The Download Festival is a two day rock/metal/punk festival held at the spiritual home of rock music in England - Donington Park - home between 1980 and 1996 of the Monsters Of Rock Festival, and venue for 2002's Ozzfest. It takes place in early summer, and is owned and managed by the US media conglomerate Clear Channel (see also Clear Channel UK ).
History
2003
The first Download Festival was held in 2003. The headliners were originally Iron Maiden and Limp Bizkit although Limp Bizkit pulled out and were replaced by second on the bill band Audioslave. Metallica attempted to step in as headliners, but were unable due to already being headliners at that years Reading and Leeds Festivals. Instead, they played an unannounced "secret slot" in the afternoon on the second stage.
2004
The 2004 Festival was headlined by Metallica and Linkin Park and the number of stages was upped to three, playing host to 72 bands over the two days. The 2004 event also featured Iggy Pop and The Stooges and was noticeable for several last minute hitches. Firstly Soil got lost on the way and missed their mainstage appearance on the Saturday (though they joined Drowning Pool on the second day for Drowning Pool's "Bodies" and their own song "Halo".). Static-X missed their slot due to a bus breakdown. The Sunday was no better - Slayer arrived on time, but their equipment didn't, leading to a slot change from the middle of the afternoon on the main stage to a later slot (and longer set) on the second stage. The biggest news came from the headliners Metallica however, when Lars Ulrich was rushed to hospital. Taking to the stage an hour and a half late, James Hetfield explained the situation with Lars and the show began with Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo, Slipknot's Joey Jordison and Metallica's drum technician, Flemming Larsen taking over.
2005
Download 2005 is to be held again at Donington Park, on 10th-12th of June.
The official line-up so far (as of 4 March 2005) is as follows:
Friday 10 June:
Main Stage:Feeder, Garbage, Dinosaur Jr, Megadeth, Biffy Clyro, JJ27
Snickers Stage:Billy Idol, The Used, My Chemical Romance, The Bled
Saturday 11th - Ozzfest Day:
Main Stage:Black Sabbath, Velvet Revolver, HIM, Anthrax, Alter Bridge , Bowling For Soup
Snickers Stage:In Flames, Chimaira, Lamb Of God, Bullet For My Valentine , Meshuggah, Unearth , Everytime I Die
Sunday 12th:
Main Stage:System of a Down, Slipknot, Slayer, Nightwish, Killswitch Engage, Papa Roach
Snickers Stage:Motörhead, DKT/MC5 , Lacuna Coil, Mastodon, Caliban, As I Lay Dying
External link
Download Festival
