Download Festival
13th of June 2008 - 15th of June 2008
DOWNLOAD is a rock, metal and alternative festival that has its roots steeped in rock history.
Held at Donington Racecourse in the UK where the three counties of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire meet, the site's use as a rock venue go all the way back to 1981 when the first Monsters of Rock was held.
Monsters of Rock saw a a staggering roll-call of acts, which reads like a who’s who of the best rock and heavy metal bands to have graced the last three decades. The likes of AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, and Guns N’ Roses have given millions of music fans unforgettable live moments. Ozzy Osbourne considers the place to be his “old stomping ground”.
When the plug was finally pulled on Monsters of Rock in 1996, the beast wasn’t dead; it was merely sleeping. It arose with an almighty bark in 2003. The monster was dog-shaped and the festival had expanded to two days of mayhem across three stages, adding extreme sports and 21st century innovation. Download was born and a new standard of rock festival was set, shattering every mould in the process. 2005 saw the event gain a third day.
Since its inauguration, Download has played host to many Monsters of Rock favourites (such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Guns 'N' Roses) as well showcasing other, contemporary rock, metal and alternative acts to the masses. Some of these acts include Marilyn Mason, System of A Down, Tool, Slipknot, Slayer and Feeder.
Not wanting to be outdone by its predecessor, Download has hosted many legendary gigs and moments for bands and fans alike. Who will ever forget Metallica’s legendary headline appearance at Download 2004, when (for the first time in the band’s career) drummer Lars Ulrich missed the gig (due to illness) and was replaced by an all-star rotation of tub thumpers including Slipknot’s Joey Jordison and Slayer’s Dave Lombardo? 2005 saw Billy Idol's first UK gig after a lengthy hiatus and it was fair to say he hadn't lost his ability to rock and rock hard during his time away! Axl Rose showcased the current Guns 'N' Roses lineup. It was the first time the group had played Donington since 1988, and they played a memorable set which included songs from the yet-to-be-released, eagerly anticipated album Chinese Democracy.
Now in its fifth year, Download promises again to rock Donington Racecourse with over 100 acts spread over 3 days on 3 different stages. New additions to the festival this year include extended camping facilities, a family campsite and new "green" initiatives to cut down on waste over the weekend, as well as encouraging the use of liftshares and public transport.
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| Location: | Donington, England, UK | |
| Website: | http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/home/index.aspx |
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