Festivals have been a huge part of my summers for 12 years on the trot, I realised today. This year, 2013, I'm willingly and quite happily skipping going to one at all. Main reason is because im going on holiday to america instead in August. planning to fly into Charlotte, North Carolina, see Drus family, and then drive to Orlando for the parks and the Transformers Ride. All in all I'm pretty excited about it. Ditching the festivals all together was never the plan, but after looking into it, I just cant justify going to my regular haunts. I think my taste has changed so drastically that I find it hard to find reasons to go, and the bands I DO like I have actually seen before. Its got to the point in my life where I feel like I've done it all pretty much, when it comes to the rather limited rock and metal scene. I think its going to end up just being big gigs this summer, Rush, Bruce Springsteen, Sigur Ros, and The Rolling Stones if they end up playing Hyde park.
But looking back...shit man I had some good times. I've decided to list and try and remember from the top of my head who played the festivals I went to. I doubt its even possible to remember some of them. Id imagine it will mostly be the ones in the middle I forget,
Reading 2001.
My first festival. I remember seeing most of this because I was sober and young, my dad took me to it. Eminem headlined and was pretty shit, but I remember System of a down, Fear Factory, Marilyn Manson, Boyhitscar, Staind, The Cult. It wasn't a bad lineup for a younger version of me. My taste was pretty much in line with this bill too at that point. The Cult were a revelation and im not sure I was mature enough to look past the age of the band. Ridiculous really, but I believe that's the only time ive seen The Cult. Crazy how I remember the whole bill for this, I think I only did the sunday but it still counted.
Ozzfest 2002
I remember....Tool. Ozzy Osbourne. It pissing it down when Cradle of filth played. I remember seeing Skindred in some side building. The site was appallingly organised, people trying to get to the 2nd stage and struggling in huge numbers due to the door not being open enough. I think I went to this with my guitar teacher, it was just a day too like the previous year. by this point, id got the bug for live shows. I think Slayer also played this, aswell as stuff like the Mad capsule markets. Again, I was sober, so I remember a lot of it.
Download 2003
The last year when I only did the one day. I only remember Arch Enemy, Sepultura (who I still remember being excellent) Reef, who werent bad, Ministry on main stage plodding along, Deftones being piss poor, and Iron Maiden kicking ass. Bring me ed till im dead tour. I also remember my dad turning up to pick me up, bringing my siblings (when they were VERY young) and jumping the fence, watching some of Maiden. a fun day yeah. Ha, reminds me how much parents do for you that you forget!
Download 2004
Top of my head, I literally have no idea but I know that this was my first full weekend festival away. TBH, I think im going to have to look at wikipedia for the lineups. and ok.....ive looked at my lastffm list. I remember Opeth, Black dahlia murder, Burst, Akercocke, Slayer in the tent, Ikara Colt, The International Noise Conspiracy But according to my lastfm I saw Metallica, Machine head, Slipknot, turbonegro, soulfly, sum41?, cradle of filth, breed 77...and some others. I literally cannot recall seeing any of the last 8 bands...Haha! Must have left an undeniable mark eh? I think this year I went with my good friend Tristan and he got sunstroke..but thats all I remember. I do to this day remember the best band of the weekend being The International Noise Conspiracy followed by Slayers unannounced show in the small tent, which was just plain vicious.
Download 2005
I do remember a lot of this one, because I went with Kelvin I think. Actually....I dont know. I remember Sabbath played. Download went to a full 3 days from this year onwards and I think they had an indie day or something with Feeder. Main memories from this one would be running away after the Slayer set had started to go and see the 80s matchbox bline disaster, because I liked them better at the time. Also Napalm Death laying waste to the small tent on the hill, while the sun set. Therapy? were excellent, Motorhead were loud and closed it perfectly, In flames did a good set, and I think I had a good festival. and I remember watching Metallica with no Lars ulrich actually being very good, and adding blastbeats to thier songs courtesy of guest drummers
Bloodstock 2005
Won tickets to this, the first year, me and Kelvin went alone. It was a thursday and a friday, and there was barely 1000 people there. We parked our car behind the wall in the current main camp site. First few years of BOA were the best because you could park your car by your tent. I believe the year after this was much better but it wasnt too bad this year and we saw Paradise lost bore everybody to tears like usual, Children of bodom do thier thing, and Edguy. I remember it being fun but sparsely populated
Download 2006
The last time I went to download for a full weekend, and probably the last time I ever will do. I believe things changed drastically after this, but this was a great weekend. I think what changed things was going to Wacken the same year. This is the year Gojira burst through the scene, and blew everybody away in the tent. Backbone was when it kicked in. Immense, and I still remember the impact and sound of that show. a lot of really good bands played this year, Down on the main stage after thier come back, Tool after releasing an album, clutch and Cathedral. Mainly good memories of this year! Went to see Killing Joke instead of Metallica, and they were amazing. But I do remember it being poorly organised. and I remember Guns and Roses being absolute wank.
Wacken 2006
This was the first european festival I went to and it was truly amazing. It eclipsed and bettered everything that had happened at all the previous UK festivals. I took Roger to see the house he was born in, and I planned the whole trip for him. At that point, I hadnt known him very well or for long, but you know, navigating Germany and Hamburgs train system was just a challenge in the way. We did find his old home, and I believe it made his mother very happy to see the photos. The festival itself was just incredible too. Saw soooo many bands. drank so much german beer. I remember Celtic Frost, Motorhead, Scorpions, Rose Tattoo, and Ministry playing an absolute blinder. I also crowd surfed for Whitesnake when they played This is love, and got given a black eye for my troubles ha! This was a very special holiday for me, signalled an addiction to eurofests thats actually lasted up until last year...lol Crazy. People wonder why Im always broke.
Bloodstock 2006
This year it was me, Gaz and Kelvin. It was ridiculous amounts of fun. Band wise, we missed most of the first day and got there late, but we did see Edguy again. Gaz decided to sit and drink beer and read porn at his camper van for the entire weekend, and at the time I was irked and wished he would go in and see bands with us, but I think it probably just made him want to stay there more..hahaha, all it does when I think of it is make me laugh at how much of a pain in the ass I was. but Overall, it was fun. I think Stratovarius played, and I remember dancing in a largely open and empty field to Turisas. I think 1500 people decided to turn up to this one! Also met a guy who called himself cheesy bammo, total legend.
Sweden Rock 2007
9 of us went to this. It was a real fun lads holiday, but with two ladies too. We stood out as being English everywhere we went, because Swedish people are stupidly good looking, men and women. Not that we arnt, but we stood out....lol Sweden is a nice country but its incredibly expensive. I believe I got into doom quite a bit round this time, and I think I mainly went because everybody else was going, but I do remember Trouble playing in the bright sunshine, with Eric Wagner walking around the stage so chilled out it was ridiculous. Great show. The Answer also blew me away, and even then I thought they'd end up huge. I remember seeing Focus in the sun too, Heaven and Hell with Dio play a blinder (and I remember standing with Roger while some guy in a kilt by us got a blowjob), Krux (a rare show) playing a goodun, Kreator being fantastic, Blind Guardian being crap, and then I remember Kelvin shagging some woman under the sound stage, Going missing for hours in a huge camping field and losing everybody, and I passed out in the main arena watching Quireboys, had a blackout and woke up in my tent. I poked my head out of my tent and heard all 8 of the others talking, and I asked them when Aerosmith were on. and Id just missed them...haha, you had to be there but it was funny as hell. This was such a great holiday to go on, Sweden rock fest is 5 mins walk from a beach too. Id recommend it as a festival to anybody, but I didnt go again because its so bloody expensive! ha!
Wacken 2007
According to my list on last fm, I saw 27 bands this year. I think I tried to see as many as the ones I liked as possible, and it was with Roger mainly, we stuck to a schedule and went round watching them all as they came on. I remember being at this with Roger, Nick and Kelvin. just 4 of us. And we just saw tonnes of bands. Band wise, I think highlights were Possessed, with the singer in a wheelchair screaming his guts out, The Answer playing another blinder, Enslaved being excellent, and I saw tonnes of others...Sacred Reich were excellent, Rose Tattoo did another great show and Roger bought some bright orange tie dye Tshirt. I remember very little from this, I think I tried to do too much music and it ended up being a blur.
Bloodstock 2007
This was a fun year, but I only went with Dru, Nick and Sam. Might even have been the last year you could park your car next to your tent? Im not sure. Dark Tranquillity and Testament come to mind. But I reckon I saw much more than that. I also remember arguing with dru during Lacuna Coil but coming to the conclusion arguing was way more fun than the band itself. Ha!
Hard Rock Hell 2007
Managed to fit this in at the end. I think this was a pretty rock n roll weekend. Dont remember much at all, List says I saw Grand Magus, Turisas, Diamond Head, Girlschool, Finntroll, My Dying Bride. I remember spending a lot of time backstage after meeting Finntroll and having a laugh with them. I also remember watching My Dying Bride and telling my friends to stop being so happy because they were ruining the mood. Ha, bellend. They were good. but I mostly remember the backstage area and free beer. and the fact that nobody checked who I was.
Wacken 2008
This was the biggest year of Wacken I went to because Maiden played. but also Gaz turned up and surprised me. Didnt know he was going and he just turned up on the day. Wicked year this was. I remember a chubby fellow at the start fall over by a little river and break his leg, literally two days before the festival, and he had to leave back to england. I also think Claire Louise and Kirsty Morgan went to this for some reason, aswell as Roger, Kelvin and Nick. Band wise, according to the list I saw barely anything. So I must have got terribly drunk. this was the year I got struck ill with bowel disease, so I had to be careful I think and spent one of the days entirely sober. This is also the year I witnessed Gaz and Roger lick chocolate off each others cocks...which they purposely did to freak out all the europeans that had joined our camp. Theyd told everybody they were father and son. fucking hillarious. On a sober night, I spirited Gaz away to see bands, we saw shitty accapella metal band Van Canto and we saw Avantastia do an utterly fantastic show. I remember the original lineup of Massacre do a wicked show, and I got into Communic after hearing them from the campsite. There was a fire in the main arena so we missed a whole day or so of bands I think. I apparently saw Kreator, At the gates, Lordi, Exodus and Obituary, but I must have been blasted because its gone from my memory.This was the last time I went to Wacken, I doubt ill ever go back. But I have great memories of the place. It truly is a Mecca for metalheads.
Bloodstock 2008
I think this was the year a whole bunch of us went after we said how brilliant it was to everybody the previous year. I recall Heavens basement being very good rock n roll, Witchsorrow playing in a smaller tent and being good, I recall us all hanging out as a big group, roger camping in a huge tent, and I got to see Communic after missing them at Wacken. Helloween I think were the headliner, and we have some excellent photos from this. If I could be arsed id upload them to this blog to accompany the text...but hey, I have them all somewhere. Overkill played this and did a good show, and some other bands. I think we couldnt park our car by the tent this year because it had grown quite a bit.
Hellfest 2009
This was me, Helen, Jamie and Kelvin doing the Argon trip. Never again. id rather fly. But at least we tried something new this time, in France of all places. I remember Clisson being a really beautiful little town, with a castle that was picturesque against a backdrop of a river etc. I remember drinking 3 bottles of Duvel one day, smokin a big doob at Electric Wizard and then Passing out on the front railings while Manowar "played" a concert. They spent half the time talking rather than playing, and loudest band in the world? Not on your life, I slept through them! I saw so many awesome shows at this festival, it was just an amazing lineup. They have good ones every year but I was told its grown beyond its means now and this was the best time to visit. Entombed kicked ass, Napalm Death brought out Lee Dorrian for a bit, Orange Goblin destroyed in a small tent, I bought a tonne of vinyl, but the highlight I think was seeing Heaven & Hell followed by an absolutely mighty performance by Saint Vitus. Blew me away. First time id seen Vitus, and they are still as fantastic now. I also recall Motley crue being offensively bad and stumbling upon Marilyn manson dying on stage. Great festival this one, ive wanted to go every year since but maybe one day I will...who knows.
Bloodstock 2009
This is the first of all the festivals that I dont remember any anecdotes, just the bands. Anathema played a stormer, Entombed, Candlemass, Katatonia, Saxon, Carcass, Kreator, Satyricon, Turisas, and oddly Europe. I was hammered watching Europe, and everybody around me was hating on them. I only saw 13 bands this festival, but I have no recollection of anything else that happened this weekend so maybe I just got totally blasted, or maybe this was the one that a whole lot of us went? It all just blurs into one after a while.
Rock and Blues, Skegness 2010
I haven't included most of the times ive been to Rock and blues in Skegness. its because theres usually no bands that are noteworthy or relevant, just drunken times and good times. This one however, is worth mentioning because as a festival experience it was normal, but timing wise, it had a huge impact. You realise who your true friends are when your away at a festival, and they know something bad is going to happen, and they just wait for it and jump right in to help when it goes wrong. My mother passed away while I was at this festival, I knew it would happen this weekend, and luckily she waited right until Sunday to do it. It was amazing how all my friends just switched it on and became supportive instantly as it happened. I cannot ever thank them enough for it. Kelvin, Roger, Gaz, Tom Fraj, Dave Love, are the ones I distinctly remember being there (Dru was sadly absent but was just a phone call away and helped loads too). It probably wasnt awesome for them at all, but it was extremely cathartic for me. I remember watching Nazareth too on the evening it happened, and I remember ex Rolling Stone Mick Taylor standing behind us and Gaz meeting him and being overwhelmed. Again, I can never thank my friends enough for being there when I needed them the most. Awesome.
Roadburn 2010
This was the first time I ever went abroad alone. I knew some people would be at the festival that id met from various gigs around the birmingham doom scene, but I went alone. It was a catalog of events that just ended up being the most fantastic festival experience ive ever been to. Unrivalled since, and Itd take something truly special to beat it. It first became interesting when I met a guy called Malcom on the plane. Good chap, but more on him later. When I got there and made my way to Tilburg, I hadnt sorted out anywhere to stay. I just kind of hoped id go along with people or find people. I walked around for hours trying to buy a tent, to no luck. I figured id go for a beer and attempt to assess the situation. Turned out it was a hotel so I asked if they had a room, and they did lol it was literally 5 mins walk to the gig too. Couldnt have planned it any better. It cost half the money id given myself to spend but I had no other option.
So the first night before it kicked off, I went up the pub 3 mins walk away and made some friends. Local chap by the name of Matko and a Czech guy, and some others. Matko offered to cook me a meal, so me being me, I rang him the next day and went round for the meal haha! He didnt expect it. but I became good friends with him and for two days spent my days there, before going up to the festival in the evening. on the first day, Malcom had a mate who had bought two tickets to the festival, So I told him if he still had them by the end he should give them to my dutch friend Matko. Because hed bought them to sell. And nobody likes greed do they? Ha! So low and behold, he couldnt sell them and I gave them Matko and his mate. Festival happened and it was time to go home. Volcano hit. So I got stuck there. I had to be teaching monday morning, so I had to stay with Matko longer, and we had a few days to chill, so I ended up being in their music video for their band. Which I have to say was a lot of fun. Eventually ended up heading back with Malcom, and went through Belgium, stayed at his in London on the way home. But it was just a series events that displayed amazing good fortune and Luck.
The festival itself, I met so many bands I like. Magnus Pelander from Witchcraft was a laugh, The guys from Church of Misery, Wounded Kings, Mike Schiedt from YOB sorted me a guest pass for the afterburner, it was just such a great atmosphere and the bands put in amazing performances. Garcia plays Kyuss gets a special mention, Enslaved doing some mad experimental show, Moss playing hypnotically evil lovecraft doom, wandering into The Machine playing Jimi Hendrix. I cant comment enough about how much of a fantastic festival Roadburn is.
Download 2010
I went for one day to make up for missing Aerosmith in 2007. I took my little brother and it was pretty fun, Airbourne put in a great show, Dillinger escape plan were blinding, Porcupine Tree were also really good, and Aerosmith finished it off in great style. Shame it hammered it down, and that once out of the venue they didnt let you back in. they had changed the layout so much since 2006, and tbh, Ill never go again unless its someone I really have to see. Felt sorry for everybody else who stayed there and had such a long trek to thier campsite.
High Voltage Festival 2010
Im going to count this here because this was a great adventure out in London with Gaz, Roger, Ratch and Kelvin. I also went for the Heaven and Hell tribute gig, because of Dios death. I actually ruined the entire atmosphere for everybody at this one, not worth going into it, but the festival itself was great and I only saw Cathedral, Saxon, ZZtop and Heaven & Hell. This is actually where I stopped making lists for live acts ive seen. from now its purely memory, or looking it up online.
Bloodstock 2010
Pretty good year lineup wise. I remember seeing Bonded by blood open the main stage, and I recall Witchsorrow dedicating a song to me. I think this might have been the year I took my little brother for the first time, but I cant remember that either. Bloodstocks for me seem to get hazier the more of them I remember doing. I distinctly recall Twisted Sister being absolutely amazing live, and looking at the lineup on the BOA website, I dont think I saw anybody all weekend. Im pretty sure It was a good one though!
High Voltage Festival 2011
Judas Priest, Neurosis, Anathema, Thin Lizzy, Slash, Graveyard, Gentlemans Pistols. Good lineup over the two days, and we had a better time than the year before, no bad vibes. Seeing Neurosis play as the sun set over London in Victoria park was just something else entirely. Spent a lot of time chatting with Lee Dorrian at this too, he said hed send me a vinyl but I doubt he ever will lol
Bloodstock 2011
A lot of us went to this one, Again its a drunken haze. I literally saw 6 bands. Wasp, Kreator, Forbidden, Primordial and for my sins, Hell. Motorhead put in the worst showing ive ever seen them do. I think we stayed at the tent a lot and just got blasted for 4 days. I think I recall Jamie and Helen going to this one. But I couldnt tell you anything else.
Roadburn 2012
This time when I went back, I stayed with Matko the entire time. I think I actually have a blog on here where I discuss this festival. It was pretty great, but not as good as the first time I went. of the top of my head I remember The Obsessed being amazing, and Necros Christos, a death metal band, being my main Highlight of the week. I saw a lot of great bands, but I started to feel worn out at times, drinking and smoking and walking around all the time. I guess im happier sitting at home doing both than being out and about for hours.
Bloodstock 2012
This one was a total washout. Saw even less bands. Got even more drunk. Didnt enter the arena Friday, Saturday I saw Orange Goblin, Witchsorrow, Sanctuary and Testament, and Sunday I saw Corrosion of Conformity, Paradise Lost (who literally put me to sleep) and Alice Cooper. To be honest I think at this festival I decided id reign it in next year. Id seen all the bands I liked back in the early days and all the gigs I did in between the festivals. I met a friend here who had seen over 70 bands over the week and it made me think about why I was even there.
To Summarize im Happy to chill now, I had plenty of years going mad going to festivals. I cant say ill never go again, because I will, but Im happy to do less of them now. I can wear the multiple T-shirts I still own, and Ive collected all this together really to remind myself of all the cool places and things ive done and seen. If you have sat and read this through, Well done, it took me 4 hours today! Ha!
Graham.
