Metallica fans, get ready to be excited: the organisers of the Reading and Leeds festivals have some news for you.

Yep, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and co are headlining the August Bank Holiday event next summer on a bill that also includes Jamie T and San Diego post-hardcore outfit Pierce The Veil.

US rockers Metallica, who have sold more than 110 million records around the world, will be returning 18 years after first headlining Reading Festival.

Festival boss Melvin Benn said: “I’m thrilled to be able to announce Metallica as the first headliner for Reading and Leeds 2015. Their amazing live show promises to be a favourite with rock, metal and genuine music fans at the UK’s most important music festival, perfectly topping a bill of brilliant acts from across the genres.

“I’m looking forward to revealing the rest of the festival line-up, which will feature the absolute best of rock, indie, dance and hip hop and will only add to the amazing atmosphere that makes Reading and Leeds so special.”

Pierce The Veil will make their festival debut next year, and frontman Vic Fuentes said: “We’ve been dying to do these festivals ever since we started touring in the UK. It’s such an honour to be a part of something that people wait all year round to see.”

Pierce The Veil
Pierce The Veil will make their Reading and Leeds debuts (Paul A. Hebert/Invision)

The announcement received a mixed reaction on Twitter.