Monsters of Rock

With the recent news that Iron Maiden will be headlining Sunday at this year's Download festival, I received yet another reminder (as if I needed one) that I am well and truly into old fartdom and my headbanging heyday is receeding faster than my gums. Christ, it was fifteen years ago that I watched Maiden headline in that same muddy field at Donington Park - only then the festival was called 'Monsters of Rock'. In fact I first saw them on Saturday March 20th 1982 at the Hammersmith Odeon, on the 'Beast on the Road' tour - £3.75 for a seat in the circle. Last December, by comparison, a standing ticket at Sheffield Arena for the 'Matter of Life and Death' show was £32.50, plus £3.25 booking fee. ("I remember when you could get a return from Three Bridges to Victoria, a return on the District Line from Victoria to Hammersmith, have a pre-show pint in the Swan, see a live concert, buy a T-shirt and tour programme, eat a hot dog afterwards and still have change from a farthing...etc. etc.")

The picture at the top of this post was taken at Donington 1992, and features the Bedford crew who congregated around the Esquires club in that town in early 90s - a great bunch of people. From L-R standing: Rob, his brother Dave, Sarah, Mark (obscured), Tom, Jackie, Lisa, Alan. Not forgetting me kneeling - and Lisa B, my significant other at the time, who took the photo. The Bedford standard is visible above us, to guide us back from the beer tent or ablutions (such as they were).

Anyway, MOR - more affectionately known as just 'Donington' - was heavy metal mecca for any serious headbanger in the 80s and 90s. I made it five times in all: 1984, 1985,1986, 1988, and 1992. For the record:

1984: AC/DC, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Y&T, Accept, Motley Crue.
1985: ZZ Top, Marillion, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Ratt, Magnum
1986: Ozzy Osbourne, Scorpions, Def Leppard, Motorhead, Bad News, Warlock
1988: Iron Maiden, KISS, David Lee Roth, Megadeth, Guns N' Roses, Helloween
1992: Iron Maiden, Skid Row, Thunder, Slayer, W.A.S.P., The Almighty

Now, I know everyone reckons music was better when they were younger, and call me an old stuck-in-the-mud if you will (Reader's voice: "you're an old stuck-in-the-mud"), but these were PROPER rock bands: long-haired, tight-trousered, powerchording, drum-soloing, foot-up-on-the-monitor, Harley-riding, Jack Daniel's-swigging, "scream for me Donington" bands: as opposed to half the baggy jean-wearing, shoe-gazing, mumbling, cant play a guitar solo/won't play a guitar solo, boring nonsense we seem to get nowadays.

We shall never see their like again. Except for Iron Maiden of course. (And Slayer. And Ozzy. And didn't the Almighty play a couple of shows last year? Actually, now I come to think of it...)