Keeping the ball rolling at impressive speed as we hit the two month countdown to the 2012 (and tenth anniversary) edition of the Download Festival, Andy Copping and The Powers That Be in the metal towers of Donington have unleashed an impressive double announcement.
Firstly, and fittingly, after the sad news of last week that the legendary founder of Marshall Amps Jim Marshall OBE had passed away, Download will pay homage to Jim by naming the main stage the Jim Marshall Stage as a tribute to the man who’s inventions will help power so much of the music on display at Donington throughout the weekend. If Jim is looking down on us from above over that weekend in June I think it is fair to say that we would all hope he would enjoy the show.
Secondly, the line up at Download 2012 has grown once again. The festival has further bolstered its lineup with the addition of another nineteen bands – though some of these bands were already announced by Andy Copping on Twitter last week (and also subsequently here on this website in last weeks lineup announcement). At the head of the queue of the new additions are Massachusetts metallers Shadows Fall, who make their return to Donington after an absence of several years. British rockers My Passion are also on board, as are the truly unique Ghost, who will be aiming to follow up their haunting debut Download appearance from last year. La Dispute are also joining the action, and the rest of the announcement (including the already announced bands) sees more British talent added in the shape of the Classic Rock Magazine loved Saint Jude added to the festival across the stages. Then there’s also Feed The Rhino, Yashin, The Union, Lawnmother Deth, Six Hour Sundown, Silent Descent, With One Last Breath, No Americana, Royal Cartel, Tyla, Voodoo Johnson, Sanguine and last but not least, fresh from supporting KoRn recently The Dirty Youth.
There’s also been a slight rejig in terms of the Jim Marshall stage for the Sunday, with Anthrax being promoted from the second stage to take the place of the recently pulled out Five Finger Death Punch. This news means that around eighty bands (we haven’t counted) are now confirmed for the festival’s tenth anniversary, which is being headlined by Metallica (performing The Black Album in full), Black Sabbath and The Prodigy.
Tickets for Download 2012 are still on sale and can be purchased from the festivals official website as well as all the usual online outlets. Of course Rocksins will continue to bring more Download Festival news to our readers as and when it occurs, as well as updates on Bloodstock and many other rock & metal festivals from across the globe.
