THE Glastonbury Festival has unveiled more acts - including the final Pyramid Stage headliner - Metallica.

The legendary metal band will top the bill on the landmark stage on the Saturday of the event, which officially runs from Friday, June 27 to Sunday, June 29.

They join fellow Pyramid headliners Arcade Fire, who will play Friday, and Kasabian, who round things off on Sunday.

It will be the first time a metal band has headlined the event, with a notable set from Rage Against The Machine in 1994 the only obvious comparison, and the first time Metallica have appeared.

The band said in a statement: "Glastonbury is the largest green field festival in the world and over the forty plus years of its existence, a widely diverse group of artists have graced the stage including Paul McCartney, Oasis, David Bowie, U2, Muse, Stevie Wonder, Radiohead, Neil Young, Jay-Z and so many more. 

"We’re psyched and honored to be among the first hard rock bands to hit the Pyramid Stage and join this prestigious group."

And organiser Michael Eavis said the band was an obvious choice to top the bill.

"Metallica are one of the most popular bands in the world, and they really are a phenomenal live act," he said.

"This a band that can sell out stadiums in pretty much every country on the planet. From Newlyn to Newcastle on my travels, all through the years, people keen asking me: 'When are Metallica going to play?'

"There's a huge swathe of people who love Metallica to bits and just think they're absolutely amazing. They're worthy headliners."

The War On Drugs, Nick Mulvey and English National Ballet have also been added to the Pyramid Stage line-up, while HAIM, Bombay Bicycle Club and The Horrors are new additions to the Other Stage running order.

Eavis said: "We've never been ones to just book the safe options. We had Jay-Z and Kings of Leon in 2008 when everyone seemed to think neither were capable of headlining here. And Coldplay in 2002 when they'd only released one album and people thought they weren't ready.

"Even in 1984, a lot of people were quite put out when we had the Smiths. Isn't that funny? But all of those worked out pretty well.

"And there have been so many others over the years. We want our line-up to be exciting and different. That's what we're here for."

For the full line-up log on to glastonburyfestivals.co.uk.