Download festival takes place at the famous Donington Park, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary of rock festivals, with the first Monsters of Rock taking place in 1980.
This review covers all of the bands I saw at the festival.
FRIDAY
The Friday this year featured less bands than in recent years (probably due to the lack of money after spending god knows how much on AC/DC). Entering the arena you notice one major change to the layout from the previous year, which is an extra main stage. With the large amount of pyrotechnics and props used in AC/DC's set, they decided to bring their own stage. One problem that I later realised was a problem is that the viewing platform for the disabled was right of the main stage, and the AC/DC stage was to the left, so by a massive schoolboy error many people were unable to see their set.
UNEARTH [5]
Arriving half way through the set I can only make a limited judgement on this band. From the looks of the aftermath of the moshpit (a guy with a bloody nose still thrashing away) it seems like it was as wild as some would have hoped
36 CRAZYFISTS [7]
Another band I know little about, but again seems like a band that delivered what they intended. The highlight of their show was when Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage joined them in stage, his first public appearance since being forced to leave the previous tour with what doctors would call a poorly back. His appearance seemed to overshadow 36CF's performance, however solid it was.
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE [8]
Howard Jones then took his turn to sing with KSE, his second appearance in public after is back thing, and his first with Killswitch. Their perormance had everything you wanted, including Adam D's multiple vagina references, all their biggest hits, and a touching tribute to the late, great Ronnie James Dio with a stunning performance of "Holy Diver" to which the crowd, of course, went wild.
THEM CROOKED VULTURES [8]
The supergroup consisting of Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) Dave Grohl (Nirvana and Foo Fighters) and John Paul Jones (some small obscure band called Led Zeppelin or something like that) provided exactly the performance you would expect. All of their biggest tracks from their album, solos (including one from Alain Johanne, the guitarist nobody has heard of) and random jams.
AC/DC[10]
These were the number one bad I had to see before they die (because statistically and logically they'll probably all be dead before me), and all I can say is they didn't disappoint. All of their big hits, an amazing solo from Angus Young, a giant inflatable woman, cannons just to name a few things that made this performance just stunning.
SATURDAY
Saturday for me featured a very limited number of bands that really appealed to me. However I spent much of the day getting drunk(£3.75 a pint, shocking) and seeing bands on the smaller stages, which ended up being very entertaining.
GODSIZED[8]
I had never heard of this group before the festival, but after seeing them live I predict big things from then. From what I understand their first album is released soon, expect a review on this blog.
SYBREED[7]
Another band I'd heard nothing from, however my friend has tickets to see them live so was very excited by this performance. Plus we strolled right up to the front row mid-performance which was kinda nice (although doesn't really say a great deal about the band's popularity).
MY PASSION[5]
This wasn't my sort of thing. I spent most of the performance working out whether the guitarist was male or female. Turns out his name is John.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH[7]
A band playing Download for the second year in a row, I was still kind of undecided with this band but they did put on a decent performance. Towards the end they invited people to crowd surf to the front, causing a health and safety disaster forcing them to stop mid-track. The band then sarcastically blamed the security.
ROCK SUGAR[6]
A band consisting of one of the guys who did Animaniacs plus some other guys, these are a rock mash-up band, playing 2 songs at once, and by this I mean playing an intro to one song and then suddenly switching to words from another. Kinda works on a couple of tracks, and the dude's impressions were pretty cool.
VOLBEAT[7]
A reasonably entertaining band with country roots to their music. A pretty standard performance. Not much else to say. Sorry.
HIM[8]
Playing Download for the 14 millionth time HIM provided a good performance as ever. They closed on "Rebel Yell", a song that we were going to hear from the original artist the next day so it felt a bit knock-offy, but their cover is pretty standard for them to play so I'll let them off (this time)
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE[9]
With the band being 20 minutes late to start their set, a massive bottle war ensued of literally biblical proportions. I received a pint of a liquid to the head which was warm and wasn't coffee, if you know what I'm saying (it was urine) so I smelled even worse than I already did by that point. When the band finally did come on they played a very good, politically charged set (including a rant about the blockade in Gaza). As the crowd surged forward there was the second song stoppage of the day to get the crowd to calm down. They finished with their famous Christmas number one, "Killing in the Name of", which as we all know is about Santa trying to get the presents ready in time for Christmas eve.
SUNDAY
Some very good acts today. However torrential rain towards the end spoilt it a little bit.
DOMMIN[8]
Another good set from a band I hadn't heard of previously. They played a very good cover of "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight".
FM[7]
Playing in place of Ratt, who pulled out due to what doctors call a poorly singer, they played a pretty decent set at short notice.
SAXON[9]
On the 30th anniversary of the first Monsters of Rock, a band that played that first festival returned to play their Wheels of Steel album in full. To hear them play songs they hadn't played in 30 years felt pretty special, and they really got the crowd involved and made them feel important. They finished with "And The Bands Played on" (a song written about the first Monsters of Rock), "Denim and Leather" and "Princess of the Night".
SLASH[9]
With Myles Kennedy(Alter Bridge) on lead vocals, Slash provided amazing guitar riffs and solos that are standard for him. Being joined on stage by Motorhead's Lemmy at one point was pretty cool. His set included tracks included songs from his solo album, plus Guns N Roses classics such as "Sweet Child of Mine" and "Paradise City". What more could you want?
BILLY IDOL[7]
Just before he arrived on stage the rain came out in real force, and remained until long after his set, really killing the mood of the day. However, this was a good set. He played "Rebel Yell", "White Wedding" and "Dancing With Myself" so I was satisfied.
STEEL PANTHER[9]
With the rain still trickling Steel Panther played a set with everything you could want from the parody rockers. Introduced to the stage by band booker Andy Copping (who was very stage happy this weekend, you couldn't keep him off there), they came out and had the whole crowd in stitches, as well as many girls flashing their boobs. Having missed them last year I hadn't quite got the whole Steel Panther thing, but I have to say they definitely won me over.
ZEBRAHEAD[7]
Only saw half their set because I wanted a good spot for Aerosmith. They played my favourite songs of theirs towards the start anyway. They did their usual live trick of getting everyone to sit down, even though it had been pissing it down and the ground was muddier than [insert sex or poo joke].
AEROSMITH[10]
What a way to end the weekend. 100,000 people singing along to "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" was pretty special. Also played all of their kick-ass hits. This set made me happy :-) (if you turn you head side ways that looks like a smiley face. Try it, it really works! Unless you do it the wrong way)
Overall a great weekend. Just as I finish writing I hear Download has won the Metal Hammer Golden Gods award for best event, and it's well deserved. Enjoyed many of the performances and I saw AC/DC which was everything I wanted. Same time same place next year anyone?
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