DOWNLOAD '08

The world-famous “Download” Festival was back for its fifth year at Donnington. Carrying on its intense reputation of it’s previous sister festival: “Monsters of Rock”, Download ’08 looked to pull out all the stops to make it memorable and fucking insane.
Knowing a fair bit about the festival, since following its growth from starting in 2003, and with its major commercialism associated with Kerrang!, yet not making it to Donnington until this year, I was eagerly anticipating the whole package, though only even going for the opening Friday. I’m relieved to say it didn’t disappoint.
Having prepared for the day with a Tesco supreme breakfast, and a battalion supply of drinks; mainly vodka, it was time to hit the road. Expecting never-ending queues on the motorway, it was plain sailing all the way at excessive speeds to the tune of S.O.A.D’s BYOB, or in our case; Bring Your Own Jägermeister. Nearly reaching the site, we tuned into Download.fm; slightly strange, even when pissed. Bonkers presenters (who had also obviously had a tipple) talking about shenanigans in tents and making bizarre animal noises in between belting out Disturbed tracks, got us geared up for the days festivities.
Despite an extortionate £15 to park the damn car, the Download destruction began. Having waited for an hour to enter the site and being fairly merry, and despite it being grey and grim, a whole world of wonder opened up. Stalls selling: staffs, posters, flags, shirts and the slightly more unusual vodka jellies, bongs and “safe” and “legal” drugs, amongst a variety of other goods, and numerous cuisine stalls and drink tents (Jäger!), stood alongside skateboard demonstrations, Guitar Hero challenges and a whole lot more within this rock community.
From experiencing other festivals such as V, in comparison, Download certainly outdoes them. It has a superb setting in the middle of rolling fields (which when you go past any field after this event, you can only think of the memories), and yes it may be more orientated around a specific music genre, but the whole festival is so well focused and organized that it has to be applauded.
Unfortunately missing Seether for wandering around the site in awe, things just continued to get better and better. From what seemed like an inevitably rainy and miserable day, as soon as Disturbed stepped on the stage, not only was there a sonic explosion, but an explosion of sun beamed down onto the crowd. Not good for those in the pit perhaps, but the whole thing was fucking glorious. “Liberate”, “Prayer”, and playing tracks from their latest album: “Indestructable” it was immense, but on a personal level, seeing Dave Draiman and co. perform “Down With the Sickness” was my Download highlight, as it was for pretty much everyone else. It was possibly a good thing that Kid Rock was a no-show (as he’d been admitted to Nottingham Hospital), as disappointed fans were treated to extra long sets from Chicago’s Disturbed and Judas Priest.
Up next, Motorhead. Legendary. Well…in context that that you can say you’ve seen Lemmy, but I think we could have all benefited from subtitles when he was talking to the audience, but hey it’s Lemmy, he was probably more in the festival spirits (quite literally) than anyone else. It was a bit of a samey set, but, needless to say and yes I’ll be damned for saying it; “Ace of Spades” was downright awesome.
Didn’t’ stick around for Judas Priest (heard them from afar); they seemed to lacking serious amounts of energy which was essential to get the masses ready for the night’s headliners: Kiss. So, it was off to the Gibson stage, which I had kept popping back to throughout the day, and apart from those you were desperate to see on the main stage, this is where it was at. Showcasing some very promising talent, there was more life in this tent than over on the other side of the filed at times, exciting stuff.
And then, it was time. Time to “Rock n Roll all Night” with Kiss! Again, not a mega fan, but there certainly were legions of dedicated fans of all ages who had waited a lifetime for this moment, to add up to an ultimately brilliant atmosphere. It has to be said that these guys really are the professionals of all rock mayhem. As a matter of fact, as I stood there with my fellow music comrades, it led me to think no-one does a rock show like the Americans. Think Metallica and their Summer Sanitarium, think Linkin Park, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Kiss is right up there with them if not pissing all over them and it’s marvellous to watch. Their set must have cost an absolute fortune (but I hadn’t forgotten that £15 car parking ticket-and the rest!), what with: pyrotechnics, fireworks and casting Paul Stanley out into the crowd on a harness, to play on his own podium of rock in the middle of the audience. It was insane! And oh yes, Gene Simmons, (THE) legend, sure did outdo seeing Lemmy earlier on in the day. They played a near-enough 2 hour long massive set; after all they did say “We’ll play for as long as we can” and they can only be saluted for their efforts, and was to their own and to their fan’s advantage. Everyone embraced the moment, and though not playing “Crazy Nights” which I had secretly waited for all day, seeing a performance of “Rock n Roll All Night” was as spectacular as the array of lights and fireworks which created a complete bonanza; awesome, awesome, awesome.
So…first Download. First taste of meaty rock in a field of the weird and wonderful. I’ll be at Donnington next Summer (but hopefully having less grief getting of the darn car park!).