by Ian Carroll
Shellie Allport (Isle of Sheppey)
“I literally had the BEST 4 DAYS OF MY LIFE at Download 2009.
To some this may sound a little absurd, but I felt entirely in my element surrounded by similar minded souls, beautiful sunshine, and a constant run of happiness and excitement.
During Slipknot's headline set my mind went to another planet, I was in awe, and filled with a simple content that I haven't ever experienced before. Fantastic metal-ling times, all nighters, warm wine, new friends and mosh pit comradeship, I'm psyched I've got my 2010 ticket!”
Lauren Marina Greaves (Norwich)
“2009 was my first time coming to Download from the sunny island of Jersey and it was one I’d never forget.
It was the first time I’d ever had the chance to be in the front to watch a band. I was with my friend and since I am in a wheel chair I normally don’t get the chance to get to the front but when Forever Never played the Red Bull Jam stage I finally had the chance.
It was nuts to see the band up close; nothing compared to that the whole weekend (apart from Faith No More) it may have been short set but I will never forget seeing Forever Never.”
Dan Dicker (Jersey)
“I always meet a ridiculous amount of new people at Download, and always stay in touch with a fair few afterwards. It has got to be the friendliest place I've ever been, and I can't wait for 2010!”
Lucinda 17 (Cheltenham)
“I was walking around wearing nothing but a pair of shorts, a Mexican wrestling mask and a woman's bra (to this day we still don't know whose it was) in the arena in 2009.
Slipknot was rockin' the mainstage and I was making my way closer and closer to the front. As I was going I got numerous calls to pose for a picture and plenty of fine gents attempted to remove my bra, all of them failing.
I had to say it was the best of performance of Slipknot I had ever seen.
The whole festival vibe lent a hand to that. We were all brothers. Maggots. Brotherly maggots.
I only wish that I could see those pictures people had taken. All my ones sucked.”
Henry Melville (London)
“Our friend Grum is a big bloke, so he can handle a lot of drink, but after getting there and setting up on Thursday afternoon, we decide to go into Donington Village to the pubs.
An all day drinking binge occurred. £1 a shot, DOUBLE Jack Daniel's + Coke for £2.50, and Cigars for 60p. We somehow get back to camp (apparently by bus) about 10pm, Grum not feeling too great.
He opens up his tent and spews all over all of his stuff, and the stuff of the guy he was sharing a tent with. Thankfully we only heard the sickness. To top off this unfortunate occurrence, Scott (the guy who he shared a tent with) never realised what had happened, went to the tent to get something, opened it up.....Yes, he spewed too!
Limp Bizkit - a performance I will NEVER forget. 30 degree sunshine, lots of alcohol, and 85,000 people crammed up at the Mainstage. Opening with ‘Break Stuff’, I have never felt such intense crowd. Constant bouncing, if you didn’t keep up, you'd go under and have to stay on the floor until someone picked you up.
Anyway, by the time ‘Eat You Alive’ was on, I couldn't take anymore, needed a drink, or I'd pass out. So, I got the attention of the guy beside me to boost me out, and I crowd surfed the 3 or 4 metres to the barrier, where Fred Durst was.
As soon as I got to Fred, the security were on me, it was actually quite scary. About 4 stewards grabbed me and pulled me over the barrier.
"SHIT! Where's my camera?!"
I told the steward I dropped my camera, and tried to go back in, but they wouldn't let me. That camera cost me £70, and for someone just left school, that’s a lot of cash.
"1, 2, 3.....Send him away!" is a little bit too long to explain in one line, so I'll do it here.
I was at Dragonforce, no idea why, think I was just too tired to bother getting out of the crowd of Down. Throughout the first few songs, I heard these guys shouting "1, 2, 3.....Send him away!", but at this point had no idea what was going on. 6ft tall and I still couldn't see over.
Anyway, a few songs in, don't know the name, (all Dragonforce songs sound the same) I saw these 4 guys, and with there chant, they were going up to random people and throwing them up in the air, to be crowd surfed out. When they were beside me, the 4 became 3. They did this to one of their mates, when not looking. I saw it, so I looked at the guys and laughed; they laughed back, and said something along the lines of "got ‘em there, eh?” Well I turn away and look at the stage, next thing I know.....
"1, 2, 3.....Send him away!"
Oh shit, they got me, ach well. Just this time I kept my hands tight in my pockets until I got out of the crowd.
And for this, sorry to the bloke I ACCIDENTALLY kicked in the face.”
David Muir (Montrose)
“Download 09 was my first ever Download and first ever festival but it was possibly the best time of my life, I had been having a bad time and needed a break and I saw the line up to the festival and bought my ticket and my mates ticket as well.
The fun started from the beginning when we got there at 5am and were at the front of the cue to get in, drinking Kopparberg and suddenly we were dodging a flying fish that was being thrown which was a random event but was an example of the weekend ahead as it went from random event to random event with a load of amazing performances around it (Slipknot stood out for me). on the Wednesday the weather turned horrible in the evening but me and my mate were well drunk by then and there we were, walking round the camp with no tops on, with a massive keg of beer in our hands dancing like idiots to the fair music; it was awesome.
Then on Thursday we went to the Tuborg tent and there was a massive circle pit with a mix of anything from Slipknot masks to skinny colour jeans and it went on all night and I ended up meeting sum lovely ladies as well.
Then the music started and the chaos of Download ensued and the atmosphere was electric. But the best bit was when me and my mate as well as a mate with a day pass went to see Killswitch Engage and ended up crowd surfing and then as we were watching them they called for 2 ‘Walls of Death’ and suddenly everyone separated behind us and we were stuck in the middle of a rather long Wall of Death, so we used it to get to the front but got caught up in it half way which was painful but absolutely hilarious and by this time everyone’s voice was shot we all sounded like Darth Vader, without his mask on.
Then on Saturday it was Slipknot day, so we both bought masks, me a green soldier mask and my mate a ninja mask and headed to the arena for the day that would change our lives forever.
First up was Static X, a band I had wanted to see since I was young and they were amazing; the pits were brilliant. Then we did the Brutal Legend World record attempt air guitar to ‘Ace of Spades’. It was a great laugh.
We headed to main stage for Pendulum and had a massive rave with some rather attractive ladies in the middle, then I got separated from my mate getting through to the front but he wasn’t far away I found out that night. Manson came on by which time I was at the front to see one of the heroes of my life and I was able to see him literally in the flesh and I have never been so excited in my life and although it wasn’t the best performance it was exhilarating to see him so close.
He was just the starter before the main course of Slipknot. the atmosphere was rising as we waited and watched the stage take shape and all of a sudden about 10 bottles land all around me and on me and one hell of a bottle fight started and it wasn’t just bottles of water there was sun cream, beer, a boot, a deck chair and random other objects then it stopped and all was silent as the stage went dark and the ‘Iowa’ intro came through the PA (speakers) and a roar of the crowd greeted the 9 legends as they each arrived on stage one by one and kicked into live with ‘Sic’ and the crowd all moved as one in a perfect imitation of waves.
Circle pits broke out all over the place getting bigger and bigger like a tornado of bodies and this was the response to most songs but the best
part of it (and the festival as a whole) was the zero bullshit during ‘Spit It Out’ where Corey Taylor asked the crowd to get down on the ground and then made us wait till the famous "Jump the f*** up" line and as he built up with Joey the atmosphere built with every hit of the tom and kick and on cue the entire crowd erupted into chaos circle pits and mosh pits everywhere, it was the most adrenaline filled moment of my life.
When the set ended hardly anyone moved as they watched Slipknot wave and take pictures in front of the crowd sharing group hugs and then as everyone headed home they all agreed it was one of the best they have seen. Also they broke into a chorus of Queen on the way back to campsite which was again another random moment of the weekend.
Sunday was a chill out day after the night before and we spent most time at second stage as most the bands we wanted to see were on there and we managed to see the all bands from the front, as I was still wearing my mask and ended up being quite popular with the stewards, photographers and a few artists who came to the crowd.
The highlight of the Sunday was Shinedown when the lead singer made a speech on how music crosses all boundaries of race, sex and lifestyle it was so emotional every guy had a lump in his throat and the girls had tears in there eyes it was a special moment an something I will remember forever. It summed up my weekend really as it was the first time I had no worries on my mind and I could just have fun and me and my mate still talk about it and how we can't wait to return to the hallowed grounds of Donington Park.”
Gary Whittick (Ellesmere Port)
“Download. The greatest five days in the calendar year. Five days of partying, shouting a lot and amazing live bands.
I say five days- you really are missing out if you don't go for the whole camping experience. I have been attending Download since 2007 and had a blast every year since then.
I have many favourite memories, but the one that sticks out the most is our 3 person circle pit outside the DJ tent at around 4 in the morning in 2009. Or it could be the memory of three of us squeezing into a two man non-waterproof tent with all our luggage, or when I got adopted by around 20 welsh people singing Pantera's 'Walk' a lot in 2007. There aren't many other places where you could start singing The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air theme and have 20 people join you. I often find myself having to refrain from yelling things in public for the week after Download. I hope to return to the festival every year...every year it gets better and better.
Thanks for the brilliant times Download!”
Matt Rabong (Norwich)
“I remember just as we arrived, waiting for entry into the campsite, just having a nice conversation with a random soldier on shore leave. This went on for what seems like an eternity (thank you, security being thorough mind), and so, in the spirit of fun, I shouted "I LOST THE GAME!!!" I may have proved upsetting as virtually everyone in the queue moaned, but no one lynched me. That was the best start to any festival.”
Joshua Stewart (Castleford)
“The greatest thing about Download is that the atmosphere is so electric, I've been to many festivals and none have the same friendly vibe that Download has. Every single second spent in Donington is like being in Heaven. The bands are so passionate about their music and the fans are really enthusiastic. The whole weekend is aimed at people enjoying themselves... it's rock 'n' roll chaotic mayhem in its purest and loveliest form.
The absolute highlight of Download 2009 for me was getting to see Whitesnake and Def Leppard. I was utterly shattered (having basically not slept for the whole weekend) but the moment David Coverdale walked out on stage and the Whitesnake guitarists had an almighty guitar duel, I was stood there thinking "God... this is the life!".
'd been on my feet all day, in 3 inch high heeled boots nonetheless, and they were really hurting me but about 30 minutes before Def Leppard came on, I dragged my friends right to the front of the main stage. I stood there singing my heart out and dancing like a total lunatic throughout the whole of Def Leppard’s set, and screamed myself hoarse. I also almost cried when Rick Allen got a standing ovation... the whole of the crowd went absolutely wild for him, and you could see he was touched. It was a perfect moment in history and everybody remembers it, it was definitely one of the stand out moments of DL'09.
When their set was over I realised I actually could not walk... my feet were basically dead from the boots I was wearing, so my friends had to carry me all the way back to our tent, cue lots of giggling as they repeatedly almost dropped me in the dark!”.
Claire Fitzmaurice (Classic Rock Fan)
“Donington is just... my home.
The times I've had there have given me what can only be described as a spiritual connection with the festival.
From wandering around the campsites drinking beer with friends old and new, through seeing some of my all-time favourite bands deliver stunning sets, to getting to DJ in the entertainments tent myself; they are all memories that will never fade.
Seeing Kiss being lowered to the stage on a giant platform!!!!”
Andy McDonald (Clydebank)
“I have been into rock ‘n’ metal for years; for as long as I can remember. I have a brother that’s ten years older than me, so I was brought up on likes of Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Yes, Black Sabbath etc.
I am forty now, still rocking hard, my beer belly is bigger and my hair is now shaved off, I am still taking the journey to Castle Donington when the congregation of the metal rockers meet for the festival, I will attend as long as it’s on or I will die first.
I still went to ‘90, ‘94, ‘96, but the events of ‘88 made me more aware of safety for myself and to others. R.I.P. fellow rockers.
There were a few years after when I thought Donington was over, ‘til my brother phoned me in excitement, this was in 2003 and that Donington the domicile of metal was back on!
Download what kind of bloody name is that for our festival we want MONSTERS OF ROCK!!!
I have been to ’03, ’04, ‘05 and ‘09 and I am ‘made up’ that it went from a one day festival, to a two and now a three.”
Paul Townsend (Widnes)
“I was walking through Blue Camp with my mate at like 1 o'clock in the morning, and walked past these big guys that kept stopping people for high fives, I stopped to high five them all but little did I know that one of them was gonna catch me out with a question, (must add at this point I was well out of it by now).
He asked "what's the first rule of fight club." and I responded "I dunno, what is the first rule of fight club? What’s fight club like?" (and many more questions about fight club) for about 5 minutes I was oblivious that everyone had a proper stern face aimed at me, so after I realised I became slightly scared.
I walked away with said mate as quick as I could, only for him to explain to me the first rule of fight club, I know it sounds trivial now but I felt like the biggest idiot ever at that time...”
Daniel Stromberg (Newark)
“There was a crazy woman directing us where to park being very overly hyper and joyful, sitting in the boot with friends and having the first few beers of the festival, then making your way through the campsite, with the atmosphere from all the people just being electric.
Getting to the campsite, having a few beers, trying to put the tent up and failing, being slightly tipsy, having a few more beers, trying to put the tent up and succeeding, followed by a well done beer.
That’s the I’ve arrived moment.”
(Steve Brodowski Bradford)
“Me and my mate Hunter decided to re-enact the Family Guy Chicken Fight across the Festival. I was dressed as the chicken and Hunter was dressed as Peter.
We started in the campsite and beat the living shit out of each other. We even ended up on Youtube when we were fighting by the lockers!
At this point we were sore as hell; both had injured legs and the worst for wear. The best part had to be when we held the fight in the middle of the pits during Devildriver's performance where I was knocked unconscious when my attempt
to RKO Hunter was blocked and I was sent crashing to the floor head first knocking myself unconscious. I was apparently knocked unconscious twice!
I saw Devildriver on their UK tour months after and the guitarist Jeff remembers seeing us fight from the stage!
That was a Festival highlight for me, and possibly many others who I've gotten in touch with from the festival.”
Jay Norris (Birkenhead)
“Well to start off, this is a story of the general kindness of the patrons of this magical festival.
It was Sunday; our group 12 (or so) were getting hyped for journey. Just next to us were a group from Yorkshire who were packing up planning to leave after the bands that night and were left with some spare alcohol so one of them kindly offered it to us .Being Scottish we happily agreed to receive some free drink .
As we were waiting maybe at most expecting a few beers they all started walking over all three of them with arms full; they even had to do two runs each .
By this time we were all flabbergasted and couldn’t stop thanking them while they just shrugged it off and said 'We can’t be bothered taking it home'.
In all they gave us around 60 mixed cans of lager and cider and around 3litres of various Sourz, 2 double inflatable mattresses and a duvet. All of the drink was consumed that day we nearly missed our journey due to being drunk. Most of us then fell asleep in the sun in front of the main stage .I was awoken by the epic ZZ Top of who I’d missed half the set.
But I ask you this, what other festival in the world would you find strangers who are so generous?”
Brian Dunn (Stenhousemuir)
“2009 was my first Download festival as I have spent the last 10 years living in Australia but, you can guarantee I'll be back in 2010 the flights are booked, the early birds are on sale tomorrow, happy birthday Donington here's to another 30 years of rocking hard.”
Neil & Maria Bees (Perth, Australia)