AC/DC
After many rumours, gossip and speculation Download Festival organisers have today confirmed that the world’s greatest rock band AC/DC will be one of the headliners for this year’s festival, taking place at Donington Park 11-13 June.
There is no better band to help celebrate 30 years at Donington than AC/DC, who with all guns blazing (not to mention bells!) will be appearing at Donington for the fourth time. AC/DC first appeared at the second Monsters of Rock concert in 1981, and then 1984 and 1991. 2010 will mark three decades of AC/DC at Donington Park – and their debut Download performance.
Festival organisers have also announced that they are increasing the arena capacity this year to accommodate even more fans keen to experience Download at Donington Park and celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Monsters of Rock. Last year’s event sold out at 85,000 per day – the increased arena size this year will make Download the biggest UK music festival after Glastonbury.
Established in 1980 by promoter Paul Loasby and the late Maurice Jones who died last year, the event was originally created as a day-long Summer festival dedicated to rock and heavy metal bands. Over the years it was quickly established as the annual event for the UK hard rock fraternity. It was destined to become a British music tradition - 30 years on and Download Festival has become the premiere rock festival.
Andy Copping, Download festival Promoter, commented, “Download 2010 will be one for the history books. It will see the return of the world’s greatest rock band to the most legendary and spiritual home of rock. We have been pushing for this moment for many years, but for this to become reality alongside the likes of Them Crooked Vultures, Motörhead and Megadeth is the best 30th Anniversary of the site we could have dreamed of, it’s also going to be a fantastic tribute to Maurice Jones who started this all off back in 1980.”
John Probyn, COO Live Nation explained, “The Donington site and its continuing flexibility should take some of the credit for the longevity and success of both Monsters of Rock and Download Festival. We are thrilled that our 30-year association with the site will be marked not only with a superb line-up, but also by the expansion of Download 2010 to accommodate more festival-goers than ever.”
Joining AC/DC and following two incredible sold out shows at Hammersmith Apollo before Christmas, are supergroup THEM CROOKED VULTURES featuring rock legends Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones. Incredibly none of the band have ever played at Donington before either – making this Download performance even more exclusive.
Also confirmed will be reformed grunge-rock heroes STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, for their first UK show since getting back together for a massive North American tour in 2008. The band have NEVER played at Donington or Download before, although striking frontman Scott Weiland has of course performed twice, with previous band Velvet Revolver.
One of the ‘Big Four’ bands of thrash metal, MEGADETH, will be back at Donington for the fourth time, having played Monsters of Rock in 1988, and then two Download Festivals (2005 and 2007), alongside metal behemoths MOTÖRHEAD, also making their fourth appearance with one Monsters of Rock (1986) and two Download’s under their studded belts (2005 and 2008).
Returning for the third time will be Sacremento heavy rockers DEFTONES, with a new album slated for April. With an incredible four Download performances already – and with each year moving further and further up the bill – Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE return in 2010 bringing circle pits-a-plenty – lock up your daughters. WOLFMOTHER – also confirmed for London’s Hard Rock Calling – will be bringing their Australian rock to the Download stage for the second time and finally, making their second Download appearance will be Danish rockabillies VOLBEAT.
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