Reading and Leeds legends Soundgarden, Biffy Clyro and Tenacious D were the biggest names to be announced for Download Festival 2012 tonight.

Soundgarden are one of this year’s hottest properties having made their US return in 2011. The Grunge legends will be joining a line up headlined by Black Sabbath, Metallica and The Prodigy. Soundgarden had been strongly rumoured for Sonisphere prior to this announcement making this an even bigger coup for Andy Copping.

Tenacious D have only made one festival appearance in the UK, at Reading in 2008, but 2012 will see the hard rocking comedy duo return with the promise of new material.

Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro who headlined Sonisphere in 2011 will be returning to Donington in a non-headline role. The band had been heavily rumoured for Reading and Leeds but with two festival dates already announced the hard working Scots appear unlikely.

Rounding out the announcement were Chase & Status and You And Me At Six.

Updated: Soundgarden have leaked what appears to be the rest of the line up that sees the mighty Machine Head who are riding high on the success of Unto The Locus headlining the second stage. While Lamb Of God, the heralded Devin Townsend Project, Anthrax, Ugly Kid Joe, Little Angels, Devildriver and August Born Red round out the line up.

Strictly Our Opinion: So who cares about Van Halen? Soundgarden have just made Download even more enticing, while Biffy and The D have added huge name value to an already mammoth headline grouping. I for one, can’t wait.