, majestic side of their music was something other bands failed to replicate or even take note of. The contrast between super-heavy riffing and mature melodic sensibilities is a huge inspiration to us. We will be the first band to set foot on the main stage after Metallica's (and the rest of the Big 4?s) set the night before which totally blows my mind! A huge honour."

ARCHITECTS frontman Sam Carter: "Slayer!Slayer!Slayer. They're fucking old now and they've all got fucking problems with their necks and backs and shit, but they still fucking smash it. I wish my fucking dad did that. You know 'my dad plays drums in Slayer',! 'Cool'!'Yeah it is actually'."

ME VS. HERO frontman Sam Thompson: "I've always been a Metallica fan. Growing up we used to attempt Metallica covers in our old bands. In fact the whole town would. It was like a competition to see who could do them best. I don't think we won, but then again, we get to play a festival with them ' that wins in my eyes."

Richard Cheese: "My Lounge Against The Machine band and I have recorded swankified Las Vegas lounge singer versions of 'Enter Sandman' and 'War Ensemble', so I am a big fan of Metallica and Slayer. And, coincidentally, my band tracked our new A Lounge Supreme CD in the same Los Angeles recording studio as Anthrax, so we have a certain kinship with them. And, by the way, I sang a duet on my Lavapalooza album with SLIPKNOT's lead singer Corey Taylor. So, this weekend at Sonisphere, we are looking forward to having martinis with all these swingin' metal cats."

Sonisphere Knebworth takes place July 8th - 10th at Knebworth House. For more info go to this location.