The world's biggest punk festival is back in Blackpool from today through to Sunday at the Blackpool Winter Gardens and other venues in the town centre.

A total of 200 acts and bands will be taking to four stages inside the Winter Gardens (The Empress Ballroom, The Arena, the Winter Gardens Pavilions and the Opera House) plus there will be fringe activities at various other venues such as the West Coast Club Above, Beat and Riffs.

Full Rebellion festival timbetable

Various generations of punks will be joining the invasion – from new recruits enjoying the current resurgence of interest to original converts now working for the establishments they once rebelled against and even the occasional celebrity.

For more stories on Rebellion 2008 click here

England soccer coach Fabio Capello has discovered why his right-hand man Stuart Pearce is nicknamed Psycho.

According to tabloid newspaper reports the Italian has granted England Under-21 boss Pearce a weekend off to be at the festival.

He has been attending for the last five years, joining at least 5,000 punks in the pogo-fest which started its life in Blackpool as Holidays In the Sun, then moved to Morecambe and subsequently returned to this resort.

Pearce, a self-confessed fan of The Stranglers, has previously spoken of his love of punk. He said: "Over the years I have met quite a few of the bands I used to look up to and go to watch."

TV celebrity Loyd Grossman will also be at the festival – playing guitar in a revived version of his former band Jet Bronx and the New Forbidden.

After last year's sell out the Rebellion Festival this year's edition has an even bigger bill featuring some of the most legendary names on the punk scene for a celebration of the world's biggest underground music scene.

Highlights of this year includes the return of Cock Sparrer – arguably one of the world's biggest punk bands whose recent album has been a huge success.