Fresh from selling out their 2011 UK arena tour, releasing a decent-enough comeback album in the shape of "I'm With You" and ensuring their legacy continues with the recruitment of John Frusciante's guitar-wielding replacement, Josh Klinghoffer, Red Hot Chili Peppers have wasted no time in announcing their intentions to return to the UK next year for three very special and exclusive outdoor dates in June, including one at a very historical rock venue!

Knebworth, Sunderland's Stadium of Light and Dublin's Croke Park will be reverberating to the funky rockers, just before the Olympic Games kick off around the UK. The Red Hot Chili Peppers aren't strangers to making records themselves, other than the numerous vinyl-releases during their earlier years. In 2005, the band set a precedent by grossing more ticket-sales for a single venue with their triple-whammy in Hyde Park. They've also shifted over 60 million albums and have recently just been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as well as various MTV Europe and People's Choice Awards). These two 2012 shows are intended to be RHCP's ONLY UK/ Ireland shows next year, so demand will be absolutely astronomical.

Knebworth IS rock and IS 'huge'. The park, based near Stevenage, has hosted shows by Queen, Led Zeppelin, Oasis, Genesis and more recently, Sonisphere Festivals. RHCP will grace the famous green space on 23rd June and tickets will cost £50. Sunderland will be the band's first gig in the North East of England since 1990 (they played to 400 people) so you can expect a huge rush for tickets for this show on 24th June (tickets will cost £45). The last of the trio is in Dublin, where they'll be visiting next month, but Croke Park is on a whole different scale to the Dublin O2. Tickets will cost €59.50.