Bayfest announces Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper will collide at this summer’s event

Rockers and Metal Heads, get ready.

Rogers Bayfest announced today that legendary rock icons Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper will collide on stage at this year's music festival on Jul. 14.

Michele Stokley delivered the highly anticipated news this morning and said that the bands were also set to give the news to their respective fans today.

Iron Maiden is scheduled to announce their full Maiden England Tour schedule today in which, for most dates, they will tour with Alice Cooper.

Stokley was quoted saying about the concert, "It’s going to be an incredible night,” then added, "The stage show is so big we’re actually going to have to hire more crew this year."

Iron Maiden is one of the most influential and successful heavy metal bands of all-time with over seventy million albums sold in an amazing career that has lasted over thirty years. A legendary live act, Iron Maiden is known to play amazing live versions of its powerful hits like "Two Minutes to Midnight" and "The Trooper".

Some of Iron Maiden’s more notable songs include “Number of the Beast,” “Flight of Icarus,” “Run to the Hills” and “Lord of the Flies.”

The group has been honoured as one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time by MTV.

Alice Cooper's stage show is known to be in a class of its own and often features guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood, boa constrictors, and baby dolls. Cooper has pioneered a grandly theatrical and violent brand of heavy metal designed to shock and his fans love it.

Cooper grew up in Detroit and took his stage name from his 1970s band that had the hit singles “I’m Eighteen” and “School’s Out.”

He began his solo career with the 1975 album Welcome to My Nightmare and last year released his 19th solo album, Welcome 2 My Nightmare.

Also in 2011, the original Alice Cooper band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Stokley said many people have been asking for more metal bands.

Bayfest marks its 14th year in 2012 and will run from Jul. 12 to 15.

Stokley was also quoted saying she expects confirmation from the remainder of this year’s lineup in March, and will announce the acts as soon as she can. Tickets and passes will go on sale as soon as the full lineup has been announced.

Rogers Bayfest’s has won numerous honours and awards, including Event of the Year at the seventh annual Ontario Tourism Summit. It also made the Ontario Ministry of Tourism’s 2010 list of 20 Festivals and Events of Distinction.