It’s been the worst kept secret in the rock industry for a few months now. Ever since Avenged Sevenfold’s new album Hail To The King scored a UK album chart number one in August, all signs have pointed to them breaking the festival glass ceiling and joining the exclusive group of bands that have headlined at Donington Park. This morning those thoughts and suspicions were confirmed as the powers that be at Download Festival and Live Nation announced that Avenged Sevenfold will indeed headline Download 2014, being the main act on the first day of the festival, the Friday.
It’s a move that please and displease fans alike, but it’s a welcome acknowledgement from Andy Copping and his team that new blood needs to be promoted to festival headline status at Donington as who knows how long the likes of Iron Maiden and Metallica will be around for. Avenged Sevenfold aren’t coming alone though. Sub-headlining before Avenged, in his most high profile UK appearance so far will be none other than the legendary Rob Zombie. Having been voted one of the acts of the festival on his only previous appearance in 2011 when he headlined the second stage, horror metal specialist Mr Zombie will now get to unleash his full stage show on the Download main stage.
As far as we’re concerned, that’s a pretty good start to proceedings for the fourteenth annual Download Festival. The organisers have also announced that early bird discounted tickets will be available, but only until this Friday (8th November 2013), with £10 knocked off from last years prices so if you want to save some money and you can afford to do so with Christmas coming up, get in early. Anyone relying on their parents for their Download ticket, you may wish to inform them about the discounts as we all know going to festivals in this day and age is a very expensive proposition. The early bird tickets are available at the official festival website www.downloadfestival.co.uk.
The other main stage headliners and sub-headliners will be announced same time (8am) tomorrow (Tuesday 5th) and Wednesday 6th so stay tuned for those announcements. Any and all Download Festival 2014 news will be brought to our readers right here as developments occur.
