by Ian Carroll
To this day, Download 2005 remains the biggest festival coverage operation ever undertaken by Virtual Festivals. Our team that year consisted of 35 people - photographers, writers, interviewers, runners, film-makers, managers and we even had a crew of VJ's mixing up the screens on the Third Stage.
We reviewed all 140 artist performances separately and uploaded these to the official website, with photos, within an hour of the artist leaving the stage. Nothing like it had ever been attempted before, and has not been since. We interviewed more than 60 acts on video, with many of these edited and uploaded on-site. Physically, it was the most exhausting thing I have ever done, and we were carried through on the sheer adrenaline and excitement of the situation. Most nights we didn't turn in until 3am, then the beers would flow as we'd be so wired, and we'd be back in the portakabin at 9am to do it all again.
Being based backstage, we got to spend a lot of time hanging out and bonding with artists, many of whom were intrigued by our operation. Some were very distracting; especially the pair of acts who had a full-on brawl, trashing their dressing room next door to us and had to be escorted off the premises! Then there was the American supergroup who used our laptops as suitable surfaces for laying some train tracks. Others were charitable such as Velvet Revolver (and former GNR) superstars Slash and Duff McKagan who hand-delivered us their entire rider of pizzas one night and Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi who popped his head around our door after their headline performance and kindly invited us to help ourselves to their rider too. Hoping for enough unopened booze to last us the night, we realised we’d now seen it all upon discovering just a load of (quite expensive looking) exercise equipment - bikes, steppers, a treadmill - left abandoned in their quarters!
2005 also marked the year in which the Download Dog made his first 'live' appearance at the festival. I can reveal now that it was actually a man (a Clear Channel employee) wearing a custom-made suit, but we had the job of taking our loveable mascot out for a walk in the arena to greet his minions. He had his own security guard, but one was not enough, as word spread around the site like wildfire and kids turned their backs on the bands performing to swarm around their idol in the hope of a hug, photo or autograph. Never mind John Lennon, the Download Dog was bigger than Jesus at that festival.
As the big screens flashed up with a message of thanks to the fans for helping Download sell out, at the end of System Of A Down's set on the last night, I had mixed emotions. On one hand I was immensely proud and grateful for having the opportunity to be part of all this. On the other, I was a bit sad, as I knew a large part of this incredible journey was now behind us, our work largely complete.
I also remember the morning of Sunday 12 June, '05 was a pleasant, sunny one. A perfect day, you might say, for breaking the world record for performing for the longest amount of time whilst suspended from the rafters by meat hooks through your own flesh. I bet you just read that again. Well, that's what Society 1 singer Matt Zane must have thought when he woke up that day and he duly got on-stage and accomplished his goal. When you set your mind on something, kids. . .
Of course VF was on hand to capture the gory spectacle up close (trapped on stage next to the freak) for the full 45 blood-dripping minutes. Whilst it did not do much for my hangover, it gave me some images I will never get out of my head again ever. Thanks and well done.”
Steve Jenner (Founder of Virtual Festivals.com & UK Festival Awards)
“Carrie, being the experienced camper, always comes fully loaded to these events. As such, we were the last people to leave the campsite. As we packed the last couple of things into the car, Vanessa from the Live Experience (who organise the RIP side of Download) came with a bribe of beer for feedback and an apology for things not going too well. Not that we'd noticed - but we accepted and told her I was a moderator on the forums and that we'd organise some feedback from there. We took her email, got feedback and emailed it to her a week or so later. And then forgot about it.
Carrie had also been emailing Steve Jenner from Virtual Festivals quite a bit - they'd run a competition through the boards to get boardies to review the festival and she'd come close to getting picked. Steve as I've already mentioned was at the time the main go-between for the boards and the organisers...
So - Middle of January 2005. The boards are at fever pitch in anticipation of headliners being announced. Carrie and I gather together all the feedback we'd got after the festival, and update it with what’s going on the boards. We send it in to Vanessa. Carrie gets a call from Vanessa. "We're doing a launch for the festival next Tuesday in London; we'd like you and Phil to come down." This is followed up by an email from Steve at Virtual saying he'll meet us with tickets. We book our trains and a hotel, arrange time off work and meet Steve outside the Marquee in Leicester Square. Up we go for our free beers and Snickers bars...
Stuart Galbraith comes on stage and intro's a short video which announces Black Sabbath, System Of A Down, HIM, Billy Idol, Velvet Revolver et al. Ozzy and Sharon come on stage, saying how much they're looking forward to bringing Ozzfest to Download. We meet Sophie and a few other people, have our photo taken on the media stand and Carrie hyperventilates as she sees Billy Idol wafting through the crowd. A trip to a bar round the corner and we're talking to Stuart, Sophie, and Mark Yovich for a couple of hours about Donington pasts, present and future. We leave feeling that Doningtons future is in good hands.
By the time the festival came round, we'd organised a few events to keep those who'd come on the Wednesday & Thursday occupied. Five a side football, plus a Twister tournament! The festival had expanded to three days/four stages this year, though there'd been a bit of a hoo-haa about the Indie bands (JJ72/Dinosaur Jr/Garbage/Feeder). It was quite a sight after Megadeth left the stage seeing a full arena shrink down to a crowd of about 500 people. And given the uproar a couple of years later, it was interesting to note that a steady stream of people were crossing the arena during Dinosaur Jr's set heading over to the second stage to catch My Chemical Romance...
The Friday was rounded off with a rousing set from Billy Idol. Saturday saw a couple of our friends bands play - Panic Cell (who have ever since insisted that it was us bleating on to the organisers about them at the launch party that got them on the bill) and Breed 77 again.
First band of that day for us were American Head Charge, who Panic Cell had been touring a lot with. AHC had just lost one of their guitarists to a prescription drugs overdose, and their set was particularly poignant (some of the footage made it onto their "Can't Stop The Machine" DVD), especially when the 10,000 strong crowd started to chant for Bryan.
There was then a 15 minute gap between the end of their set and the start of Panic Cell at the Third stage. Five minutes before Panic Cell were due on; it looked like they were going to be playing to the Donington equivalent of 2 men and a dog! A stream of people pouring in from the AHC set soon filled the tent to capacity for a stormer of a set. Later a reunited original lineup of Black Sabbath (with the exception of Bill Ward, who wasn't well enough to play but came on only to get de-bagged by Ozzy!) bring that days events to a satisfying conclusion.
A dreary Sunday morning saw a full tent for the Henry Rollins "Sunday Sermon" on the third stage, with Henry's colorful spoken word/stand up style show setting everyone off for another Donington day.
Society 1 played a record breaking set, with front man (and porn star/producer) Matt Zane setting the "suspension" record. Basically he was hung up on meat hooks through his back and spent the whole 30 minutes swinging back and forth dodging the odd bottle. Ouch...
2005 was one of the best years for performance artists and arena entertainment. Returning to the arena from the bar to catch Slipknot on their gradual climb up the bill we were caught up in a "SWAT" team stalking along the edges of the arena, waving semi-automatic water pistols. During the hailstones that accompanied Slipknot, I caught a glimpse of the SWAT team hut-hut-hutting in silhouette along the crest of the hill to the left of the stage.
One other notable thing about Download 05 was a little thing called Damnation Festival, which was actually kick started when Bowling For Soup were announced. "We need more metal" said Gavin McInally, a long time forum member. He gathered a team of like minded individuals from the forums and got going with that. But there lies a story for another book!”
Phil Hull (Download Forum Administrator)
“I’ve been a fan of Garbage and Shirley Manson since before seeing them perform at the Reading Festival 1998, and did enjoy watching their performance on Friday.
Billy Idol was good in the Snickers tent along with MCR and Flogging Molly, but one of the funniest and best thing I saw over the weekend (apart from Bowling For Soup, on Saturday, who are genius) was seeing Lordi play in their full horror make-up in the Snickers tent, prior to them going on to win the Eurovision song contest the next year.”
Mike Horton (Plymouth)
“Friday: Queen Adreena on the main stage who get things off to a good start. They rock hard enough, with a bit of groove provided by the band and a touch of mentalness from their singer whom at times seems as fragile as her clothes. For some reason she performs a lot of the set standing on top of a chair. Anyway, they put on a good performance which sets nicely with this early start. That is until they appear to have the plug pulled on them. Next up is Fozzy and there’s pretty much no chance in hell of getting into the Snickers Second Stage. The Y2J chants have already started. Though I wonder how many people here can actually name even one of their songs. Jericho is clearly a great performer and keeps the crowd entertained throughout their set. The music itself is just big dumb rock which makes them a rather good festival band to coincide with the alcohol. But it also means the band will probably never really amount to much. But fuck it man, sink some brewskies and rock your ass off! Hell even Chucky is doing so it appears. Lordi are interesting to say the least, mostly visually. I’m not too sure what to think because at this moment of time my head just cant really deal with seeing what looks like a collection of the evillest baddies from Power Rangers rocking out on stage. Add to that the fact that some guy is wearing a hat which appears to have been a pair of jeans in a former life. There is comedy in seeing a ‘mummyesque’ bassist lamping a Druid roadie with his bass. But add the sounds of babies crying and this is all starting to get too freakish. This could very easily give me the ‘fear’. And thus we come to Underoath. Do we really need another band like this? Call it screamo or whatever you want it doesn’t matter its all poor. Yes we get it you can jump around like the Duracell bunny and scream you lungs off. Seems almost every new band can do that. Whatever happened to singers? It seems there just no good metal singers emerging anymore so everyone is just trying to compensate by screaming as loud as they can and to be honest it sucks. The crowd is going pretty crazy for Apocalyptica. Of course they are playing Master Of Puppets, which is being entirely sung by the crowd. To an extent though it just makes you wish Metallica were here themselves. But it is rather cool hearing Master played on a cello. Their own songs are not bad but they’re always going to look a bit weak next to Metallica songs. I didn’t stay for long though as Megadeth would soon be playing their final UK show and I needed a decent space. It seems Megadeth are the band most people want to see today judging by the t-shirts and the huge crowd gathered at the main stage. They don’t disappoint. They’re on fire from the word go. Although it would have been better if they had been given a longer timeslot. Many classic songs are absent because of this and it all seems to come to an end too soon with Dave Mustaine remaining onstage alone addressing the crowd, taking a bow and departing as Sid Vicious cover of My Way plays over the speakers. The crowd at the main stage (which had been packed) now rapidly disappears and as Dinosaur Jr comes on stage unannounced the crowd is very thin. Hold on somebody has ballsed up. Dinosaur Jr has just finished their 2nd song and as the sound quiets down you can hear that the main stage speaker is still playing the radio channel. In the end the band aren’t half bad, I’ve never really been able to get into them, but at the moment they’re good to just listen to and chill out. Now its time for Garbage, the band I was most looking forward to seeing today and my excitement was justified. They were absolutely amazing despite some technical problems and wardrobe problems (Shirley’s dress just doesn’t seem to want to stay on). But both problems are dealt with as Shirley jokes with the crowd and manages to laugh the problems off. Musically they are even better live than on record. Shirley’s sultry vocals verge on intoxicating. Again though it seems to come to and end all too soon, they should have been headlining instead of Feeder. Now its time to dance my ass off to some Billy Idol. Twelve years since you last played the UK? Throwing signed paper plates into the crowd? Well tonight I’m gonna dance the night away! He plays on for 30 minutes more than scheduled including an awesome cover of Van Halens ‘Jump’ and a cover of the Who’s ‘Who Are You?’ That was one hell of a show, groove on! Saturday: There are bands to be seen but I just feel like having a few pints of the black stuff and checking out some crazy shit. God dammit man let it settle! You call this Guinness!? It’s meant to be thick! I’ve had thicker water! Well, time for the first band. Arrive in the Napster 3rd stage for the last few minutes of Diamond night. They seem to play just straight up balls out rock. And I wanna rock so fuck yeah! Hey is that a beer token!? Pounce! Free booze! Wayhey the best of all kinds. Crucified Barbara, these 4 Swedish girls bring to mind a much heavier more rocking version of the Donnas. The heavier backed up by a cover of Motorheads Killed By Death. Panic Cell is up next. They’re just a pure heavy fuckin’ metal band. This kicks ass. Definitely a band to keep an eye on. EA getting hassled by a penguin!? Did you hear that!? What?.. Nevermind. Orifice free sheep? Bowling For Soup are on the main stage. Their music probably isn’t really up to much but they are a good fun festival band. Alter Bridge just seem a bit average to be honest. Open their eyes grabs my attention a bit more as does their cover of Zeppelins Kashmir but perhaps for the wrong reasons. It’s a nice touch to see the organizers playing video footage of last years Damage Plan main stage performance as a tribute to Dimebag Darrell. Now for some old school Anthrax. Which bloody rocks! There’s no point comparing Joey Belladonna era with John Bush era as there’s pluses for both parties e.g. some great songs won’t get played because they were done with Bush but there are old classics played instead which you wouldn’t have got. And there’s the sight of Joey running around in his headdress during an awesome ‘Indians’. I’ve tried to give HIM a chance but this just isn’t very good. Their fanbase appears to be mostly girls and kids. All of which are screaming their lungs out at every silence which is rather painful. Just like the awful muffled sound that is HIM themselves. Okay so maybe they have 1 or 2 songs I could listen to and maybe even enjoy if in the right mood. But the rest are a bit samey and become tedious. Thankfully things soon pick up again when on comes Velvet Revolver who tear the place a new arsehole. Rock N Fuckin Roll indeed! During ‘Sex-Type Thing’ Scott comes racing along the barrier splitting the crowd, where I happen to be standing and he shakes my hand on his way past. He proceeds to the sound desk and climbs right into the middle of the crowd and then proceeds to perform the rest of the song while in the middle of 60,000 people. Then out comes Slash complete with double-neck guitar for an incredible cover of Pink Floyds ‘Wish You Where Here’. They finish with an awesome ‘Slither’ and depart to the wailing sound of sirens. Now that rocked! The question is now how do you top that? How about with Black fuckin Sabbath. These guys have still got it. Ozzy looks healthy, energetic an
d is clearly loving it. They’re on great form. The crowd is going mad for it. During the first notes of ‘Black Sabbath’ you find yourself just asking for the skies to open and pour with rain, but the sea of flames stretching all the way to the back is just as good. The generals have indeed gathered in their masses. This is just simply amazing! Now no more words its time to go feckin crazy. And I did. Sunday: Tried to catch some of Henry Rollins spoken word set but by the time we get there the Napster stage is absolutely packed and you can’t hear shit outside. So time for some more booze and prepare for Society 1s world record attempt. I’m not entirely awake at this point of time but the sight of a guy hanging 25/30ft above the stage suspended from 4 fishhooks in his back will sober you up rightly. Musically they seem decent enough and when he screams you believe he means it. But it’s hard to pay attention to the music. The thing is he looks like he may actually be enjoying it as he swings from side to side, front to back and around in circles. Many faces in the crowd are either grimacing or just cant look at the sight at all. But sure enough he remains suspended for the full 30 minute set and thus breaks his own world record. Many years ago I liked Papa Roach a little bit so I figured I’d check them out and they were pretty alright and seemed to go over with the crowd quite well. However I’m starting to get the feeling that today is going to have problems trying to follow yesterday. It should pick up more soon though but I doubt it can surpass last night unbelievable ending of Velvet and Sabbath. Roach pick up a bit towards the end of their set with some older songs and a short cover of QOTSAs ‘Feel Good Hit Of The Summer’. Now stumbling around for a beer I somehow end up meeting Lacuna Coil who seemed pretty cool. Christina is cuter in real life. Nightwish are apparently stuck on the motorway and will be 30 minutes late for their set. One hour later and still no sign of Nightwish, so I’ve missed Nightwish and Mastodon. At least Lacuna Coil are good enough to make up for it. Christina Scabbias voice is as amazing live as on record. At times it’s almost breathtaking. The new song played sounds very promising for the new record. Funeral For a Friend are the secret band!?!?!? Funeral For a Friend my arse! Fuck this shit! Now to head back to round up the troops hold up! Do I hear Slayer!?! Dead skin Mask!! Charge!!! Circle pit galore! [I wasn’t going to see them because I’ve seen them several times before and I’d never seen Lacuna Coil.] Now it would appear that in a case of serendipity Nightwishs balls-up has meant Slayer are on a good bit later than scheduled and I’ve just caught them just moments into their set. However their set has been cut short to about 35 minutes. But a feckin sweet 35 minutes they are. Now for some grub and somehow end up meeting Nightwish completely unintentionally and without knowing anything really about them. They all looked quite confused when I asked them how’s the craic? Considered thanking them for allowing me to see Slayer but was advised against it by my attorney. Kick out the jams muthafucka. MC5 are finishing off. But wait! On comes Lemmy and there’s a cover of Johnny B. Goode. Are Slipknot still playing!? Hailstones in summer!? The crowds going mental, I’m still bored of Slipknot. Almost an hour has passed since System was due on stage and still no sign. The crowds agitated, they’re trying to entertain themselves by 2 ways: Bottle war or flashing for the camera. Just about on the hour late mark on comes System with a Daron Malakian who appears to have lost a fight with a lawnmower. But who cares because System rock! They’re schizophrenically good and bring the proceedings to a fine end. Thus comes to an end quite probably the greatest festival I’ve ever been to yet. I’ve rocked like a bastard all weekend. Too much perhaps for this mortal body to cope with lol, but I’m still fighting on, rocking on! Rock till I drop! But I can now leave easily saying that I’ve definitely bought the ticket and taken the ride.” Jason Kennedy (Belfast)