As i've mentioned in some of my previous posts, I am such a rocker at heart and since 2011 when I lost my Download virginity (figuratively speaking), I really look forward to this time of year. Why? You might think it's because of Christmas (yes, also EXTREMELY exciting) or my birthday, but it's also when they start to release the line-up for the upcoming Download Festival. A festival that I am completely obsessed with going to every year now. I go to the festival with my boyfriend, which I think makes it somewhat more exciting as it's just the two of us. Some of you might think that it'd quite boring going as a couple and without friends, but I actually really enjoy it! We have so much time to wander around the stalls and can go to watch the bands that we love together. Afterall, music (especially rock and metal) is a wonderful thing to have in common. Of course, every year there are bound to be certain bands that one of us likes and the other doesn't. We usually battle it out (and being a girl, I'm pretty sure I usually win too). No actually, in all fairness we do try to see both bands for a bit if they clash.
So the first headliner band they announced was Avenged Sevenfold, who are quite possibly my favourite band ever! I was so excited when this was announced as i've already seen them once at Download 2011 and i'll be seeing them in December at the LG Arena in Birmingham and now at Download 2014 on the Friday night. They've also just released a new album called Hail to the King, which really is a fantastic album. It has that more 'classic rock/metal' feel to it that you often hear in the music of bands like Metallica and Led Zeppelin. I mean afterall, these are the bands they grew up listening to and were influenced by and boy does it come through in this album. The main reason i'm into rock and metal is because of my Dad, who also grew up listening to these iconic bands, which probably explains why I love them so much too. Avenged Sevenfold are absolutely amazing live and really put on a good show (we even got free A7X flags handed out to us at Download 2011 - cool or what?!)
Rob Zombie is also set to play on the Friday night, which i'm actually really looking forward to. I've never seen him live before and I must admit i've not listened to a great deal of his music but nonetheless i'm sure he'll put on a good show! He has a very crazy but fun personality and that's always good because they're usually really energetic and get the crowd going when they perform and from what i've seen on Youtube, his live shows are great. Let's face it, Rob Zombie is classic and an absolute must to see!
Also on the Saturday night, we have Fall Out Boy. Again, another band that I haven't actually seen live but i'm really looking forward to it as I do quite like their music, not so much their newer releases but definitely their old stuff. When I think of Fall Out Boy, I go back to being fifteen again and it's quite nice to have that nostalgic feeling when you listen to music, so it should be really good to finally see them perform live. I just hope they play some of their classics!
Finally, we have the amazing Aerosmith ending the festival on the Sunday. I can only begin to imagine how many people are going to turn up to see them, i'm sure it'll be as many as it was for Metallica and Iron Maiden, which was A LOT. I do really like Aerosmith, as I grew up listening to them with my dad as well as my late childhood friend, Amy. So i'll be there next year rocking out in memory of Amy, as she too loved and lived for rock and metal and I just know she would have loved to have seen Aerosmith.
So that's it so far. That's all we know but from what we've been told already, it looks like it's going to be one hell of a year again. Download, you never fail me to impress me and all I can say is keep 'em coming! I'm sure there'll be more posts on Download when we get some more announcements or even posts on my adventures to Birmingham to see Avenged Sevenfold, Five Finger Death Punch and Device (along with a quite controversial trip to Clothes Show Live 2013!)