The Rain Will Kill Us All.... "Download 2019"...... In Words...... WET......

I know I haven't said a lot for a couple of years, An that isn't important. I'm back for Download 2019.
I meant to do a 2018 post but I had such a good time and most of the bands I have talked about before so I just didn't bother.

So Here we go Drownload 2019.. Wait no sorry Download 2019.

The 2nd Weekend in June comes around every year, and every year we all migrate to that holy field known as Donington Park, an this year I nearly didn't make it.
Thank you to the guys in the group that bailed me out saved my arse and got me into said field.

There will probably be very little about the bands in this so if you are here for the bands then I am sorry there are more things to say about the whole what needs to be looked at instead of what they get right this year.

So lets start with Wednesday. Now as always there is a que into the car park but it gradually moves forward at a steady rate... Nope 2019 we all have to park in the West Car Park and that's a mile away from the actual camp site... But hang on the roads are grid locked, this was not planned well at all, so we were pushed into the south car park. This I can live with it is closer to where we plan to camp and as such it is a simple quick trip through the gates and into the BLACK CAMP. Yeah the village has moved. Whole team gets greatly confused as I wander off to scout where we want to be, I do it pretty darn quick on my lonesome. Into camp, tent goes up and I start laying out the other tents I am carrying heavens open have to wait for it to pass then carry on, mean while rest of the group are now at the entrance to where we are camping. They are told the camp sites closed. Because of a tree that has fallen, but if you are already in there you are safe but if you're not you have to wait. Yet for some reason they let me take a tent in from them one at a time and continue setting up.... How nuts is this! So I just keep walking back and forth building tents and on the 3rd tent they all seem to appear running down the hill, the hub crew had totally messed it up and they were meant to stop people camping near the tree. Head Wall, plus we were made to move the tents about 6 feet further in from the white line because the fear of new trees falling. I must admit there is a large tree where we camp but the fallen tree is all the way over the other side of the camp.

This isn't even the best bit yet, anyway the total redesign to the camp layouts, the loss of what was white and green results in more issues of people getting a little confused and lost. On top of this why did we lose the camp colours the dividing fences are still in place? Any one want to explain to me why this had to happen, as such over the years the camps themselves have become worse and worse, toilets get smaller and food merchants get reduced and move. The paper shops that used to permeate the hubs no longer exists, so you have to walk all the way to the coop in the village and now the village is not central it becomes a nightmare drudging through 10" of mud and water, an the restock for there is so slow because of the rain it becomes even more of a nightmare to try and purchase any thing When you think that the crews have already been on the site two weeks before we get there and the weather has been forecast as wet for that long, why do they never do anything to improve the situation before we even get in? I am hearing stories of boarding for wheel chairs in the disabled camp not being in place and the mud causing so many issues that the toilets weren't getting cleaned as often as they should be, though these companies will still take their money for a job fully done when it wasn't even half done.

I understand the wish for some to have the toilets segregated for male and female, I do but if you are going to segregate the toilets then you need to possible add more toilets, Or plan how they are being put together or the way they are laid out. This will become apparent in a moment why I am mad about this. Examples of this male urinals depending on which way you are walking you can see directly into them, an why is this important well back in 06 or 07 we got told males if you can just use the fences in the camp site around the edge and just be courteous and try to be as discrete as you can. in 19 we get told we can no longer use the fences as toilets, when I questioned this and pointed out that its been written for years (An yes I know urinating into a dike is probably not great for the water course but it's a short term thing and not an everyday thing an mud seriously you can piss yourself trying to get to the loos cause of ques and mud) But this is not the reason the little Hitler in the white jacket was giving. When I questioned this he actually said that's not changed. So I kept pushing and was threatened with removal from the festival if I did it. (I hadn't at this point) I kept pushing as I was not happy with this thing and I wanted clarification on the exact reason, I brought up the whole indecent exposure and I got told no that not the reason either, when I got to the end of this list I was basically told because it might trigger someone. Yep. Pissing up a fence discretely can trigger someone. The crew I go to Download age range is 19 to 40. Both Male and Female, the look on everyone's face when he said that was one of shock, followed by much moaning about metal festival and rock festival and so on. We never saw this white coat again, okay that not true he was seen by some of the guys in the Slipknot pit, but was ever seen again in a white jacket.

There was also a lot of confusion between white jackets, red jackets and orange jackets, it was like they were all working of different instructions.

So moving on from this we had some people just throwing water balloons at people as they walked up the road way, a friend was hit and we aren't 100% it was water I convinced her it was as said I am not 100% and when she reads this I'm sorry I think it was water I am fairly sure. But once reported security just shrugged it off like they couldn't be bother, so we can't piss up fences but we can throw water balloons filled with unknown liquids at people Oh the joy. (I'm not sure on the day of this)

Village layout, well if the walk ways had been correctly placed and the straw had been put down before we all arrived this might have been easier to walk through, it was seriously hard to walk in, made a killing in welly sales I guess but seriously my legs hurt, just trying to trudge through it. West car park is a stupid distance away and the shuttle bus wouldn't let trolleys on (This is what my mate said I don't know about that but I know the walks back breaking)

So for 2020 weather reports need to be watched and things need to be in place before we get there really and once more security singing off the same hymn sheet and sort the west car park walk some how.

So Friday
How did this go, well we took the "Short cut" through the track as that was the only visible way to get into the arena (We later found out it wasn't) This has gotten longer I and more windy, used to be a quick trek down the track and round a corner now the new infield layout of Donington Park meas you have to snake across the in field up and down hills in order to cross it and it takes ages, from Saturday we just started using the old route as it was quicker and easier. Though the new entrances and new ways in to the arena from each type of ticket did mean we didn't have a massive crush to get into the arena, though on Sunday they did reduce the entrance gate for people coming in. On top of this the amount of beer cans and not allowed items seen with in the arena makes me wonder if the security were checking anyone or just asking and letting them through, I know I never got searched I wasn't carrying anything but still.

Only one beer tent is open at 1pm on Friday. ONE. An then the options for said beverages (I don't do spirits so didn't look but were) Lager Choice: Carlsberg Pilsner, or Dogtooth Bitter. Or you could have Cider.... Any one seeing the problem here? Pilsner is not LAGER, Dogtoogh is BITTER, no LAGER! That was it. Last year we had a great selection of beers it was great beer prices I will be honest were reasonable for a trapped audience.

Skidrow in passing, sounded great loved the 3 tracks from the set I caught new singer is no Sebastian Bach but it's all okay can't fault them but I am heading for Summo Cyco.

Into the tent sets a few minutes late in for Summo Cyco, has been years since I last saw these guys and they are really killing the Avalanche stage, if you find time check them out not everyone cup of tea but I enjoy them fun and bouncy heavy and just insane i can't describe them. This bit is from 4 years ago when we saw them supporting Fozzy and ended up chatting to them for quiet some time at their merch stand, all support for these guys.

I wandered off so didn't see Icon for Hire but have been told there was some technical issues and they started late.

I know why we were trying to find an open bar that didn't have a que longer than the field. We ended up in the que next to the main stage and had the pleasure of listening to blackberry smoke, I have no issues with these guys single tracks in play lists popping up are fine and they play really well live, just after 20 minutes of them playing I get bored, just not my thing they are a good band but not a whole set for me (We did get the whole set though that's how long it took to get to the bar)

Up come Clutch, we have terrible beer. Catch first song, can't remember the words as always with Clutch but Zebrahead are playing and I like these guys, early for them I guess but was a great set, all that energy and the tent is rammed can't even get in to see them but get to hear them and sing along rather happily.

Wanted to see Deadland Ritual, got the day wrong totally screwed that up didn't see a thing.
My phone says I watched white snake, but I am not sure I did, for some reason I can't recall watching them, an here is the best bit I've not even finished my first beer so I can't blame it on the alcohol I never did finish the first beer.

Over to Opeth, catch the start of the set, never seen Opeth live they have played loads but I always forget to go and see them but Slash is playing and I want a good spot for that, so couple of songs in and off we go need to be close and Holy Crap how many people! Make my way to the front of the speaker tower and Here we go Slash, Myles, Conspirators Hell YES.

You know how good Slash and Myles are you do not need me to tell you how good these guys are together

An on to Rob Zombie, Rob can be hit and miss, but he is headlining, he is the last band on this stage it will get dark he will be happy and it will be awesome..... It was, he played he interacted he danced he sang he used loads of awesome video effects.... But nothing animatronic very few costume changes well for him the rest of the band were flying around changing outfits and so on, J5 as always on point, so glad he jumped from Manson to zombie. Great set and a fantastic way to finish the day, so walk back to camp take the short cut and listen to Def Leppard as we go (the volume on main stage was so loud you could hear it all the way at the back of the camp site and I know this because that is where we camp)

Back to camp with the crew all together to chat about our day and just enjoy beer, music and mates.

Saturday!
So Saturday didn't start early.... Well not for me didn't crawl into my tent till 4am the younger ones were out long past my head hitting the pillow and passing out.
So my first official band was Skindred. At 3:35pm, I was in the arena for Behemoth though, An was a great stage presence and some interesting things going on on the stage, but I am reaching this point of wondering what else is on and go for a wander, and here comes the annoying but I am wandering and not really watching who is where or where I am and floating in and out of shops. But I am back for Skindred.
The rain oh the rain, Was really enjoying the set but I am really set up for Slipknot pits later on and as such I am not wearing a lot so once it rained it got cold and while my enjoyment of Skindred was not damped I was cold and I was not happy, my T Shirt was so damn wet I couldn't even get it to spin for the Newport helicopter. Was a great fun set with curve balls and randomness thrown in through out and all the crazy stuff that Benji is known to throw in. Right sod this I am wet next band is Halestorm at 7:45.....

NXT, so yeah went and sat in the NXT UK tent for 2 hours, if you watch NXTUK you might see me you might not we will see how that goes, I Was very tired and stood through the whole thing. Not out of choice there were no chairs where we were. Also as we were in the tent we missed the MASSIVE rain shower that came down between 5 and 7pm

7pm, time to grab some merch. Die Antwoord on main stage while trying to buy merch from some on that only started Saturday morning hasn't been trained and has no idea whats going on....
Okay Die Antwoord, what the hell are they! I get they have a following but I just don't get them at all the base was the hard I thought I was going to have a fit. Not fun not fun at all.

Halestorm....
I love Halestorm, they can preform they do great songs, they do great covers, I was bored. I don't know why the set was killer but there was a lot of Guitar solos and I just wasn't feeling that for some unknown reason. They played great they just weren't that interesting on stage. I don't know I know the conversations about them with the rest of the group we all pretty much said the same thing, could not fault the playing the singing or anything they just seemed a bit dull.

SlipKnot.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH
That hurt. I wasn't even in the pits I was just near them. An still so good so awesome still Corey can control that crowd the interaction the everything, No matter who is in Chris's place, or the new masks or what the hell was Sid doing what is the deal with Sid and not having a Gas Mask he just wanders around like a deranged evil and freak Golem but still Slipknot as always WOW.

Sunday....!
We'll just sit here and chat till the rain stops.... Phone says its raining all day... Mine says its going to slow down about 2... That's okay we'll head up and 2 then... Yeah, Well were off now we want to go see this that and the other... that's okay we'll meet up for Slayer or meet back here later.........
This is what Sunday morning went like. Breakfast as usual, the long trek to the village which in the present mud level takes nearly an hour to get too. Yeah it was that bad.
Rain oh the rain, crap site pretty much gets wrecked Gazebo goes flying and then it stops, but the phone says rain still there so we get the water proof gear on and wander down to the arena about 1 in the end and we get there the rains stopped and it is rapidly heading towards 20C. Yeah not a good day over heating like mad towards the end of it.

Amon Amarth.
Wasn't a bad set, but my back is killing me so I wander to the side to just listen and not watch, the mud is starting to do a number on me and I am exhausted and in pain that pit bump the night before bloody hurting now.
Still played well good stage show and all a lot of great metal. If heavy low vocals are your thing then this is definitely your thing.

Wanted to see Beartooth, but I am done and just crashed out under a sun shade trying to get feeling back into body parts so I can actually move.

Lamb of God or Anthrax.. Lamb of God or Anthrax... Anthrax, seen LoG several times couldn't remember if I had seen them or not but I had and I got to see them again they been doing it that long they they can just play, fast and hard. You might be noticing a theme today there is a fair amount of thrash on.

Dream theatre, seen them before not that bothered want to see Smashing Pumpkins but have time to sit here and listen to one Dream theatre Track 15 minutes and not a long walk from Zippo Stage to Main Stage and I did I listened to One track and after 15 minutes went to Pumpkins.

Smashing Pumpkins...
Opening with Zero, then playing several tunes I don't know and then some I do know and this is Smashing Pumpkins. I wish I caught the name of the guest that came on to sing Snowblind, I am sure someone will tell me some where was an a really good performance of said song though, an the stage decor was amazing.

Time for SLAYER.

Last time these guys are playing the UK and the last time I am going to hear Raining Blood Live.

So so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so Worth It. The pain the heat the everything so so worth it just to see Slayer for one last time.  Thank you download festival for giving me that chance. 

Monday......

Holy Hell and all that is wrong with this World.

From what used to be Green Camp all the way back to the west car park is an absolutely brutal affair, while the ground is more solid as it was easier but up and down those hills with two of us pulling the trolley and trying to get out Damn it all that was a push, pull, run, crawl. Seriously we had zero chance of getting the trolley on the bus so we had to walk but I am sure there could have been an easier route through if someone really thought about it a little.

On another side the rain did hamper things, just in general I am not talking about specific days, the organisers could have been more prepared it has been going on for 16 years! You would think they could get this right by now. Bands all played to the best of their abilities within the confines of the weather situation. Festival goers themselves were as always family. A little dysfunctional but all the same. This year has put a whole new board of issues to get sorted and corrected before 2020. 

An I know a lot of you are going to hang on certain comments at the start and you can do that. I won't hold it against you. This is just one persons view of an event that can houses over One Hundred Thousand. So, Download 2019, we have been we have survived we are family.

So Until 2020. 51 weeks and counting. I'll leave you this tiny beer tinted sleep deprived and chaotic view of a weekend that I would never give up for anything, and the friends I have made and the guys I call my Family. 

Scream for me Donington. 

Calling All Calling All Corpses "Download 2017" Subdued Lurching Weekend

Rolling into another Download Festival.

Wednesday morning roll around once more and with the car already packed and ready to get out there and get set up was on my way.
Another year going Solo, which now makes two in a row, I'm pretty use to going solo now and have it down to a fairly compact formation.
New tent which I had spent the time to learn to put up prior to the journey so was all on top of every thing, missed the trolley having a flat tire but that wasn't spotted till the return journey.

11:50am Wednesday morning I finally collapse out of my car after a little over a two hour overly warm and sunny drive across only two counties, the ques are already forming in the car park with rockers, punks, emos, and metalers wanting to get in get pitched and relax and await the annual pilgrimage to Donington Park.
We arrive to extra security checks extra waits and... Well we are meant to but it didn't feel like it was once I got the the gate, was just waved through after a quick only cloths in the bag right which I replied with a yep and walked on by. Maybe it's the fact that I've done so many an that's written all over my face, this was Download No 14 for me. I don't know.

I do know that seeing police wandering around with machine guns is bloody scary, but then I think I've got XX000, alternatives wandering around with me an with my own kind, I always feel safe.

Right shall we get into this, as I was solo and was nice weather I kind of wandered a bit and a lot of the bands I have seen before so was kind of just hitting the ones I like the odd one I hadn't seen and trying to talk to anyone and everyone, but never truly goes that way.

So we shall roll into Friday, this day I did spend totally on my own, I talked to a few people wandered around ran into a few I had met before and wandered, got to know the new layout.
So the new layout, it works the reduction in noise bleed from one stage to another was minimal which was a great improvement. Downside, the solo traders appeared to be missing, I don't have 100% reason for it and I am hoping to find out, but Bagel Dude (My favorite quick snack venue in the village) an DeliKate (this could be spelled wrong) (Great place to eat in the arena with a wide range of options for all dietary requirements) Wasn't there!

Instead it was multiple versions of the same food outlets all over the shop and very very few independents which seems to be a trend I'm not fond of, but I guess it is down to costing for the companies to make these decision, not really up to the consumers. An as always every year the costings go up, which is getting stupid, but once more capitalism at its best and inflation is a bitch, shame prices never go down. But that's not what this is all about and personal views on the over pricing of food and drink isn't really my place to bring up, beer though £5/£5.50 a pint is expensive it's only about £1 over that is in the pub, while a burger costing between £6 and £8.50 is a little ludicrous, but when you have a captive audience  you can charge what you want.

Sorry got side tracked, on to music.

Friday and Music, where we going first?
We will start with... Motionless in White. This year running a shorter set on the main stage.
I did say this year was a more laid back year for me and the first band is mid afternoon,
I really do enjoy Motionless in White, and they never fail to preform, or impress me and as always I am reminded that they probably will never be massive as they aren't radio friendly, they look like a mashup of Manson, Alice Cooper and Slipknot, but they always play well. New album stuff and older stuff though No A.M.E.R.I.C.A which isn't a bad thing I just like the song. Put on a good 30 minute set though.

Sabaton, I don't think I have ever listened to them before but they were really good band, good song construction, interaction with the crowd and entertaining to watch, has been added to the list of Back Catalogue to purchase once I have funds again.

By the time Mastadon appeared on stage I was suffering a bit from heat stroke and not drinking enough fluids and though I could hear them I wasn't paying enough attention to even write anything here. So Yeah Mastadon......... I don't know!

5 Finger Death Punch. 5FDP.
This could be biased, I really like them on CD and the last couple of times I have seen them they have gotten better and better live and this time wasn't any less. I don't really know what to say here. Starting with lift me up which I possibly wasn't expecting to Jekyll And Hyde but then again I should have been it is an amazing song. But as I said earlier having seen many of these bands many times it really was more a picking my own favorites and just watching them. So this reviews stopping here as I am trying not to be biased.

Prophets Of Rage.
I didn't know what to expect here, what can you really expect with Rage Against The machine, Public Enemy and Cyprus Hill. With only a 5 track EP, they filled there set with a variation of tracks from the three bands and once more another cover of Killing In The Name Of.

Off to Catch the start of Sum 41, as I want to watch SOAD for a change as normally i miss the first half then catch the back half but for a change thought I should go check them out.
So Sum 41 after 21 years seem to still be belting out tracks as if they were still in their 20's. Stopped for the first three tracks and went to System.

Yeah so System. I don't know, some System stuff is good, some is naff, some is random as in a good way and some is random for the sake of random.
The performance wasn't bad, wasn't great either. None of them seemed to look interested in being there and did look quite bored, but when you have been touring the same set for a decade I guess I Would get bored too. Serj said his voice wasn't great an yeah, I am not 100% sure what was going on.

The general feeling in the village after wasn't the usual high buzzing that was a great day an everyone seemed to be a little subdued.

On to Saturday.
I originally planned on going down for Alestorm but there was nothing I was that interested in after that till Lounge Kittens, So wandered down for about 30 minutes before they started and had a bit of a wander and half listened to who ever was playing, grabbed some food and a beer and headed over to the Dog Tooth Stage, found a spot and awaited the Kittens, an though they seem like the craziest group to be on site, three girls and a keyboard they are incredibly entertaining and tailor their sets to the festival or show they are doing look them up on you tube they are very fun and talented.

Time for a wander over to main stage for AFI, though this was from a bit of a distance, as I was in conversation with some folks and listening as I could, I do enjoy AFI an I wish I had been closer from where I was they sounded good but that is all I can say, Should have turned around really an then I would have been able to see, though I would have though a middle of the say band might not have had their normal stage set with them.

With some time to kill a bit more wandering and chatting then back to Dog Tooth for Wednesday 13, amazingly put together set, was a little short wish it had been longer but the show was amazing, with flaming sword wielding dancers and costume changes, an a mix of tunes from the Frankenstein Drag Queen days, Murder Dolls and Solo Stuff.

Quick sprint across the sight.. Hahahaha me sprint nah not going to happen, wandered over to the Avalanche Stage from Dog Tooth just missing Alestorm doing their Acoustic set, in order to get into see Simple Plan, which ended up with me chatting to people outside the tent unable to get in.... Crap Rob Zombie have to run....

On off on my travels to Zippo Stage for Rob Zombie.
Expecting something similar to the last time they headlined the 2nd stage, what we got was a very impressive set of Rob Zombie Tracks from the early days ot the present day but without the usual wandering performers in robot costumes and alien outfits and just had a very large video wall playing all kinds of crazy stuff. Can't fault the music or the performance at all, was on key for the whole thing and not only did we get Blitzkregebop but also Schools Out by Alice Cooper.
This night the camp site had a lot more energy and everyone was buzzing. Far better end to the day than Friday night.

Sunday!
So today it is known that the only band playing at the end was Aerosmith. So had no way of avoiding the full set this time and I am glad I didn't but we will get to that.

So the plan was to head down for Fozzy, but if you are playing a 30 minute set at 11am and the next band you want to watch is at 14:25 and you are in the arena till 11pm then you might get missed, and Fozzy did, I'm getting to old to do a whole day in the Arena on my own, last year was hard enough and if the whole gang had been together we would have kept each other up through the day to make it easier but it is hard to do solo, any way I did eventually get down the the Arena for In Flames.

I am wishing I had seen Devil Driver though. They weren't terrible just not my thing and I go rather bored while they were on and I should have seen Devil Driver again.

Bit of Airborne, who just sound like AC DC now a days, but heading to DevilSkin, an was greatly surprise little New Zealand band that I am hoping will go far have a lot of potential was only really let down by the mic being set to the same volume as the rest of the instruments to start with making it hard to hear but a very impressive set an will be chasing their album or EP once I have funds, not a bad performance in the Dog Tooth Stage,

Catch a bit of Ministry, one day I am going to get to see them fully but not today as the group I am with today want to see Steel Panther and drag me over to that.

(Three comedians in wigs singing about sex and out of date celebrity stories, while their ability to play and sing can't be dismissed or ability to write a catchy tune they are simply a modern day spinal tap, though promoting nothing more than sexual innuendo,which to be honest is less innuendo and more blatant exploitation of sexual comedy, but they can perform an their crowd interaction and for lack of a better word internal banter makes the crowd laugh. (Written while at download))

Steel Panthers for some reason have just never impressed me, Early days I wanted them too but they just didn't light anything up inside me and while they can play and interact I just can't seem to get them. 

Opeth, once more wandered to the back to just catch a few minutes of these guys and also Slayer who while are legends and shouldn't have been on the Zippo Stage are starting to slow down a little and once more putting on a good set have lost a bit since the old days. Right that's everyone covered lets get this Aerosmith done shall we. Photos first?

Possibly the best show I have ever seen Aerosmith do. Though they didn't play Pink.
I can't really give a real break down of this set was just good old rock and roll, with a great set list played from the early decades of the band. With tracks like Jenny's got a gun, to walk this and all manner in between, was a great ending though we didn't really get a choice as they were the only band on and the latest to finish at 10:50pm.

Ah crap I forgot Alter Bridge! I did see some of the set not all of it was a wander for food and beer while conversing with people about all manner of things, would have liked to have seen Slash and the Conspirators but I can't known Myles voice no matter which band he is playing with.

Right So Back to the tent and awaiting Download 2018.
Where I shall be hoping for...
Offspring. Blink 182 or Green Day.
Skid Row, Ugly Kid Joe, Megadeath.
In This Moment. Skindred. Killswitch engage.

Ah who am I kidding all I really want and would give my right arm for is simply Gun's N' F'in Roses.

Till Download 2018 is over this has Been Fallen013 and hopefully next year I'll have even more bands to talk about and a great Festival to write about.

So this should be Download 2016 review BUT!

Okay so, lets get this ball rolling, and try not to get crushed under the weight of every thing that has happened in the last fortnight.
Download 2016 review should be here but I've just had most of it wiped from my memory with everything that happened. Now don't get me wrong Download 2016 was enjoyable and it's usual interesting time, from the scorching 25 degree Wednesday and Thursday to its raining main even status of Friday to Sunday. Which is the problem. I missed out on the back half of Friday due to tent problems with a sudden tremendous down poor which flooded half of my tent but thankfully spared my sleeping quarters. Having to drop out after around 70 minutes of Sabbath because my coat was so drenched that I couldn't stand up any longer and it was too wet to sit down, to back problems on the Sunday resulting in me deciding not to go down to early and just see the final 3 Acts on the Sunday to give me some form of enjoyment.

Most years this wouldn't be an issue as the group would have each others back but this year this was the year I went Solo!
Everyone else's lives just got in the way this time. Though with all the Downloads over the years behind me I was very much prepared for it. An the general setting up camp and getting to and from the car in one motion was made very much easier by the way I now plan and carry my gear too and from camp.

Did check out the NXT even as well while I was there and very much look forward to them coming back to the UK and attempting to get tickets to see them.

I'm sorry this review is so minor but there is so much more to get into what has happened and so little memory of everything that happened while I was at Donington, Met some great people in the camp site and in the arena as always will talk to anyone. Skindred and Disturbed performances were fantastic as always and as expected but now on to the other stuff.

Monday get home, Tuesday recover, Wednesday go to Alton towers. Thursday about to go to dinner and it rains, Wait for rain to pass then go to dinner, but the sky is falling, falling so much that the water in my garden is now 6" up the side of my house and 2" across my downstairs. An we begin bailing, from 2pm till 10pm bailing for my life, I got lucky, Very lucky, 2 neighbours have had to have their floors removed and lost electrics and all sorts, I can't afford home insurance so after the minor tiny flood from 5 years ago I modified the house to cope, put in new floors raised the damp course in the house and tried to keep all my power and electrical equipment off floor level, plus tiled the entire downstairs apart from my living room.
Unfortunately though I did lose the transformer for my Xbox One and my Ultimaker 2 3D printer and my Wanahoo 4X, plus a couple of Coax Cables for my TV. The transformers aren't going to be cheap but I worked out everything that needs to be replaced would have cost less than my excess on home insurance.

Now the other side of this flood, the Scalextric Racing Site I run ended up under 8" of water.
This is insured but the work around to rebuild it will take several weeks as it is an operating company we have to take into account health and safety and COSH and all manner of other little annoying things,
So once the insurance is in and lays out what they will cover and what I have to do I will have a week after dry up to rebuild the whole site, which I have spent 12 years building and maintaining and modifying to fit the needs of the company that pays me what they like to call minimum wage.

But this also means that once I have put in all the parts that need to be addressed I have to invoice the company for the work done and claim back what ever components I have had to purchase.
Which after replacing everything I have had to sort at home is going to leave me border line broke. for a while.

An with out the extra income from my 3D work which I can't do at this time I am in a little bit of a pickle.

So anyone wondering why I'm a little but more crazy than normal or quick to stress or anger, have a wild guess whats on my mind.

Oh and I lost 4 note books of new pencil designs and concept work for new things I was working on when the surface they were on started floating away and crashed into the cat litter tray that was floating the other way.

I'm off to keep throwing out wet boxes from the cupboard under the stairs.... At least my bathroom and kitchen floors are cleaner than they have ever been.....

I Get Wet without even trying. "Download 2015" Swim Suits may be required.

Welcome to an abbreviated blow by blow of Download 2015. Why abbreviated do you ask? Well that is simple, though I spent a lot of time in the Arena on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday I was hopping about a bit trying to keep warm in the rain.

   

 

 

Wednesday and Thursday was glorious weather. Possibly too hot to be sat in one space too long in the arena and meaning vast amounts of water drunk if it stayed as it was over Beer, but still it was a glorious couple of days. Then Friday it started out really nice, then as the arena gates opened it began to turn grey and then well it rained non stop from around 2pm till 5pm on the Saturday.


Do want to just side note actually checked out the Comedy Tent in the village on the Thursday and I don't remember any of the names of people we saw but it was enjoyable and was a good giggle for an evening, though we did seem to spend about 3 hours in there! If you want to know who was preforming go check out the Download Website.


Friday this is all main stage. If not going to move only doing it to find food or beer.
So we shall start with well where we started which would be Clutch. Been around a while and still able to put on a show, solid set nothing flashy several of their better known songs and just all together an enjoyable watch. Nothing to complain about nothing to praise was just a solid rock and roll show.
Five Finger Death Punch followed, you know what I like FFDP and have all their albums but the last few times I have seen them at Download I have never been impressed with their set's at all, For some reason they just didn't seem to get me going which is a little bit upsetting and I was starting to think their production with the CD quality was the problem, but everyone I know had seen them play at their own tours and things said they were good and I was failing to see how. This year they surprised me. I was just blown away by their presence on stage and the ability to play, I'm going to guess it might just be down to what I was going through when they played before and more me than them. One day they will be headlining at Download they will be deserving of it.

Judas Priest. I've never seen them play badly yet but then I have only seen them twice and even as the years roll on they never fail to impress me.

Slipknot. You know what, even with the new guys in the band I couldn't tell anything was different.
If you weren't at download but caught the rock am ring live feed then you pretty much know what happened. Identical set other than the German section at Rock Am Ring was in English. Still an incredibly high energy 90 minutes of a group of Guy in masks making a very loud noise. An making the pulse race and hair fly.

Shall we go back to camp and check we've not flooded yes yes we will. Tent 4 and 4 still standing.

 

 

 

 

Saturday, tent still standing, still raining.
An the first band is 11am! WHAT THE HELL! In all the Downloads I don't think I have ever made the arena before the first band it ends up being a long day on your feet and with the ground sodden and muddy it is hard walk from the camp site all the way in the bottom of green which is my favourite place to camp to the actual arena. So onto the Lounge Kittens, I have been watching their you tube videos for a while. An live they did not disappoint. Funny and very musical. An from here we wander to 4th stage for New years Day. Had seen a couple of their you tube videos, wanted to check them out, good vocal range, very jumpy and high energy set rather impressive fingers crossed they keep at it. Now where whats next! Beer. Right band find a band what band... Apocalypitca. Who appear to have got a singer for their latest work and while there were technical issues due to weather still put on a show though I feel with having this singer it detracts a lot from what originally got them to the party. We shall see how long this lasts. Musically even with the technical issues can't fault them for their preforming ability. Right food and over to main stage for Hollywood Undead who seem to have somewhat evolved pretty far from their roots. First album did impress me a little but this latest incarnation of themselves just don't float my boat, though the rain was seeming to be able to do that at this moment. Back to 2nd stage for Motionless in White. These guys have so much potential. Both on album and live, though to get bigger they need to do something radio friendly I guess and that would totally be against what they are and while I think they could go a long way if they could find their audience of which I am gladly a member. That audience will never be big enough to have them standing as a head liner upon the hallowed ground of Download Main Stage though I do think they will get to that stage one day. More food and off to Faith No More. It's faith No More what can I say! tight as always funny and ever and doing that thing they do being brilliant and random and a little but crazy. Good set nice mix of new and classics with some re-imagining of some classic songs. Such a good set. Mental Dash over to catch the End of Andrew W.K. An yeah not getting any where near that stage. He is on 3rd  which is a Tent it is a large tent but so many people wanted to see him as he tours over here so rarely now a days, Would have liked to have seen him on second stage, while this would have given the fans more room, I'm not sure the energy levels would have been the same. I did catch a bit of Muse, Couple of songs, but not really my thing. Musically can not fault them.  I forgot Manson! How could I forget Manson! Especially as he actually played a blinder I was in total shock. Every time I have seen him play Download I have been greatly unimpressed as he mumbles and fumbles his way through the set. More like he is just doing it cause he is being paid too and can't be bothered I even watched his Rock Am Ring set and wasn't that impressed as he couldn't be bothered and just made a half arsed attempt to play music. But Download this year WOW he was up there with how he was on the Twins of Evil Tour and I shall give him his dues on this one couldn't fault it, didn't really watch the stage as was stuck near the bad but what I could hear sounded really good.

 

 

 

Sunday. Sun Shine! We start with Sunshine!
I wanted to check out Pop Evil, they were playing at 11am, I wanted to see Evil Scarecrow, I would have liked to have seen the Von Hertzen Brothers. Not a chance, while the sun had got me up early after pulling a full 12 hours in the arena the day before my feet were not up to it!
So what did we start with well Tremonti, They were an acceptable rock and roll band. Didn't blow me away didn't suck was just good old rock and roll, bit heavier than Alterbridge. I got nothing here I am afraid just a good old generic rock band. Then on to Black Berry Smoke, I like these guys some country some rock all soul but while the odd song dropped into a play list of many varying songs makes for a good distraction and a bit of a sing a full set for me is a bit too much, it was raining again and once more some minor technical issues but they played on. Didn't really blow me away but once more it's a personal preference isn't it what works for one don't always work for another.
Billy Idol. Still plays amazingly well to say he has been doing it for a little over 30 years now. Still plays the classics and adds in new stuff, Good to dance along and sing along too.
Slash. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. Now don't read this the wrong way I am a MASSIVE GnR fan it is where I started on my road with music if it wasn't for them I don't know the late 80's and the 90's would have been a very different world for me I guess wouldn't have had that gate way band I fell in love with all them years ago and no one has ever managed to turn me against but I do wish they would play their own stuff, they have two complete albums and a partial album in the way of the first Classic Rock Presents Slash album. Every moment from Night Train to Paradise City and all in between. The dirty and amazing rift that screams out the introduction of Anastasia. To singing along with the track I can't remember the name off from World on Fire. (I have been writing this since around 6pm and it is now midnight download this year was hard work) One day these guys will be Headlining Download and they deserve to be doing.
Motley Crue. Slammed on the barrier for this and not a great place to be. While musically it was fantastic, Being so close to the stage made it hard to see what was happening on it even at 6'2" tall it was uncomfortable while it didn't dishearten me or my enjoyment of the set I would have liked to have been a little further back for a better view of what was going on instead of having to make do with flashes on the large screens.
Okay you're not going to like this but.. I don't get KISS. I just don't. The ego the bravado and the ignorance and arrogance of them just grinds my gears. (see I still managed to get a family guy joke in) Then to berate other bands for using pre-recorded samples when playing live. Or too gloat that their day had sold 85,000 tickets, not realising their was possible 5-10 thousand round the corner watching Enter Shikari. Oh and to me Kiss are still well Boring I do not get the fascination with them. 85,000 tickets is a nice amount to sell. But Maiden, Sabbath, Metallica. They all sell out Download. Kiss You wouldn't have even sold out the old in track arena.

 

Obligatory Photo of Me 

 

 

 

Monday Morning, Glorious weather to leave on, once of these years it will stay all the way through. Here is too 2016 and another 6 days of Friends, Music, and Mud.... I mean no mud there is always mud.

Ready for Download 2016. 

Hey Ho Lets Go "Download 2014" A lost weekend in review.

Where to start? At the beginning? On the Friday? The Wednesday? I am fairly sure not one of you is interested in anything but the bands I can recall, the things I remember or the way it was.
I'm sat here with In This Moment, Blood Re-Issues & Bonuses playing as I am working up to a new Album review, an they are on my list to review, but they didn't play Download, so you will have to wait for that.

So we shall begin with saying Download festival I have been to them all but the first one. An I was meant to be there for that but yeah it's messy. It is my annual pilgrimage to Castle Donington, the group changes but I always stay the same, I try to watch as many bands as I can which can be hard at times as it's a festival an partying in the camp site at night can mean late starts in the morning, okay I possibly mean afternoon.

We will start with the Wednesday shall we. No bands play on Wednesdays. But then this is the thing, I left Leicester as I was staying over at a mates before heading in we left at 11 am, reached the services had breakfast. Now here is the mad bit even in the quietest years and there have been a couple not many but a couple that time in the morning the services near to East Midlands Airport and the road down to the Race Track are usually choker block, this day how ever we drove straight into the services, had breakfast then drove straight into the car park and parked not a single traffic delay at all! This was a bit of a shock.

Into the queue around 1:30/ 1:45 takes a while to load up the trolley an drag two massive tents, and bags all the way over to the gates themselves, we slowly went along down getting closer to the gates and they were searching everyone a little more thoroughly than we have seen before which was interesting, but if you're not carrying anything you shouldn't have then it's all fine, in we go and tent was up and we were down with beer by 4 pm. Just walked into our normal camping area and set up with out issue. Down the bottom of the Green camp site. Not to far from the village but just far enough to be out of the way if anything kicks off we are safe and sound. So were in Thursday happened. Involved going off site to buy beer, as the price for a crate of 24 cans was a lot steep. Like £42 - £48 steep. An Turborg possibly the most horrible larger ever created was the more expensive one!

FRIDAY.

So not an early start on the first day, arena don't open till 12, first band goes on at one, two we wander down to be in position for:

Powerman 5000, most random of starting bands, no one seemed to know any of the songs as we wandered down, I could remember a few but once they started playing we all suddenly started remembering songs by them as they played and we sang along. Good set, worked well with the crowd though it wasn't massive. But still was a good set.
Moving on to the band we really came down early for:

Skindred, As always they brought the best they can be, with great tunes, high energy rifts and mixing and such a charismatics and fantastic front man. If they tour near you go see them they are just an amazing live act, full of energy and banter fun and all round brilliant act. Rugby Choirs and Tom Jones aren't the only musicians to come out of Wales and bring the house down. Just watch out for that Newport Helicopter.

Time for food a wander and a bit of a break. Wanted to see Flogging Molly and Black Label Society kind of managed to miss both some how. Think I was in the beer Tent, could hear black label and they sounded a little off but it might have just been the sound and as I didn't see them I can't comment on this really. As it would be unfair on them. Back in place though for:

Within Temptation, as always sounded amazing, vocally amazing as always and good set, though I don't think we will ever see them much higher up the line up. Great vocalist. Check them out.

Now the act I was looking forward too and was expecting an amazing show from was Rob Zombie.
Was expecting something fantastic as every time I have seen him to date he has played a blinder, be it at the Birmingham 02, Headlining the second stage at Download 2011 or the twins of evil show in Birmingham NIA with Marilyn Manson.  He has always brought an amazing show and an amazing presence.
He couldn't be bothered. Complained that it was sunny, complained he was doing a "Party" Set, Had non of his props on stage and even asked if the Solo John 5 had been doing was long enough to take them to the end of set and walked off to be sent back out to play Dragula that he slurred the words on like many songs and just couldn't be bothered. I have the utmost respect for Rob Zombie as an Artist and I will just have to put it down to technical issues short set and something making it a bad day that just ruined what could have been magical. But I don't know all I know is what I saw from around 50 feet from the stage.

Bad Religion. I really didn't know what to expect here. I had no clue at all, never seen them before know the odd song and know how long they have been around, was glad I saw them though they didn't light me on fire they played very fast and very well but I have nothing to compare them too. Some jokes thrown in but that was about it really, they might have been playing their hearts out they could have been dialing it in, I just don't know but they did play well if they didn't light a fire under the groups backsides.

Here comes my highlight of Friday. An the rest of the groups too. Ave......... hahaha Nope wasn't A7X it was the might and the amazing Offspring.
Playing Smash, from intro to intermission to end, throwing in hits from Americana and the last single from Rise and Fall, You're going to go far kid (Dance fucker Dance)
20 years on, and while the years are seen on their faces, they still play as hard and fast as they ever did, the crowd was behind them pits appearing, dancing and singing along at the top of their voices, at one point even drowning out the band and the main stage with their cries along to hits like Pretty Fly for a white guy and Self Esteem. Crowd interaction as always was done in the form of little in jokes and they banged out hit after hit with efficiency and a greatness that these only veterans can bring. Set finished with 15 minutes to spare. I do wonder if they had anything left in them after that to do an extra encore but the stage hands never gave them a choice and started breaking the set.

SATURDAY!

The plan was to make the Arena for Fozzy.......... This was a massive fail mainly on my part as I had spent a lot of the evening Drinking with people around the camp site and I didn't crawl out of bed till late. An then pretty much started drinking again in order to avoid the hang over, Music festivals the only place where it is acceptable to down 3 pints before the kettle has boiled to make the coffee.

We aimed once more for 3 pm as we weren't missing bowling for soup. An as it's the only video I could  find have some of their Download 07 appearance.
I am a massive bowling for soup fan they are up there in my seen more times than I can could list of bands. An after 20 years they have retired from big tours, so this might have been the last time to see them for a while. They cram so much into a set it is unreal, jokes songs and they never miss a beat. Crowd interaction going on through songs after songs during songs just non stop party band and they are such an amazing group of guys to see play and it is a shame it might be so long till I get to see them again. Just go find their work buy it get everything you;'' love them you might even know more songs than you think.

As I really wanted to check out Richard/Crane featuring Whitfield Crane and Lee Richards a new project I skipped Killswitch Engage. An then passed out for a bit. R/C though are a two piece acoustic project, this is a new path for both of these guys getting out those songs within them and down, they say every time they do a new project it will be different and this is going to be a journey through music with them and their creativeness. Was a very gorgeous pieces and I am looking forward to the finished album. Which the first one will be Acoustic. Don't expect Ugly Kid Joe or God Smack though but something new and very interesting.

Right I'm awake I have hiccups, need to get too 2nd stage as the wild hearts are ab-o-ut t-o pl-ay, was so uncomfortable no idea where they had come from but they were pissing me off and then I herd that opening rift of sick of drugs and I ran off full speed straight to the front of the crowd pushing my way though to get a decent view. I do love the Wildhearts. Ginger the ever charismatic front man, the band behind playing in unity as always and once more some hard hitting fast paced songs that just make you want to BOUNCE and sing along. Always amazing watching the Wildhearts and Ginger.

Twisted Sister.... Oh My God I Wanna Rock! Amazing presence fantastic front man funny as hell and just some very hard hitting Rock and Roll. Low flying planes though and New York bands not always the best thing especially when Donington Park is directly under the landing path of East Midlands Airport. First random moment of the set. While it was towards the end of the set. Second stand out moment was the tribute to Motorhead and Lemmy. Dee Snider is a true gentleman of Rock and Roll.

Now this is where it gets a little complicated. I started to wander. I watched the first 20 minutes of the Quo set and the boys were on fire they said was a short set due to the football.... Sorry what!? I'm at a rock festival I couldn't give a shit about the world cup play music not sports. Read the results on your phone later and let the bands play. I wandered to third stage and caught a bit of Behemoth not really my thing but from what I could see sounded good were playing well and I did like the out fits, the set layout and the special effects. An as they were playing Linking Park, now not my cup of tea but sounded clean and well presented I didn't look towards the stage but I got to hear crawling and one step closer which are the only songs I know by the band and they sounded really good, before heading back over to the 2nd stage for the End of Quo, some random conversations with people around me and some hard core air guitar, then back to camp and more beer.

SUNDAY.

This all went very wrong. I was going to see Buckcherry if it killed me. It very nearly did, was an early start, so beer in hand as I was going to have to drive the next morning get the "light" drinking in early on the way down to the arena. So off for breakfast, beer in hand, have breakfast, then its right were off to the arena, me thinking I would have time to get back to the tent change the battery on my E-Cig grab an extra beer just to finish them of on the walk and dump things like my trench coat and stuff in my pockets. Nope no no no not allowed were going. Off we wander. We get to the Arena entrance and Buckcherry come on stage. Damn It All. It is jammed tighter than a sardine can and were not getting in in a hurry so I get to listen to a distorted sound as the wind is up and at that range everything is bleeding together. Get through the gate and they start Crazy Bitch. Yeah last song of the set that's how long it took to get in, I manage to get from the arena entrance to the barriers before they get half way through the song. So if you saw a 6'2" guy running across the Download arena heavy leather trench coat billowing that was me. I'm sorry if I knocked anyone over I think I dodged, jumped and skipped round most people.
Any way back up for lunch and the usual meet up spot, I do love Deli Kate, possibly my favourite food stall, they do all the rock and metal festivals go check them out. Is it Deli Kate or Deli Cate? I don't remember they have been standing at download 5 years now, they also do blood stock and this year Alt Fest. As well as a few others.

Crash at the top of the hill for some Richie Sambora, Crowd which is singing along look small from where we are, sound is okay but he is no Jon Bon jovi, he can play the guitar but he hasn't got the same range as his band mate. Though once he starts playing the well known Bon Jovi tracks the crowd picks up and starts singing along.

Joe Bonamassa???? I sat I watched It did nothing for me. I recognized one song, which is played to death and isn't that impressive, the performance was good it just didn't get me going or make me want to go purchase his CDs. I ended up wandering went past 3rd stage and saw them trying to crush into the tent for Crazy Town which I didn't expect at all but they were just surrounding the 3rd stage trying to get in.

Volbeat, You know what I own their albums, I rarely listen to them, I was really impressed and I should possibly go back and listen to them again really nice show, some good tunes some interaction with the crowd and very pleasing set thoroughly enjoyed them and once I learn some words might even try and see them on their own tour.

Sorry Steel Panther you just don't do it for me.

Seether, never herd them before had no idea what to expect was pleasantly surprised though, some really nice tricks with delay peddle and loops. Really good performance had my foot tapping and bouncing along to songs I didn't even know. Shall be checking them out more once I have some funds to do so.

The Pretty Reckless.
Last time they played download I was shocked and amazed at how good they were, I didn't expect to like them I got their Albums and have enjoyed them. Now I don't know who's fault it was if it was the bands if it was the sound techs but the bass was so high that you couldn't hear any words all you could feel and I do mean feel was the bass drum and guitar. It really spoiled the set, when they did eventually get the bass lowered she appeared to mumble her way though the songs while the other mic the guitarist was using was clear and audible. This wasn't a wind issue this really was a set up issue and should have been fixed.
Several kids in the crowd more dads in the crowd just to leer over her dancing around on stage being provocative. Worst set of the whole festival though I have herd that Bring Me The Horizon didn't do that well either, but I don't know as didn't see them.

Back for Aerosmith. An the last two tracks of Alter Bridge.
Was it going to be the same lack luster performance of 2010 or was it going to be an energy fueled explosion.... BOOM straight off the bat it was high energy and 5 songs in I'm all okay they are playing to their potential lets go see Zebrahead for a change, we never go see Zebrahead......

I had no idea what I was letting myself in for here, the 4th/5th stage depending on how you look at it is tiny, and packed! High energy fast fun rap rock punk show. With some great little moments, but only a 25 minute set and so much packed into it including this.....

Yes that is a member of the band paddling a raft across the top of the crowd! 

It all gets a bit hazy after that much jollity was had around the camp site many jokes and stories told and a lot of laughing singing and doing really bad impressions before rolling in and calling it another Download Festival brought to a close. Roll on Download 2015 and another great 6 days of Alcohol, Music, Sun and fun.