by Ian Carroll
“We were going around Europe doing some promotion for ‘St. Anger’ and doing some TV shows, Maiden were headlining that year and our booking agent John Jackson had the idea that we should go into Donington ‘under the radar’ and play in one of the smaller tents in the afternoon; have some fun and do it ‘guerrilla style’, which we did and it was great idea.
We were on in the middle of the afternoon; we just rolled in and all our crew had been instructed to cover up the Metallica logos on all our equipment.
We went onstage and opened up with ‘Blackened’ and we played just less than an hour. We played hard and it was fun; the great thing about it was that we were off by about four so I got to do something that we don’t get to do very often and that was to start ‘cracking some beers’ and hanging out with all the other bands; when you’re headlining and you get off stage everybody else had left. So, we had few drinks with some of the road crew and the other bands and a chance to hang out, watch some bands and have some fun.
It was the worst kept secret in England, but it was a lot of fun and it’s just great that we still get to do those things and play ‘guerrilla style’.”
Lars Ulrich (Metallica – Drums)
“It was huge; it was my first festival and we were on the mainstage. It was a very bizarre experience being up there and seeing that many people rocking out and throwing themselves around; it was maybe too much for my little brain to handle!
It all went by in a bit of a blur and I remember losing my favourite Black Flag t-shirt, so I was gutted and very depressed, so I actually went and got really, really drunk. I remember wandering around looking at bands, as you do and going from stage to stage. According to a source, a friend of mine saw me in the back of a transit van (and I’m not sure of how much of this I believe) with a bunch of girls and I was passed out apparently.
For a first festival it was pretty cool. You hear all about Donington and Download and it has such a history and to be a part of that, playing with all these fantastic bands and having such an amazing crowd, it was a great experience. I feel that audiences of aggressive and alternative music are really into it and everyone is so respectful. At the festival you get the feeling that more people are just there to hang out with their friends and get wasted; you get a definite sense of community when you play Download.”
Matt Davies (Funeral For A Friend – Vocals)
“Our experiences of playing at Download have always been really good ones. The first time that we played, it was still Donington Monsters Of Rock, in my head and it still is really.
It was not only great to play Download, but the fact that it was Donington and that I had grown up watching those great bands at Donington, it was a really good experience.
It was a little unfortunate for the first two songs that the sound guy had forgot to turn the lead vocals on, or had some difficulty in doing so. Rod Smallwood, who’s Iron Maiden’s manager and co-manager of Funeral For A Friend, was standing at the desk at the time and I’d just like to say that the services of that sound man were dispensed with, from that very moment. He got his P45; so if Rod is standing at the sound desk, don’t fuck it up!
It was Rod who discovered us and hooked us up with Sanctuary Management.”
Ryan Richards (Funeral For A Friend – Drums)
“We played Download in 2003; I know this because I have a plaque on my wall at home. They gave us these plaques, in a frame, which was a poster and it said ‘Less Than Jake Donington Download Festival 2003’ and it’s hanging at home, on my wall in my office and I always look at it and think ‘wow, that was a really crazy gig’.
It was the first Download Festival and going into it we didn’t realise that it was the same place that the original Monsters Of Rock Festival had been. As a kid growing up it was one of the places that you wanted to play and looking at the other bands playing that day, we were ‘tripping out’ that we were playing the mainstage.
I remember the show being really good, but the thing that stuck out the most to me was going to watch Metallica play on the 2nd stage. I remember going up to the stage and seeing all these road cases that had Metallica ‘duct taped’ out, so that people didn’t know they were there; but everyone knew they were there. I remember I had never seen Metallica live before and to see them in that intimate setting for a band like that, it was pretty intense.
Looking back on it, I would love to do it again; maybe we will get back there at some point to do it. But all the memories that I have of that festival, as blurry as they are were good. I think that maybe to keep the ‘vibe’ they should call it the ‘Monsters Of Download Festival’.”
Peter "JR" Wasilewski (Less Than Jake – Saxophone)
“I remember that we were all excited, Chris was especially excited as he is a huge ‘metalhead’.
There were two things that stuck out in my mind one being that it was the first time that I had heard of the Darkness and we had a chance to see them that day and I was blown away; truly blown away. I was staring at their bass player, who they had then, a tall guy with a Japanese flag tied round his head, I was thinking ‘what the fuck is this’. But then seeing the response that they got from the people blew me away, because people were ‘feeling it’. They put on a great show and I remember leaving it thinking that they were such a great band. A few weeks later we got back to the United States and started to hear rumblings about this band and they were a bit ‘kitschy’, a bit Queen inspired and a rock band from the UK; I laughed because Americans didn’t know what they were getting, until they got it. My introduction to the Darkness.
The other thing I remember was that Disturbed played also on that day and their backing tapes stopped working after one song. So here they are in front of a massive crowd and literally the sad but true fact was that their set consisted of that one first song and then two acoustic songs after the fact. For me I looked at that and thought:
1) I’m glad that we don’t run tapes
2) That if I was playing in front of that many people I would have a back-up of a back-up of a back-up to do that.
Those were the two main things that I remember the Darkness and the debacle of Disturbed and also Metallica obviously.
Just the feel of it, from being a 13 year old knowing about Monsters Of Rock on MTV news and Headbangers Ball, to being there, it’s just cool.”
Vinnie Fiorello (Less Than Jake – Drums)
“We were chucked onto the mainstage; at the time we were like ‘show us a mainstage and we’ll give you a show’.
Download was probably one of the scarier ones, not that we were worried, but whether it would go pear shaped and if we would be accepted.
Strangely we always found that we went down well in the Darkness; we went down well with Metallica, the only band we didn’t go down well with were Disturbed, but that was because they were a bunch of assholes.”
Dan Hawkins (The Darkness – Guitar)
"That was the last tour we ever did, it was on the Iron Maiden tour.
Playing Donington was something I think we all grew up wanting to do, because of the 'Monsters of Rock'. We'd watched all the 'Headbangers Ball' stuff and for years all these bands we'd grown up on and it was like one day I'd just love to be there and then to actually play it, it's a whole other thing!!
Walking up that stairway to the mainstage, it's a big stairway; it just keeps going, keeps going, keeps going! At the side of the stage you get butterfly’s going! The crazy thing is it's over before it even starts, because it's a show. You walk out, do it and walk off again. What do you do now, you've just played Donington!
You almost wish something really crazy would've happened, just so that it would live on. Because other than just playing your gig, it's a show. Unless, somebody dies or loses a limb, which I hope is what happens next time, wishful thinking!!
We actually had a guy on stage telling us to hurry up. It happens so fast, it's just another gig, but that one's a special gig".
Wednesday 13 (Murderdolls - Vocal
s)
“It was cool; we had a good day and a good crowd. I would love to play there again, but I haven’t been there since we played.
We were so busy on tour at the time that we didn’t get to see many bands as we had to leave.
It was near the end of Reef’s run.”
Jack Bessant (Reef – Bass)
“When I played here with Mudvayne it was down pouring; it just looked like a heaving pile of mud out there with all those kids. We played in the afternoon on the mainstage and everyone was into it, we were well received, it was a good time to play.”
Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne– Guitar)
“My first Donington experience was way back in '88 at the 'Monsters of Rock' festival, watching the likes of Iron Maiden, Guns 'n’ Roses, David Lee Roth and Kiss. Not bad for a first effort. I couldn't believe the size of the festival, even though back then, when there was only one massive stage, and between acts you pretty much had to stand around in the rain, waiting for the next band whilst avoiding plastic containers filled with warm, yellow liquid!!?? It was unforgettable... it was amazing.
I was hooked.
One day..... I was gonna be up there playing. One day.
One day' as it turns out whilst typing this, has been 'three days'. I've been fortunate (lucky!!) enough to play at the Donington Rock / Download festival on three separate occasions. Twice in my first band 'A' and once with Malpractice.
The first time I played it with 'A', we were headlining the second stage, while at the same time Iron Maiden were playing their only UK date of the year on the main stage. We couldn't believe it. On one hand we were chuffed to bits to be playing the gig, but going head to head with Maiden is always going to be a struggle. Especially when you're a massive fan of 'em and you really want to watch them rock! Ah well, no one said it would be easy. And we had a great gig.”
Mark Chapman (A – Guitar)
“The one that I'm recalling is the one where Marilyn Manson was playing, it was my birthday and our old drummer Carlos quit that day.
It was a great day actually, but I don't remember that much about it. I remember we got there early and it was my birthday. I only remember things if they revolve around me!!!
I remember being backstage and the dancers from Marilyn Manson were back there. They walked by and half of there faces were normal and they were gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, beautiful girls in makeshift Nazi uniforms, which was a little weird, but they were still very attractive and then they'd turn around and the other side of their face was grotesque and mangled and I got an even bigger 'boner'. I was turned on by that, I don't know why?
I remember we were a lot heavier...... we all weighed a little more!
It was before we got into transcendental meditation. That was a whole three or four weeks before we got into transcendental meditation. We'd heard all about the multiple orgasm things without the actual ejaculation and that appealed to us on a level that we probably shouldn't really talk about.
I remember it was outside, but we were under something like a tent and we played some songs on our instruments, as a band.”
Scott Klopfenstein (Reel Big Fish - Trumpet / Vocals / Guitar)
"I remember we only played it once, I guess they didn't like us?
We may seem happy and wacky, but we are the biggest bunch of assholes that you could ever meet.
I remember there were all metal bands and us, so we didn't really fit in, but we kicked ass!
In fact we are the Iron Maiden of Ska!"
Aaron Barrett (Reel Big Fish - Vocals / Guitar)
"I remember being a little apprehensive about playing the Donington show because it's a legendary Heavy Metal/Hard Rock kinda show and we were going to be these goofballs hanging out! Also, we were going out at the same time as Iron Maiden, so that was pretty daunting and we were afraid that on one would be in the tent we were playing, so we get on stage and the tent was full and everyone was rocking out!
We thought everyone’s gonna leave in a minute and go and see Iron Maiden, but they stayed for the whole set and then when we were done they all ran off to see Iron Maiden, it was pretty flattering."
Dan Regan (Reel Big Fish - Trombone)
“I have some good things about Donington 2004.
That was the day I got to play 3 songs with Metallica in their backstage rehearsal room when Lars couldn't make it.”
Sal Abruscato (Life Of Agony – Drums)
“We did Download in 2003 I had real trouble getting in; I actually had to use the line "I'm playing here this afternoon" to the security! But the gig was fucking great, at the end of the last song you can hear the entire crowd chanting '3-C-R, 3-C-R, 3-C-R' which went on for ages from the Radio 1 recording, real tingle up the spine moments.”
Pete Vuckovic (3 Colours Red – Vocals/Bass)
“The first time we played, we were the first band to play the second stage, on the first day of the festival.
We almost didn’t make it because we were playing in Holland the night before and we showed up literally 30 minutes before we were due to go onstage.
I remember being SO excited as it was our first festival ever and I had a look in the tent and there were about five people in there. I thought we’d rushed all this way for nothing and that it was going to be stupid. But, when we walked out on stage, it was an over packed tent and they had to stop letting kids in, our fans there were rabid!
It was definitely one of our best memories.”
Mark Hunter (Chimaira – Vocals)
"I didn't see any of the mainstage bands and I don't know why? I would have loved to have seen Amy Lee and Evanescence and all my gay friends in Less Than Jake. All I can remember was being unable to get on the stage to watch Metallica, some of the rest of the band did, but I didn't."
Michael (Bouncing Souls - Drums)
"I remember watching Metallica. There were rumors going around all morning that they were going to play on the side stage that we were on.
Right before we played it started pouring with rain and everyone ran into our tent which was awesome and great timing."
Pete (Bouncing Souls - Guitar)
“Damn bloody ferry boats! We came into England's Port of Dover around 6:30am after battling the choppy ass English Channel. It's not very easy to sleep when the Ship is at a 10 to 35 degree angle, but I think I got a couple hours.
Upon arrival we all had to get out of our bunks and go through British Immigration. Inside we found the Boy Sets Fire team going through the same ordeal. We all took our turns, showed our passports, and went back out to the bus to get more sleep.
When I got up again we were just getting to Donington Speedway. Today the Deconstruction tour is a part of the Download festivals featuring Audioslave, Zwan, Deftones, and about every bad nu-metal band you can mention. The real news is that Metallica is rumored to be playing a surprise show, on our stage!! Thrice's manager Nick said he heard it's true, but I can't quite believe it. Well all doubts were squashed when Chris and I went over to our stage and beheld Metallica's massive backline. Ok, this is really crazy!! Sure, they haven’t done anything good in over 10 years, but Metallica used to be my life. Between 1987 and 1991 they shaped my entire musical being. My first concert, first songs on guitar, first bongload....all Metallica. So yea, I'm about to freak!!
Their set to go on at 3:30 giving Chris and I only about a half hour to get back to the bus and get high and tell the others. We did that shit and rushed back to the stage, only to find out that no one could stand backstage to watch the show. I found Rugglie, NoFxs tech and we pushed as close to the front of the stage as we could. At this point no one in the crowd knew who was next, so we got right to the front. We told some kids around us who were sceptical, but within minutes their 18 full stacks were brought onstage and a wave of metal madness began to overtake the room!
They opened with ‘Blackened’ into ‘No Remorse’, into ‘Harvester of Sorrow’. Shit got so crazy around me that I went back to the soundboard to get some photos
. More classics included ‘Sanitarium’, ‘Creeping Death’, and ‘Master of Puppets’!! Seriously, I couldn't write a better set list!!
They finished up and I went backstage to find everyone, and maybe meet some of the old bastards. Backstage was pretty much a zoo. Our room was right next to the Murderdolls, which afforded me the privilege of seeing them in their skimpy ass neo-glam stage clothes. Or maybe they always wear that shit. I downed a few beers and went over to watch Thrice rock their set.
The crowd today is unusually calm and unresponsive, or maybe that's the norm for these shows. I had heard this about London, but we've never had this problem with our club shows. Thrice killed it as usual and we were up next. It was strange enough playing on the same stage as Metallica after them, but it was also about the dullest crowd we’ve ever played to. What a shame, I had such high hopes for today.
We finished out set and I went back to our room to get drunk. By now it was dumping rain so I had to sprint from tent to tent. I met up with Josh from BSF and he helped us finish our bottle of Vodka and scatter some uneaten food around the room. Our room was divided by a heavy cloth that was draped across the middle. At one point Rob started to pull down the cloth, only to have the crazy bozo hawk ‘Firestart'n’ singer of Prodigy stick his head through. I gotta say that’s the last fool I expected to see!
Once the rain had stopped we exited our room and walked right into Lars Ulrich and Rob Truijo who were getting into their van. We said hi since this is probably our only chance to meet these guys. Lars was totally nice, and he hit it off with Chris since they are both huge King Diamond fans. They talked about Merciful Fate and Chris told Lars how he liked the new song he heard them play on MTV icon. He hummed out the guitar melody causing Lars to proclaim" you do that better than Ozzy!!" Ha-ha, pretty cool. We had the guys sign some stuff and we took a few photos before they were shuttled away to their mega rock super life. Wow, that was crazy!!