After pop-punk legends Green Day chose to withdraw as headliners of the 2012 Voodoo Music + Arts Experience in New Orleans due to frontman Billie Joe Armstrong entering rehab for substance abuse, the band's replacement has just been named. The replacement headliners just happen to be the most commercially successful metal band in history, Metallica.

Now that Green Day have pulled out of the festival, this will mark Metallica's first New Orleans performance since 2008, and Metallica now join Neil Young, Jack White, Die Antwoord, Skrillex and many more artists at the Voodoo festival. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming festival date. “We are excited to be part of our first ever Voodoo Music + Arts Experience,” says Ulrich. “Our good friends and fellow Bay Area residents Green Day had to unfortunately cancel their plans to be there, so we are more than happy to fill in for them in our own unique way. We’re hoping we can fill those very large shoes and do them proud.”

Founder and producer of 'Voodoo,' Stephen Rehage also shared his excitement, along with relief in a new press statement. “After a hectic few days - and sleepless nights - having Metallica, one of the world’s greatest bands agree to perform at Voodoo in the place of Green Day, only two weeks before the festival, feels pretty surreal at the moment - like being part of rock & roll history in the making… something you will tell your grandkids about years from now,” says Rehage. “We are incredibly grateful to Metallica and their management team for supporting us in this unprecedented manner. I am sure Metallica’s performance at Voodoo will be remembered for many years to come.”

The 2012 Voodoo Music + Arts Experience will mark the 14th anniversary of the outing, and will be held on Oct. 26-28 in New Orleans, with Metallica playing the Oct. 27 date.

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