Quick Thought For Download Moaners
Following another successful Download Festival announcement, it angered me to see it referred to as "a wee bit gash". There's always going to be people moaning and I know that you can't please everybody - at least not with the full lineup. However you can please everyone if people step back and realise that YOU DON'T HAVE TO WATCH EVERY BAND! No-one's going to tie you to a chair and force you to watch Jared Leto and his gang of clahns whilst Rage Against the Machine annihilate the main stage. Just like the foolish people that are unhappy with Aerosmith being on the lineup can turn to the more than capable hands of Corey Taylor and his team of metal's finest with Stone Sour.
I witnessed one of the most memorable festival performances I've ever seen when My Chemical Romance headlined Download. Not because I twatted around hurling bottles at hard working musicians, but because I watched the one and only Suicidal Tendencies tear the 3rd stage a new one. Failing the unlikely event that you can't find anyone to watch because your closed minded brain can't handle anything slightly lighter than your usual grunts, there's always the camp site and bars. Many of my most memorable festival experiences have happened around a crate of beer on the camp site and friends of mine (I never understand it) barely leave the place.
Here's a thought I had about the value of a festival such as Download. Of course it's not factoring in set lengths and sound quality but it's a basic idea of how much you're getting your moneys worth. Value has been estimated and ridiculous Aerosmith ticket prices have been ignored.
AC/DC - AT LEAST £50
Aerosmith - £50
Rage Against The Machine - £50
Them Crooked Vultures - £20 (maybe more when you factor who's in the band, but they only have 1 album!)
Deftones - £20 (ticket price recouped...)
Stone Temple Pilots Reunion (is it the UK premier?) - £30
Wolfmother - £20
Megadeth - £20
Motorhead - £20 (although I paid £30 last time)
Lamb of God - £20
Billy Idol - £15/Priceless
Five Finger Death Punch - £15
Cinderella - £10
Saxon - £15
Hell Yeah - £15/Maybe £20 when you factor in the draw of Vinnie Paul. Shame they're really dull.
Ratt - £10
Dommin - £10
Taking Dawn - £10
So that's double your money before you even get to the 2nd and 3rd stages. So to all of those moaners... we know you bought your ticket ages ago.