Maiden Confirm Download Festival Appearance

Posted by Martin on January 30, 2007 @ 19:51

The first time Maiden ever played at Donington was when they topped the bill in 1988, with Kiss and Guns N’ Roses among the supports, playing to over 100,000 people - the biggest Donington crowd by far and still the biggest Metal show ever in the UK - returning again in 1992 and 2003.

Says Bruce Dickinson 'Our fans know that Donington is a special place for Maiden and we are all looking forward to getting back there for a fourth time. The 'A Matter of Life and Death UK Tour' last December was very special for us and we very much appreciated the fans giving us such great support in us playing the whole album which, lets face it, was not necessarily the easiest thing to do for us or them! It was definitely the right challenge for us at that time but outdoors in the summer is different and as a thank you to our fans we will be including quite a few more 'classic' favourites balanced with some of the tracks from the new album. We will naturally bring Eddie and his toys along, so all in all it should be a great day for everybody!!'

Tickets will be going on sale TOMORROW MORNING (Wednesday 31st January) at 9.00am and are available from the official website for the festival downloadfestival.co.uk or the credit card hotline 0870 400 0822.

Headline acts for the other two days are My Chemical Romance on Friday 8th and Linkin Park on Saturday 9th and further announcements of other artists that have been confirmed for the main stage, the line up for the other stages and the full press announcement about the headline acts can be found on the official Download Website. downloadfestival.co.uk

As the official website, downloadfestival.co.uk will contain all information about camping, accommodation and all the packages, as well as information on the transport facilities available.

8 Comments

Anonymous said:

I knew it!
MCR and Linkin Park, that is such a large step in the wrong direction for download.

#13114, January 30, 2007 @ 21:43

Anonymous said:

Speaking as a Maiden fan of 20 plus years I was really looking forward to the 'history part 2' tour. However, it seems that Maiden are once again appealing to younger /newer /trendier fanbase. I appreciate that this contributes in part to their successful renaissance, however like many of my mates, I'm not too keen about shelling out a fortune for a festival ticket featuring bands that are a million miles away from what I consider METAL to be. I'm really, really gutted as some of the tracks and the World Slavery Tour theme would have taken me right back. Oh well, I'll probably spend my hard earned on a 'Heaven and Hell' ticket, probably with good old Megadeth in support.

#13115, January 30, 2007 @ 22:15

Real World said:

I don't think the History part 2 tour is until next year

#13117, January 31, 2007 @ 07:48

NumberoftheGaz said:

As much as I want to go to see Maiden play any set at Donington as I know it will be awesome, I'm going to have to shell out around £150 for the whole weekend when the other acts so far comprise of bands I can't stand and think are ruining metal/rock music at the moment. Why couldn't Download offer just a one day ticket. Is it because they know over 50% of atendees will only be going to see Maiden and the other crappy bands they have booked will not garner enough interest to sell tickets.... Yet another fortune I will have to pay to see Maiden... Mr Smallwood, please remember some of your band's fans are working class and don't have £150 to throw around!

#13118, January 31, 2007 @ 08:57

Anonymous said:

Far too much money, even to see Maiden. It will be the same with the second History tour.

#13119, January 31, 2007 @ 11:30

Anonymous said:

A basic weekend ticket is available for £125 (plus the usual insidious fees -£8.50 booking fee (!), and there'll probably be a credit card charge), but that's too much for my wallet. Even if I had the cash, I would refuse to pay that much.

As Parmenion seems to suggest, the History part 2 tour will probably only play at festivals in the UK, meaning more ultra-high ticket prices, even if single day tickets are available (the single day tickets for Leeds and Reading in 2005 were hardly cheap). I fear that a considerable number of Maiden's fans will be priced out of seeing the band perform the classics.

#13120, January 31, 2007 @ 11:46

Real World said:

Wait until closer the event and they will offer single day tickets the same as always

#13121, January 31, 2007 @ 12:44

Anonymous said:

I'm really glad I'm not alone in this. I love seeing Maiden and know whatever set they play it will be a magnificent gig. However, without wanting to sound like a miserable old bastard, with mortgage, bills, kids etc I CANNOT afford a festival ticket, be it for one or three days, particularly if the rest of the bands are frankly nu-metal shite!!! Maybe a return to the old Monsters of Rock format of six QUALITY bands for a decent ticket price would be a good thing.

#13122, January 31, 2007 @ 20:38