Download Festival

Black Sabbath return to headline Download Festival 2012

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Answering the prayers of millions of music fans worldwide who have been anticipating their highly speculated comeback, the legendary rock band’s appearance at next year’s Download Festival – which takes place at 8-10 June 2012 at Donington Park, less than an hour’s drive from the birthplace of Black Sabbath – will mark the 10th anniversary of the festival, which launched in the summer of 2003.  It will also be Black Sabbath’s only UK festival appearance next year.

Black Sabbath certainly need no introduction, no explanation. Widely regarded as creators of heavy metal, the hugely influential band from Aston, Birmingham, have sold in excess of 70 million records worldwide and are responsible for all time classic rock anthems such as ‘Paranoid’, ‘War Pigs’ and ‘Iron Man’ – which won a Grammy in 2000.  The band was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and theU.S. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Andy Copping, VP of Promotions at Live Nation said, “The reunion of the original line up of Black Sabbath has been one of the most talked about stories of the year. I am thrilled that the band will return to Donington Park next year to help us mark 10 years of the Download Festival.”

Weekend tickets for Download 2012 go on general sale 9am Friday 18th November 2011 from www.downloadfestival.co.uk – subject to availability.  Weekend ticket prices for Download 2012 will remain the same as the prices for Download 2011 until midday Monday 30th January 2012 when all ticket types will go off sale. All tickets will go back on sale at 5pm Monday 30th January 2012 withWeekend tickets increased to 2012 prices. Festival organisers encourage fans to take advantage of this offer while it lasts.

Metallica confirmed to headline Download Festival 2012

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Co-founder and drummer Lars Ulrich says “Six years is way toooo long to be away from the hallowed grounds of Donington Park. We are beyond psyched and feel privileged to come back once again to soak up the energy and vibe of the most legendary of festival sites.”

The multi million selling, Grammy award winning act will visit Donington for the EIGHTH time in their career, having played both Monsters of Rock and Download Festivals – including their first Monsters of Rock festival in 1985 up through their most recent Download appearance in 2006, where they headlined.

"The Black Album" was #1 in over 25 countries and spawned an incredible five hits: ‘Enter Sandman’, ‘Sad But True’, ‘Wherever I May Roam’, ‘Nothing Else Matters’ and ‘The Unforgiven’. The album has sold over 25 million copies worldwide.  Metallica is one of the most successful acts in music history, selling over 100 million albums.

Metallica

Andy Copping, VP of Promotions at Live Nation commented, “I am absolutely bowled over that Metallica will be playing ‘The Black Album’ at the 10th anniversary of Download. The album is up there as one of the greatest albums of all time, everyone knows the songs. The Download festival has come a long way since we first started in 2003 and to have Metallica back to help us celebrate this milestone is just fantastic.”

Download 2012 takes place at Donington Park from 8-10 June and this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. Weekend with camping tickets go on sale 9am Friday 18 Novemberfromwww.downloadfestival.co.uk

Vodafone customers can buy tickets 48 hours before they go on general sale: 9am, Wednesday 16 November at vodafone.co.uk/vip

Download RIP ticket packages are on sale now and can be purchased via www.livenationexperience.co.uk or by phoning 0207 009 3484.

The Jager Rock Truck returns to Download Festival

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Back by popular demand for the third year running, the Jäger Rock Truck presents its very own acoustic stage in a converted ex-military 25 tonne beast of a truck with a line up not to be missed. Over the course of the weekend, acts including American pop-punk bowling for soupband Bowling For Soup, Brit hard-rockers SKIN, London’s own Slaves to Gravity, fiery four-piece Obsessive Compulsive, Aussie-rockers Verses and fresh from their UK tour, Heaven’s Basement will all take to the stage to warm up the crowds at Download.
 
They’re joined by critically acclaimed Hyro Da Hero, Swedish rockers Royal Republic, Irish five-piece Million $ Reload, Glam rockers The Morning After, Maiden United with a fantastic acoustic tribute to the legendary Iron Maiden, funk-rocker Dan Reed, rock five-piece The Dirty Youth, critically-acclaimed Voodoo Johnson and the fantastic Red, White & Blues. Crowds can also enjoy an Ice Cold Jäger shot from the amazing Jäger Ice truck, which with its sub zero bar is a great way to cool down after rocking out to some superb music.
 
Further additions to the Red Bull Bedroom Jam Stage have also been announced, including dubstep four-piece Modestep, straight from their UK tour Don Broco, grunge-metal heads Kill 21, London rockers Fighting Wolves, Sweden’s H.E.A.T and electro rap/rock band You And What Army.
 
Additionally, organisers are pleased to announce the return of Download FM, powered by the award-winning Rock Radio for the third year running. Rock Radio proved in 2009 & 2010, that they know how to put on a good show with Download FM; the radio station on an RSL (restricted service licence) that broadcasts to the hundreds of thousands of music fans descending on Donington for the legendary festival, listening worldwide to the service online and through apps.
 
This year Rock Jocks, Tom Russell, Paul Anthony, Father Ted, Moose, Phil McCracken, Rachel Houghton and special guests will be presenting on Download FM along with Rock Radio network shows during the festival, with interviews from many of the bands on this year’s impressive line-up.
 
Following on from last year’s successful competition to host your own show on Download FM, another festival goer will get the chance, this June, to take control of the mic and present their very own radio show with full details being made available on Download’s official site very soon.
 
Brand Manager for Rock Radio, Ciaran O’Toole said, “The whole team at Rock Radio are busy gearing up for our third year broadcasting on Download FM.  Getting the chance to work with the fantastic team at Live Nation and deliver some top class, quality radio to Download’s festival goers, is a real honour & the station will add to the overall festival experience with all the latest news & information wrapped around the music of the acts playing live at the festival.
 
“With two years’ experience under our belts, we are extremely well placed to broadcast Download FM for 2011, from one of the best Rock Music festivals in the world.  Rock Radio is proud to power Download FM.”
 
Once at Download, customers can also stay in touch at the Vodafone VIP phone recharge zone and use an exclusive VIP viewing platform – where they could get the chance to see one of their favourite acts perform. Vodafone VIP is a reward scheme where all Vodafone UK customers whether Pay as you go, Pay monthly or a business can get access to exclusive customer offers for Download and other top festivals this summer.  It’s Vodafone’s way of saying thank you.  To join in visit vodafone.co.uk/vip
 

Weekend tickets for Download (at 2010 prices) are on sale now from www.downloadfestival.co.uk. RIP Packages also available, and a limited amount of day tickets.

FRIDAY 10 JUNE / SATURDAY 11 JUNE / SUNDAY 12 JUNE
 
———————-MAIN STAGE———————–
 
DEF LEPPARD
THE DARKNESS
ALTER BRIDGE
THIN LIZZY
BLACKSTONE CHERRY
DUFF MCKAGAN’S LOADED
PUDDLE OF MUDD  CKY
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
AVENGED SEVENFOLD
SKUNK ANANSIE
DOWN  HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD
SKINDRED  ESCAPE THE FATE
ALL THAT REMAINS
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
LINKIN PARK
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
DISTURBED
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
THE PRETTY RECKLESS
BOWLING FOR SOUP
MADINE LAKE BIOHAZARD
 
———————-2ND STAGE———————–
 
PENDULUM
KORN
BRING ME THE HORIZON
CHILDREN OF BODOM
THE DAMNED THINGS
ANTI FLAG YOUNG GUNS
D.R.U.G.S EVALINE
ALICE COOPER
TWISTED SISTER  CHEAP TRICK
MR BIG  DIO DISCIPLES
CLUTCH  DAN REED
ROCK SUGAR  BOSSHOSS
RISE TO REMAIN  CHTHONIC
SACRED MOTHER TONGUE
ROB ZOMBIE
THE CULT  BLACK VEIL BRIDES
BUCK CHERRY  TURISAS
GWAR  KVELERTAK
KARMA TO BURN
MALEFICE YASHIN
SUICIDE SILENCE
 
——————–PEPSI MAX STAGE———————-
 
DANZIG
TIMES OF GRACE  FM
HYRO DA HERO
ASKING ALEXANDRIA
LOWER THAN ATLANTIS
JAPANESE VOYEURS
ROYAL REPUBLIC
SWEET SAVAGE
 
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
THE KING BLUES  SEVENDUST
EVILE  TRASH TALK
YOUR DEMISE  LETLIVE
VERSAEMERGE  GHOST
STRAIGHT LINE STITCH
TRC  HOUSTON
THE RODS
FRANK TURNER
PLAIN WHITE T’S
SILVERSTEIN
FRAMING HANLEY
T-34  STARSEED
MY DARKEST DAYS
SWORN AMONGST
HELL  JAMESON RAID
 
————–RED BULL BEDROOM JAM STAGE——————
 
MODESTEP
ENVY OF THE STATE
OAF
DON BROCO
KELLERMENSCH
DANGEROUS
KILL 21
THE DANGEROUS SUMMER
DEAR SUPERSTAR HEIGHTS
BLITZ KIDS
THE MORNING AFTER
FIGHTING WOLVES
H.E.A.T
BAPTIZED IN BLOOD
THE DEAD LAY WAITING
ILLUMINATUS
YOU & WHAT ARMY
OCTOBER FILE  BELLIGERENCE
SKELETAL DAMAGE
 
———————JAGERMEISTER STAGE———————–
 
SLAVES TO GRAVITY
THE DIRTY YOUTH
HEAVEN’S BASEMENT
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE
VERSES
BOWLING FOR SOUP
DAN REED
ROYAL REPUBLIC
MAIDEN UNITED
SKIN
HYRO DA HERO
THE MORNING AFTER
MILLION $ RELOAD
VOODOO JOHNSON

VersaEmerge, The Pretty Reckless and more added to Download 2011

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versaemergeNew kids on the block VersaEmerge, tipped to be the next Paramore (whom they share a label with) will be making their Download Festival debut, hot off the heels from the Alternative Presstour in America where they share the bill with Black Veil Brides, who are also playing this year’s Download.
 
Gossip Girl and Hollywood actress Taylor Momsen will bethe pretty reckless bringing her rock outfit The Pretty Reckless to Download, following a Top Ten album in the UK charts (for 2010’s Light Me Up). Multi million selling US rockers Puddle Of Mudd, will return to the UK for the first time since 2002 to play Download for the very first time in their 19 year career, which hasseen hit singles such as ‘Blurry’ and ‘She Hates Me’.
 
Roadrunner signings Times Of Grace, featuring Killswitch Engage guitarists Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel, and formerKillswitch vocalist Jesse Leach will perform, along with West Yorkshire heavy metal outfit Evile, who are now writing their third album following North American dates with the likes of Kreator, Overkill and Voivod.
 
Having already played the Download Festival, plus toured with metal legends such as Slipknot, Slayer and Megadeth, Suicide Silence are to hit Download once again to showcase the new material currently being written for their third full length album, with UK hardcorepunk rockers Your Demise also returning to the fray to raise hell with this year’s Download crowds.
 
Weekend tickets for Download (at 2010 prices) are on sale now from
http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/2011/tickets/
 
Guest Area passes are once again available, allowing you unlimited access to the general guest area over the 3 days of the festival. Located only a short distance from the main stage fans can get away and relax with undercover facilities, toilet trailers, privatecash bars, dining options and “random occurrences” unseen in the general arena!
 
RIP Packages are also available.

Download Festival 2011 add 21 new bands!

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def leppard download festival 2011Def Leppard are a global rock phenomenon with hit singles spanning an incredible three decades such as Animal, Love Bites, Pour Some Sugar On Me, Lets Get Rocked andWhen Love And Hate Collide.

Their fourth studio album Hysteria (1987) spent an amazing 101 weeks at Number One in the UK charts, also going 12 times Platinum in the US, cementing them as one of the biggest selling rock bands of all time.

A further 20 artists have also been confirmed to lift the proverbial roof off at this year’s Download incuding Sheffield hell raisers Bring Me The Horizon, Grammy nominated Disturbed, blues metallers Down and Chicago alt-rockers Madina Lake.

Fresh from their US tour, Black Stone Cherry have also been added to the Download Festival line up, joined by London political punk rockers The King Blues, American pop-punks Bowling For Soup, folk-punk singer-songwriter Frank Turner, Californian hardcore thrashers Trash Talk and the ‘battle metal brilliance’ of Finland’s Turisas.

Continuing the eclectic rock and metal vibe of the Download Festival, this year’s bill welcomes Guns ‘N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist Duff McKagan’s Loaded, high voltage glam-rock from Twisted Sister and multi-million selling Cheap Trick.

And finally, set to have the crowds head-banging in the mosh pits across the weekend, American metalcore band All That Remains join the bill, along with Northampton metallers Sacred Mother Tongue, the hotly tipped metalcore of Asking Alexandria, Christian rock act The Devil Wears Prada, new kids on the block Straight Line Stitch, Midlands rockers Jameson Raid and Japanese self confessed devil worshippers Ghost.

Download Festival announce 20 new bands!

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From chief heavyweights and major players of the international rock scene, classic rock heroes, acclaimed rock legends and innovators to the latest hotly tipped acts emerging onto the scene, Download 2011 is set to make ears ring, voices hoarse and legs very weary this summer.

UK Top 5 charting modern metallers Bullet For My Valentine, who Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich included in his Top 5 current metal acts, the critically acclaimed New Jersey boys Gaslight Anthem, Australian drum ‘n bass / rock dynamos Pendulum, who knocked The Rolling Stones off the top of the UK charts last year with their third album Immersion, US classic rockers Alter Bridge,recently heralded by a US website as ‘the second coming of real rock’, will be making their mark on Donington with what are bound to be significant and exciting live performances.

Legends of the classic rock fold will be back on the scene at Download this year – the boys who are back in town, Thin Lizzy, LA glam-rock stars Buckcherry, American ‘jam band’ Clutch, who are now in their 21st year, Brit rockers FM and finally Mr. Big, the virtuoso classic rockers who have reunited for a new album What If.

Download 2011 will see the return, and even the debut, of some of the greatest and most influential rock artists of all time, all who have influenced a generation or more of contemporary music acts. Master of theatre and horror Alice Cooper, who will be inducted into the world famous Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame this year, Nu-metal pioneers Korn, US blues-metallers Danzig, fronted by the king of horror-punk Glenn Danzig, British rock heroes The Cult, who are currently on the road across the UK and Europe, sci-fi inspired shock-rock metallers GWAR, and ‘desert rock’ originators Masters Of Reality, who celebrate their 30th anniversary this year, alljoin the party. There should be no over-estimation of their influence on modern rock – to put it bluntly; without Glenn Danzig there’d be no My Chemical Romance, without GWAR there would be no Slipknot, without The Cult there’d be no Guns ‘N’ Roses, without Korn you’d have no Linkin Park or Disturbed, without Masters Of Reality there would be no Kyuss or Queens Of The Stone Age, and without Alice Cooper there would be no Kiss, no Marilyn Manson, and arguably no Lady Gaga.

Moving on to the new kids on the block, with a host of new and new(ish) acts set to get tongues wagging and heads banging in 2011. Black Veil Brides, known for their distinct Kiss-inspired appearance, The Damned Things – a blend of Every Time I Die and 80s thrash heroes Anthrax, the Nevada post hardcore act Escape The Fate, LA rap-rockers Hollywood Undead and Kerrang! Magazine’s ‘Best British Newcomer’ 2010 award winners Rise To Remain – fronted by Bruce Dickinson’s son Austin – all jump into the fray and will be looking to win over the crowds at Download in June.

These acts join headliners System Of A Down and Linkin Park, plus Avenged Sevenfold and Rob Zombie. Weekend tickets and RIP packages for Download (at 2010 prices) are on sale now from www.downloadfestival.co.uk.

Fancy following in the footsteps of My Passion, Youmeatsix and Don Broco? If so 2011 could well be your year as once again Red Bull Bedroom Jam returns to the hallowed turf of Donington Park to give eight new artists the chance to play to the assembled rock masses. If you’re in a band, get your video uploaded now at www.redbullbedroomjam.com, and if you’re a fan, get promoting your favourite act to give them the chance to play Download, along with four of the countries other top festivals, have a live gig streamed out across the globe, spend two weeks recording in the Red Bull Studio London and get a much coveted support slot on a major rock tour.

To coincide with this latest announcement, the official Download Festival website – www.downloadfestival.co.uk – has just been re-launched, and comes full to the brim with exciting digital Download goodies.

As well as a brand spanking new homepage, you’ll find news about the bands playing the festival, detailed pages with info about all the artists on this year’s line up, photo galleries and video content from previous Download festivals, and of course all the essential information you need to know about this year’s festival.

 

Linkin Park confirmed as second headliner for Download 2011

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A limited amount of weekend with camping tickets for the Download Festival 2011, plus RIP packages, are on sale now from www.downloadfestival.co.uk. This ‘early bird’ offer ends 5pm Monday 20 December, and includes 3 day and 5 day camping tickets. Organisers have also confirmed that prices will remain the same for Download 2011 as they were in 2010.

Organisers have also confirmed that Grammy award winning musician / producer and director Rob Zombie will perform at next year’s Download – an incredible 16 years since he last played the Donington Park site with his then band White Zombie.

Since forming in 1996, Linkin Park have gone on to win two Grammy awards and sold over 50 million records worldwide, and they recently released their fourth studio album A Thousand Suns which went No. 1 in 10 countries as well as No. 2 in the UK. Known for unique collaborations with alternative and hip hop artists, Linkin Park’s headlining performance at this year’s Download will be a true highlight of the weekend.

Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington said: “We are very excited to be playing Download again next year. It’s one of the best festivals in the world and it’s always an honour to play in front of such a great crowd. We can’t wait!“

Rob Zombie founded the metal band White Zombie and has since carved a successful career as a horror producer and director, notably for movies House Of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects. He released his new album Hellbilly Deluxe 2 earlier this year.

Live Nation VP of Promotions Andy Copping commented, “It’s great to have LINKIN PARK back at Download next year. They’ve always put on a great show and following the success of their recent sold out UK tour, it was essential to have them at Download, where they will deliver their full-on live show.“

Over 100,000 fans descended onto Download this year to celebrate 30 years of rock at Donington, making Download the second biggest festival in the UK after Glastonbury. It has the largest Facebook community for a UK festival coming top of the list with a huge 156,000 followers, overtaking the likes of V Festival (133,000), T in the Park (92,000), Glastonbury (90,000), Leeds (25,000) and Reading (21,000). Overall Download’s Facebook community is only second in the world to the I LOVE TECHNO event in Belgium.

System of a Down set to headline Download Festival 2011

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Their heavily politicised brand of rock has seen System of a Down sell in excess of 20 million albums worldwide, and the band are known worldwide for their tremendous live performances and unique sound. The band released five albums between 1998 and 2005, which spawned the singles and rock club staples ‘Suite-Pee’, ‘Chop Suey’ ‘Toxicity’, ‘B.Y.O.B.’ and ‘Hypnotize’. Their subject matter marked them apart from the other rock and metal acts dominating the late 90s and early 2000’s, with topics ranging from genocide, Armenian and world politics. Having been away for five years, this reunion at Download will be one of the most talked about events of the rock and metal calendar.

In a statement today the band said, “We are excited to announce that System will be playing some dates together in 2011. We also want to thank you for your loyalty and support, not only to System Of A Down, but to all of our solo efforts as well. We have no master plan of sorts – we are playing these shows simply because we want to play together again as a band and for you, our amazing fans. We look forward to seeing all of you! For more updates, visit systemofadown.com.”

It has also been confirmed that American heavy metallers Avenged Sevenfold will perform at next year’s Download. Avenged Sevenfold’s performance follows two previous appearances at the festival in 2006 and 2008. Their last studio album Nightmare went into the UK Top 5 and they remain a firm favourite with rock fans all over the world.

Live Nation’s VP of Promotions Andy Copping said, “After the huge success of this year’s Download, where over 100,000 fans came to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Donington, I am pleased to say that Download 2011 is already shaping up to have another stellar line up. To have the mighty SYSTEM OF A DOWN headlining next year after a 5 year break is just fantastic, they’re a world class band and I’m personally very excited to have them on the bill. Also, AVENGED SEVENFOLD agreeing to come back and play at Download after the runaway success of their recent sold-out UK tour is a real privilege…they are a future Download headliner for sure. We’ve got loads more to come over the next few months so watch this space, this is just a very small tip of a very big iceberg!! – and make sure you grab your tickets as we are not increasing the price for 2011, so the prices are the same as what we had this year.“

Over 100,000 fans descended onto Download this year to celebrate 30 years of rock at Donington, making Download the second biggest festival in the UK after Glastonbury. This month, Download was named “Top Festival” at the prestigious Billboard Touring Awards in New York, adding to a list of numerous accolades and awards that includes “Best Festival” (UK Festival Awards), “Best Music Community” (BT Digital Music Awards) and “Event Of The Year” at the Kerrang! Awards, Metal Hammer Golden Gods and Classic Rock Roll of Honour. Now heading into its 9th year, the 2011 Download Festival promises to deliver another truly memorable weekend of music and entertainment.

A limited amount of weekend with camping tickets for the Download Festival 2011, will go on sale at 9am Friday 3 December from www.downloadfestival.co.uk. This ‘early bird’ offer ends 5pm Monday 20 December, and includes 3 day and 5 day camping options. Organisers have also confirmed that prices will remain the same for Download 2011 as they were in 2010. The popular Download RIP packages will also go on sale with all the favourites plus some new surprises! Don’t miss out. Vodafone customers can buy tickets, 48 hours before they go on general sale. Buy your tickets from 9am, 1 December at vodafone.co.uk/vip.