Organisers of Britain's Sonisphere Festival have confirmed this year's (12) event has been axed, blaming a "very challenging" 12 months for the decision.
Rumours the three-day rock event had been shelved swirled after a post on headliners Queen's website on Wednesday (28Mar12) suggesting it had been axed was swiftly removed.
And on Thursday (29Mar12), bosses of the festival, due to take place in England in July, confirmed the news.
In a statement, they write, "It is with very heavy hearts and much regret that we announce the cancellation of Sonisphere Knebworth 2012. Putting the festival together in what is proving to be a very challenging year was more difficult than we anticipated and we have spent the last few months fighting hard to keep Sonisphere in the calendar.
"Unfortunately circumstances have dictated that we would be unable to run the festival to a standard that both the artists and that Sonisphere's audience would rightly expect."
The festival was due to be headlined by Queen, Kiss, and Faith No More.