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Download 2018 Review
by Howard Keogh – Cardio King of Rock N’ Roll Over the last few balmy summer weeks, the countryside of the east midlands has enjoyed an expectant air of serendipity. Birds sing, as the gentle summer breeze whispers through the long grass however the stillness is destined to be short lived. Soon a legion of metal-heads is set to march upon this sacred ground where many of their predecessors have gone before, for this undulating English countryside is none other than Donnington Park where thousands of rockers assemble to pay their personal homage to the rock gods. This site has hosted rock festivals since 1980 and has become synonymous…
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Download 2017 Review
By Howard Keogh – our lycra-clad ligger As the time draws near for the metal legions to descend on Donington Park the spiritual home of rock, for the annual bash, there may be some trepidation in the ranks after last year’s unprecedented weather. Those in the know estimate that 70 million gallons of water fell over the course of the weekend making it challenging for those revellers who were lucky enough not to be completely washed out. Apparently that quantity of water is enough to fill 106 Olympic size swimming pools. But fear not because while you were scraping the mud from your boots Download dog has been busy. This…
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Download 2016 Review
by Howard G. Keogh – Chief Correspondent and Resident Historian All right Punters, let’s start with a little history lesson before we delve into this year’s soiree. In 1979, promoters Paul Loasby, and Maurice Jones, planned a one-day festival aimed specifically at bands within the hard rock and heavy metal genre. Loasby was an established and successful promoter working that year on the Rainbow UK tour and the festival was set to be the final show of the tour with Rainbow as headliners. The first Monsters of Rock line-up consisted of a mix of British and international bands and was a success with an attendance of 35,000. After its fledgling…
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Download 2013 Review
By Howard Keogh – Our Intrepid Reporter / Purveyor of Fine Wine Friday It’s that time of year again. Midsummer is nearly upon us and Liggers, Loggers, Bloggers, Blaggers and a good smattering of Daft Buggers congregate on the hallowed turf of Donington Park for the annual metal bash that is the Download festival 2013. This year there are again 5 stages and the addition of a zip wire that spans from one side of the main Arena to the other for all those Adrenaline junkies who need more excitement than the 150 plus bands scheduled to defile our ear drums over the next three days. After a stiff…
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The Dirty Youth for next week’s Kerrang Cover
Today we need your help. Kerrang magazine in the UK are looking for a brand new band (!) for their front cover next week and we of course think that this accolade should naturally go to the best new band in the UK. For our money, there is no better band for the bill than Wales’ finest, The Dirty Youth. These guys are the best of breed and deserve a shot at the big time. As many of you may know, we have been supporters of these guys since the early days and they are pretty hot right now after just coming off a European tour with The Rasmus. Take…
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A New Year
Photo: Rob McGlade Who can believe its 2013 already? We are once more at the beginning of a new year with all the resolutions and goals that this time of year brings. I hope all of you get everything you wish for this year. For me, it is time to get back to updating this site and using it to showcase some of my work and some of the best bands around. Over the next days and weeks I will catch up with some old shoots (I have hundreds of really great unpublished shoots) and maybe a few new ones too. Here’s to 2013. It’s good to be back…
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Baby Laura Madden – R.I.P.
First of all – Thank You Thanks to all of you for all the kind words, comments, calls, visits, flowers & gifts we have received over the past few days. Our world has been turned upside down since last week and we are still devastated at the loss of our lovely little baby Laura. Summary of Events Laura was born on Friday 20th April and seemed perfectly normal. We all spent a few wonderful hours bonding and Laura was transferred to the ward where she had the first little blip where she occasionally struggled to breathe. As the day progressed, the breathing difficulties increased in frequency and progressed to choking…
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Tony Iommi Cancer Report
It is with great sadness that we announce the news that Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with cancer.The recently reunited band’s statement on the current situation is as follows: “With the news that Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, his bandmates would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time. Iommi is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan–the “IRON MAN” of Rock & Roll remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery. This comes as Black Sabbath…–Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Bill Ward…
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Gotthard Returns
Gotthard…’”Remember It’s Me” New Singer Announced Gotthard’s new singer has been confirmed. The successor to Steve Lee, who was killed in a tragic accident last year, is Nic Maeder and is Swiss-born. Nic was born in 1971 in Lausanne, lived in Melbourne, Australia and grew up between Switzerland and "Down Under". Band Statement. Dear GOTTHARD Fans – it gives us great pleasure to announce that we have found a new singer. The successor is Nic Maeder. "Nic not only has a great voice and is a fantastic musician, but we also have a great person in our midst", says Leo. "We can rock again at last". During the months after…
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The Dirty Youth release long anticipated new Album
‘Red Light Fix’ finally hits the stores Hot on the heels of their recent appearances at Sweden Rock and Download Festival, Wales’ finest, The Dirty Youth have finally released their long awaited new album – ‘Red Light Fix’. The album was mixed by Martyn ‘Ginge’ Ford and Colin Richardson, both of whom who have recently worked with such bands as Slipknot, Trivium and Bullet for my Valentine. The album was mastered at the famous Sterling Sound in New York. Heady stuff indeed for a band that six months ago were drawing huge crowds at sell-out gigs but incredibly remained unsigned. All that has changed now with fresh management and major…
