Eighties hard rock bands Def Leppard and Whitesnake, both of UK origin, will bring their stuff to Sofia on July 4 as part of the 2008 edition of Arena Muzika festival.

Tangra Mega Rock, which in 2006 was resurrected as an online rock broadcast station from the ashes of one of Bulgaria’s first private radio stations, announced the coming of band duo on February 20. Tickets go on sale on February 22 at a cost of 25 to 50 leva at various ticket-sale points and websites around the country.

The Def Leppard-Whitesnake presence at Academic Stadium is part of the second leg of their North America and Europe tour that will start in March. Both bands were founded in 1977, and have managed to keep their names above the mucky surface of the nether lands of popular music.

Earlier this month, Metallica and Kiss announced they would play gigs in Sofia in summer, while industrial metal icons Ministry will hold one of their last live performances in the Bulgarian capital before disbanding after the farewell tour.