Who else then...

[r0w]

Don't be too quick to rule out Bon Jovi.

1) They have a strong MOR Donington connection which is what DL are celebrating this year.

2) AC's tweets "Hold on to your cowboy hats!"

3) They are available on the 12th (Sat)

Also, They would make the possibility of Van Halen appearing as they were also Special Guests to them at their wembley stadium shows years ago.

Edited January 27, 2010 by r0w

[chubbz]

I'm still hoping for Rage and Pearl Jam. With Soundgarden beneath PJ.

[bekimo]

I defintely think Rage is a good bet! That would be immense fun!

[r0w]

i would take RATM to be honest but would rather much have Soundgarden headline! Pearl Jam suppose there is a chance with them considering Bruce Springsteen headlined both HR Calling & Glasto last summer

....but my god theres gona be some bitching when people realise Metallica arent playing! Some people have it in their minds that metallica are basically a 'tbc'

Edited January 27, 2010 by r0w

[roryBreaker]

I'd like to see Soundgarden but are they really headline material??

I'm hoping for Rage, Pearl Jam would be a nice surprise tho...

[LethalLegacy]

Mmmm i still really doubt it tho, "Hold on to your cowboy hats" - i think thats just AC referring to himself as he's always wearing cowboy hats plus i think theyr playing a Euro fest the same weekend as DL i believe which with the o2 arena dates will be doing 4 straight nights with heavy travelling which is doubtful

[Spiral_Low]

Heard from reliable source that Alice In Chains are playing. I.e. Their tour manager on the UK tour told a mates friend who is releiable.

Soundgarden seem an obvious chocie what with reunion and all.

The Scorpians are starting a world tour in May so makes sense they'll do the festivals.

Edited January 27, 2010 by Spiral_Low

[EvilKittyCat]

It would be immense if it was Rage.

Balls to Metallica. Rage are a better live band than them anyday! In fact, Rage are the best live band of the last 20 years...imo

[Ice Fatality]

Reckon Rage are a fairly big possibility, think it could be either them or Pearl Jam, with Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots underneath. That said, I reckon out of the two Rage are more likely, can't see Matt drumming for 2 full sets.

[bekimo]

I'd like to see Soundgarden but are they really headline material??

[theramm]

I'd always imagined (dreamed) that Soundgarden would be 'special guests' playing under Pearl Jam (some Temple of the Dog action in the encore), stick STP, AIC & Creed underneath & my dream Saturday is complete. Soundgarden are this years big reunion, much like Limp Bizkit were last years. Everyone thought Limp B would headline this time last year but ended up playing 3rd from top. Bear in mind that at their respective heights of popularity LB were MUCH bigger than Soundgarden. Plus, anyone who's seen Audioslave/Cornell solo will know that they incorporated Soundgarden tracks into their sets. Thus the magic of hearing 'Black Hole Sun' etc live really isn't there (Cornell did it last year!).

The announcement of STP could add some weight to the rumour of a grunge themed day but if Soudgarden headline the Saturday, IMO it's because they've either spunked a load of the budget on AC/DC or they think a lot of people will be off watching the football?

[luckysalt]

well like ive posted somewhere, looks like soundgarden are headlining 2nd stage

[theramm]

well like ive posted somewhere, looks like soundgarden are headlining 2nd stage

[chubbz]

Guess this means Thrash Hits were right at hinting Paramore, B4MV and Soundgarden being second stage headliners.

[LethalLegacy]

I wondered if Soundgarden truly were headline material myself. I'd be well happy if they did headline main stage, don't get me wrong, but some people across the forums don't seem all that fussed.

And headlining 2nd stage might be a weird move if indeed the rumours are true. I'm just not sure if that's right for them either! I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

[luckysalt]

Download Mod just said he's heard that next announcement is next week [ie Monday night] but it hasn't been confirmed for sure yet

Surely thats TOO soon, Id have thought 8th Feb the following Monday, apparently Soni is making a new announcement mid feb

[luckysalt]

Metal Hammer have a piece up saying The Darkness have reformed and are locked away somewhere writting a new album and they expect them to play festivals this summer

Appparently the original story was in todays Sun.

Edited January 28, 2010 by luckysalt

[the_mars_volta]

Metal Hammer have a piece up saying The Darkness have reformed and are locked away somewhere writting a new album and they expect them to play festivals this summer

Appparently the original story was in todays Sun.

[kyle s]

omg...I seriously hope this is true. I actually had a dream the other night that they had reformed and I was watching them at a festival (Reading I think) this summer in an early evening slot and they were brilliant. . I loved both of their albums, espcially the 2nd one. I know the source is The Sun but I can't see them fabricating up a news story as random as this?

[luckysalt]

Well Metal Hammer say The Darkness

And the brothers are the Darkness, the rest are replacable.

[kyle s]

Well Metal Hammer say The Darkness

And the brothers are the Darkness, the rest are replacable.

[luckysalt]

Just had this in an email

Ratt/Anvil

Ratt's brash, melodic heavy metal made the Los Angeles quintet one of the most popular rock acts of the mid-'80s. By 1983 the band featured vocalist Stephen Pearcy, guitarist Robbin Crosby, guitarist Warren DeMartini, bassist Juan Croucier, and drummer Bobby Blotzer.

The band released their self-titled first album independently in 1983, which led to a major label contract with Atlantic Records. Their first album under this deal, 1984's Out of the Cellar, was a major success, reaching the American Top Ten and selling over three million copies.

Prior to selling more than 16 million albums worldwide and establishing itself as one of the most popular groups of the 1980s, Ratt perfected its trademark mix of guitar heroics, anthemic hooks and hedonistic attitude playing the clubs along Los Angeles' famed Sunset Strip. The band signed with Atlantic Records, releasing its debut in 1984. Out Of The Cellar sold more than three million copies and rocketed into Billboard's Top Ten on the strength of its first single, "Round And Round." Peaking at #12 on Billboard's Singles chart, the track was the first in a long line of hit songs and videos that made Ratt a fixture on the radio and MTV as well as a major live act playing to sold-out crowds across the nation.

Ratt's uninterrupted streak of platinum records continued a year later with Invasion Of Your Privacy, its second Top 10 album, followed by 1986's Dancing Undercover and 1988's Reach For The Sky. After scoring nine Top 40 Album Rock tracks and two Top 40 hits in the '80s, the band started a new decade with the 1990 release of Detonator, the band's fifth album and a certified-gold hit.

Thursday 17th June

Wulfrun Hall

£17.00

Guess we can expect Anvil back and Ratt to join them if they're in the UK so close to download

Edited January 28, 2010 by luckysalt

[Sparticus]

not headlining but how's about funeral for a friend? not going to play second again but not made an appearance at download since 2006.

[cornucopia]

Just had this in an email

Ratt/Anvil

Guess we can expect Anvil back and Ratt to join them if they're in the UK so close to download

[fred_flintstone]

Just a name that sprung to mind because I read about him this morning. I'm not sure if he is going to tour or what sort of band he will have but is Slash a possibilty? Just thought I would throw that ot there!