Download knows a thing or two about rock with a history that dates back to 1980 when the first ever Monsters of Rock festival set the place ablaze with a serious heavy metal festival that really rocked despite the mud bath that ensued. With almost 3 decades of rock history under its belt you'd be hard pressed to uncover any of the greats who haven't played here - or for that matter any fan worth their 'metal' that hasn't been. For Rock at it's best this is the place to be.

Kids In Glass Houses

Back by popular demand welsh lads Kids In Glass Houses return to Download for a second year running. The end of 2007 saw them sign their first record deal with Roadrunner as well as supporting one of the band’s biggest influences New Found Glory. With their debut album “Smart Casual” due for release in May their Download performance will be nothing short of amazing.

"Download had the pleasure of popping my festival going cherry last year! I'd never even been to one, let alone played, so it has some sentimental whack to boot. We had a ridiculous amount of fun there last year and this year looks to be even better. In 2007 we were well and truly schooled in festival survival skills, so this year we like to think of ourselves as graduates - it's going to be a ball. We're playing a bigger stage, which I'm really looking forward to because we do love a bit of room to do our thing."
Aled Phillips, Kids In Glass Houses

Slaves To Gravity

Slaves To Gravity formed in the summer of 2006 and hail from London. Having already released two singles and with US and UK tours already under their belts, this four piece are itching to play Download for the first time.

“We're fucking delighted to be playing the worlds premier rock festival and honored to be joining the legions of legendary artists who have rocked Donnington over the years. We can't wait to hit that stage...BRING IT ON!”
Tommy Gleeson, Slaves To Gravity

Black Tide

Bringing even more metal to the fold Black Tide hail from Miami and with an average age of 20 years old this year is proving to be their year. Having already toured on the infamous Ozzfest and supporting heavy metal gods Avenged Sevenfold and All That Remains they have already developed a faithful following. 2008 has already been a busy year with the band performing live on Jimmy Kimmel, this year also marks their Download debut.

We can’t wait to get out to the UK to play our first Download Festival! We’re excited to get to share the stage with a lot of our heroes and favorite bands. Playing Download is a real honor to us and it just makes it that much better getting to play with the likes of Judas Priest, Motorhead, Kiss and tons of other bands we are fans of and look up to. We’re looking forward to it and hope to see you all there!
Black Tide

The Wildhearts

The Wildhearts have remained at the forefront of the British Rock scene since 1993 – frontman Ginger has played Donington twice before, once with the band and more recently with his solo effort Ginger and the Sonic Circus. With years of experience behind them and combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and Metallica, the band will be releasing not one but two albums this year states guitarist CJ.

“It’s great to finally play Download with The Wildhearts. I have fantasised for years about having our crowd show the other crowds who’s loudest and now we get to prove it. Our fans are gonna be the loudest, per unit, of the weekend, no contest. Our tent is going to achieve new levels of richter scale mayhem. Just wait until the fans of those other bands hear OUR LOT! They’re gonna fucking shit themselves. They honestly will not know what the fuck is going on. Come on guys and gals, let’s make aural history”
Ginger, The Wildhearts

Rival Schools

Formed by Walter Schreifels Rival Schools are a highly-influential post-hardcore band from New York, its members being alumni of such 80’s and 90’s hardcore bands as Gorilla Biscuits, CIV and Youth Of Today. In their short time, they toured both the UK supporting A and the US. Rival Schools have reformed for 2008 and their Download appearance is sure to be a highlight of the weekend.

Kill Hannah

Formed in 1994 Chicago’s Kill Hannah already draw crowds of over 1000 people to their shows in the UK. This five piece have been dubbed the missing link between The Killers, The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins and My Chemical Romance! With their new album having just been released in the UK now seems like the perfect time to make their Download debut!

Haunts

Bred from various metal bands Haunts bring something completely different to this year’s festival. With the singer Kev’s distinctive singing style and their fun, fast paced indie it seems that Haunts are transcending genres. Guitarist Alex claims ‘we don’t really fit in any genre’. With record labels already after them soon Haunts will be a household name.

Zebrahead

Formed in 1996 Zebrahead are seasoned professionals and have toured with the likes of Green Day, Less Than Jake and Goldfinger as well as performing at Download 2006. With a line up change, 2007 saw the return of Zebrahead to the UK as part of the annual Get Happy Tour where they shared the stage with Bowling For Soup and Bloodhound Gang.

Skindred

Welsh “raga metal” four piece Skindred have visited Donington twice – firstly at Ozzfest in 2002 and then he 2006 Download Festival. Having just released their long-awaited second album at the end of last year their dedicated fan base is ever-growing. This year has already seen them support fellow Downloaders Bullet For My Valentine.

Canterbury

Fresh from supporting The Automatic Canterbury are fast becoming a name on everyone’s lips. Having just recorded their first album and touring religiously their Download experience will surely be one not to forget.

Invasion

London based band Invasion are a massively heavy bass-less trio made up of two-thirds girls, forming in January 2007. They play short, fast, riff-based tracks and will be looking forward to rocking out this year at Download.

Twin Method

Twin Method were discovered in Liverpool in 2004 and whisked off to Los Angeles to begin recording their debut album. Having toured with metal legends Type O Negative and Lordi, as well playing The Family Values tour in 2007 – this is a band determined to go all the way!

Amon Amarth

Since their humble start in 1992 Amon Amarth have managed to establish themselves as one of Europe’s top death metal acts through hard work, relentless touring and consistently solid albums. With their use of Viking mythology and imagery their Download appearance is sure to be a memorable one

Ash

Northern Irish rockers Ash make their Download debut this year, and with six albums under their belt since Trailer was released in 1994, they will certainly have plenty of material to rock out with. Comprising of Tim Wheeler, Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray, Ash are now a three piece once again since the departure of Charlotte Hatherley, who joined them in 1997. Indie smash hits such as ‘Girl From Mars’, ‘Shining Light’ ‘Burn Baby Burn’, ‘Starcrossed’ have remained staple dancefloor tracks for rock clubs,

‘I’m excited about it. Donington’s a pretty legendary venue. We played there once, supporting Stereophonics quite a few years ago, and it’s really nice, a great location. I remember being a kid and hearing about all the Monsters of Rock concerts. I never actually went but it’s kind of legendary for me, y’know?’
Tim Wheeler, Ash

Black Stone Cherry

Black Stone Cherry are also set to rock Download for the first time, having burst onto the rock scene last year with their debut album on Roadrunner. Hailing from Kentucky, their Southern rock draws influence from Led Zeppelin, Alice in Chains and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Tours with Hinder and Buckcherry have seen them hone their live skills and they will be going out with Def Leppard this summer in addition to their Download appearance.

‘Playing the Download Festival has been a dream of ours since we started playing music! We are truly excited and can't wait to rock out in front of 60,000 people!’
Ben Wells, Black Stone Cherry

Airbourne

Aussie hard rockers Airbourne have already enjoyed support slots with greats such as Motley Crue and The Rolling Stones, and will be making their way to Donington for the first time. Their AC/DC influenced sound has produced three singles to date, ‘Runnin' Wild’, ‘Too Much, Too Young’, ‘Too Fast’ and ‘Diamond In The Rough’, and contributions to various computer games like Grand Theft Auto IV and NFL Tour.

‘The echoes in the fields of Donington from the greatest rock n roll bands in the world will remain forever. And for us it’s an honour to join them. Long live rock n roll. Long live Donington.’
Joel O’Keeffe, Airbourne

Elliot Minor

Elliot Minor return to Download having last performed on last year’s Dimebag Darrell stage. Their first single ‘Parallel Worlds’ went in at No 31 in the UK charts and their last single – and first to be released this year – went in at 17. Their musical influences range from The Used, Something Corporate and Queen, and are firm favourites of both Kerrang! and Radio 1.

‘Download is an amazing festival and to play at the legendary location that is Donington is awesome.. We played last year to an amazing crowd and had a great time. We are already talking about the set we will do and how much we are looking forward to it’
Elliot Minor

Pendulum

Pendulum are a bit of a swerve ball for Download, being a drum ‘n’ bass act from Australia. Their remix of The Prodigy’s ‘Voodoo People’ made considerable noise in the UK, with their single ‘Granite’ – their biggest original hit to date – peaking at No 29 in the UK charts in 2007. Starting out as DJs/producers, they have now grown to incorporate a live band element to their performance.

‘Bring on the bottles of piss!!...not really, have mercy!!! :(‘
Rob Swire, Pendulum

Ace Frehley

Ace Frehley is best known for being the original guitarist for KISS, who are headlining the Friday of this year’s Download Festival. With his former band, he has appeared at Donington twice and this year marks his third trip – his first as a solo artist. Despite on-off reunions with KISS, Ace is set to release his fifth album this year.

‘I am very excited to have been asked to play at a festival like this for my English fans and I’m really looking forward to the day’
Ace Frehley

Biffy Clyro

Arguably at the most successful point of their career, with latest album ‘Puzzle' going straight in at No 2 and tracks like ‘Folding Stars', ‘Who's Got A Match' and ‘Saturday Superhouse' all being played across mainstream TV and radio, Biffy Clyro are definitely rock hot property. Hailing from Scotland, they have been going since the mid-90s and have become a firm favourite of the rock scene. Tours with The Rolling Stones, Muse, Red Hot Chilli Peppers to name a few have opened their appeal even wider.

“We've played at Download twice before and really enjoyed it both times. I think my lasting memory of Download, although now a little hazy, is of being the last band  to leave the festival. We certainly like to party at festivals and Download is up there with the best of them, just don't ask us to leave until all the beer's finished!”
James Johnston - Biffy Clyro

Bullet For My Valentine

Welsh metal heads Bullet For My Valentine return to Donington after a year off from the festival (they played 2004-2006). New album ‘Scream Aim Fire' set a new bar with a more uptempo and aggressive feel, and the album went in the Billboard 200 at No. 4 upon release, No. 5 in the UK charts. No 3 in Germany and No.1 in Japan!. Tours and support slots with fellow Welsh bands Lostprophets and Fueral For a Friend led to playing with some of the biggest names in metal – Metallica, Iron Maiden, Rob Zombie – and BFMV will be, I'm sure, aching to come back to Donington where it all started!

"This will actually be our fourth appearance in the last five years which is kind of scary! It's definitely one of our favourite festivals to be a part of. We have such amazing memories of Download - it was the first festival that we were ever a part of, when we were an unsigned band in 2005. Download was the beginning of the phenomenon. That was the first show that made us feel like we could make something of ourselves!"
Matt Tuck - Bullet For My Valentine

Madina Lake

Madina Lake make their Download Festival debut this year, having enjoyed an amazing year rising from a new unsigned act to ‘Best International Newcomer' at the 2007 Kerrang! Awards. Their upbeat pop punk sound might deviate a little from the nom in terms of the Download bill but be assured, the demand is definitely there. From hospitalisations due to participating in the US show Twin Fear Factor, to a debut concept album about a fictional town (Madina Lake) where the mysterious disappearance of Adalia occurs, this band are definitely more than meets the eye.

“Ever since I was kid British music festivals have been legendary.  I still have posters, import CDs and magazines featuring my favorite bands like Rage Against The Machine and Smashing Pumpkins etc playing all these HUGE festivals over there. It's simply impossible to believe that we will now be a part of one.  And Download of all festivals is one of the biggest! It's seriously a life defining moment for us and we can't thank you all enough in the UK for all the support you've given us ... word.”
Nathan Leone - Madina Lake

Fightstar

Having played Download one time only to date, Fightstar will be looking forward to returning to Donington having honed their sound into a darker, heavier being. Latest album ‘One Day Son This Will All Be Yours' have given them success in the rock and indie charts, and recently performed on the Kerrang! Relentless Energy Tour across the UK earlier in the year.

“We are really pleased that we have been asked to come back and play the infamous Download Festival for a second time... Download is one of our favourite festivals of the season and we are going pull out all the stops. Bring on the pits!”
Charlie Simpson - Fightstar

Seether

Download 2008 will mark the first time that post-grunge band Seether have performed at the festival, and the band will be bringing the sounds of their recent album, ‘Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces' with them. Fame came to them in 2002 when they released their recording of ‘Broken' featuring Amy Lee from Evanescence on vocals, on the soundtrack to The Punisher.

"We're really excited to be heading back to Europe as it is the part of touring we always look forward to. We really don't get to play there enough, so every time we do, we hope to leave the best impression we can. This will be our first time at the Download Fest, which is an achievement we've been meaning to accomplish for years, and perhaps the time has finally proven to be right."
Shaun Morgan - Seether

Testament

Testament are very much representative of their name, and are the ultimate quintessential modern heavy metal band. Amazingly, 2008 will mark their Download debut. Breaking onto the Californian thrash metal scene alongside Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth, Testament have had two Top 40 UK albums and will be looking for a third this year with new album ‘The Formation of Damnation’.

“I’ve been waiting 20 years to finally play at Download Fest. All the great bands have played this festival, and it’s going to be an honor to play it. After a 20 year career, we finally get the opportunity.”
Chuck Billy, Testament

Comeback Kid

Comeback Kid make their Download debut and fly in all the way from Winnipeg, Canada with their hardcore punk sounds. Now on Victory Records, the band have so far garnered a steady reputation through word of mouth alone.

“We’re stoked to be playing such a legendary festival. We’ve played a lot of countries, and I have to say Europeans do festivals the best, seriously. It’s pretty daunting playing such a big stage when we love the tiny, sweaty club shows where everyone can get crazy, but we won’t let the barriers stop us from putting on a killer show. Come hang out with us, it’s going to be awesome!”
Andrew Neufeld Comeback Kid

Valient Thor

Valient Thor will be flying their proverbial spaceship into Donington this June, bringing their conspiracy theories and legions of ‘Thorriers’ with them! The last two years have seen them out on the road with Fu Manchu, Eagles of Death Metal and The Sword, and will be releasing their fourth album in June.

‘We've been itching for a chance to resurrect the spirit of 'monsters of rock' here in the states, so what better opportunity to fully embrace the spectres' power than to soak it in over @ castle Donington. We feel honored to be representing hard & heavy rock @ the Download Festival here in the new millennium’
Valient Himself, Valient Thor

Municiple Waste

Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, blazing thrashers Municipal Waste have been, in their words, ‘spreading their shred’ across Europe since 2006 with tours alongside Sick Of It All and GWAR and are firm favourites of the Radio 1 Rock Show. This will be the first time they have played Download.

It's an honor to be a part of this festival considering where we come from musically. We are fully prepared to bring the crossover speed attack to the masses at Download. We assure you that there will be ripped faces of unsuspecting headbangers left in our dust as we exit the stage. As a true fan of heavy metal myself, I will sacrifice my own face by melting it down on stage during the almighty Judas Priest!"
Ryan Waste, Municiple Waste

Chiodos

Michigan post-hardcore outfit Chiodos have already enjoyed a wealth of critical success with their first two albums both hitting the Billboard Top 200. Having been unable to join The Offspring, Incubus and Coheed and Cambria at Australia’s Soundwaves Festival this year the band will be pleased to be able to join all three at this year’s Download.

‘When we found out we were playing Download festival we were very stoked! We've heard nothing but great things about the festival and the people that attend it, and all of the pictures that I have seen prove that as well. We haven't been overseas that much but we are looking forward to the opportunity that this festival is giving us to play for thousands of people that have no clue who we even are! It shall rock!"
Brad Bell, Chiodos

Trigger The Bloodshed

Bath based grindcore/death metal exponents Trigger The Bloodshed have only been together for a year but they have impressed the rock magazines already with their brutal, heavy as hell formula.

Brigade

Brigade have been going since 2003 and have supported the likes of Hawthorne Heights, InMe and Aiden whilst their star has been ascending. Praise from the rock press and TV channels has been plentiful and they bring their Brit-rock to Download for the first time this year.

Exit Ten

Exit Ten have enjoyed comparisons to Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and Sikth and have become a firm staple of the UK metal/ hardcore scene. Tours with Deftones, Avenged Sevenfold and Every Time I Die, as well as playing Download in 2006 has seen them hone their metalcore, and this year they release their first full-length album ‘Remember The Day’.

Hostile

Birmingham metallers Hostile will be heading to Download for the first time having become regulars on the UK live circuit. They will be undoubtedly looking to their fellow Brit metallers Judas Priest and Motorhead on the weekend for some tips!

Rose Tattoo

Rose Tattoo will be travelling from the southern hemisphere to join Download this year, ready to show the crowds the fruits of the last twenty years of solid Australian blues rock. Led by Angry Anderson, their first four albums were produced by Harry Vanda and George Young who also worked with AC/DC. 11 albums on, there’ll be plenty for them to sing about at Download.

Animal Alpha

Norwegian rockers Animal Alpha have already won themselves and impressive reputation in their home country and are now looking to extend this across Europe.

August Burns Red

Christian metalcore outfit August Burns Red are looking at a very busy summer with dates locked in from now until August across the globe, including the legendary Warped Tour. The band will be dropping into Donington before they hit California.

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