Blink 182 to headline Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2014

The 90s favourites will headline with a further two lead acts to be announced

Mark Hoppus of Blink 182, who will headline Reading and Leeds in August 2014 (Getty Images)

Pop punk trio Blink 182 will headline the Reading and Leeds festivals next August after DJ Zane Lowe made the announcement on Radio One last night.

The American band’s appearance will be their only UK performance in 2014 and the fourth time they have played the festivals.

Blink 182 first unleashed their adolescent anthems on the crowd in 1999 before making their headline debut in 2010.

Frontman Mark Hoppus told how his band felt “very honoured” to be headlining, adding that 2014 will find them making new music in the studio and “getting ready to rock the fine people of the UK”. "Prepare for the fury," he said.

Catchy tracks “All The Small Things” and “The Rock Show” formed the soundtrack to 90s teenage bedrooms but fan reactions to the news has been mixed.

While many festivalgoers are excited by the band’s headline slot and have praised the eclectic choices, other critics are less satisfied, with some bemoaning the mainstream slant to the line-up so far.

Other artists confirmed in the first Reading and Leeds announcement include “Lightning Bolt” singer Jake Bugg, Mercury Prize-nominated Metronomy, dance duo Disclosure and metalcore band Of Mice & Men.

Tickets for the rock festival were released on Tuesday morning before the line-up announcement was made, with two headliners and hundreds more acts still to be revealed.

Rumours on festival forums suggest that Arctic Monkeys and Queens of the Stone Age will return to the bill, after Biffy Clyro, Eminem and Green Day headlined last year.

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Festival organiser Melvin Benn hinted to NME that an "English band" is among the headliners during a recent interview.