Download kicked off in blistering heat, but with numbers seemingly down on last year's crowds – but as this was the first ever Friday at Download, that's not comparing like with like. With a more friendly atmosphere and less bad attitude, lower numbers wasn't such a bad thing.
Megadeth played their last-ever UK show, but without seeming to much care that it was – mundane is the word that comes to mind. Garbage were ... ummm ... garbage quite disappointing, suffering from bad sound problems which they had problems overcoming, the set going downhill till the last few songs.
At the end of the night, Main Stage headliners Feeder played a good set but didn't pull a huge crowd - it was Billy Idol who stole the show. With a rammed tent at the second Snickers Stage, he put on a brilliant set including covers of Van Halen's ‘Jump’ and The Who's ‘Who Are You?’.
They'll be full reviews as well as fantastic exclusive photos online next week. We could give them to you now, but we'd much rather be having fun – as it should be, we're out-front enjoying the festival to the full.
article by Luke Seagrave & Phil Bull photos by Phil Bull
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