Download Festival 2009
Friday 12th to Sunday 14th June 2009Donington Park, Leics, England MAP
£135 weekend, £65 any day, camping is an extra £25
Last updated: Thu 11th Jun 2009
Donington Park is basking in a heat wave, but people aren't rushing to the Tuborg Tent for shade, so who is the big name packing them in to the rafters and way beyond? Yesterday is was Thunder who packed the tent for their farewell performance. Today it's er .. Steel Panther. As a festival veteran you know that if a relatively unknown band can cause that sort of a stir, its something pretty special.
Despite the hair and banter, it soon becomes apparent that there is more to Steel Panther than comedy value. They are accomplished musicians, which is not surprising given their pedigree.
Ralph Saenz, performing under the name Michael Starr is a former lead singer of a Van Halen tribute band. You cannot pull off a task like that without a fantastic vocal range. Guitarist Russ Parrish, now performing under the name Satchel, played guitar with Fight, a band fronted by no less than Judas Priests, Rob Halford.
The last moment like this was back at the first Download in 2003 when a relatively new glam rock band wowed the crowd and that band was The Darkness. It appears that with the confidence and experience of the Panthers they wont implode by taking themselves too seriously in the way that The Darkness did.
What is certain is that In the Tuborg tent today there is no doubt, Steel Panther rocked and Download rolled, and I for one am loving the revival of spandex!!
review by: Julie Weston
photos by: Luke Seagrave
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