Well, the debate is raging on Facebook (no pun intended considering who was announced to headline), but in all seriousness I’m happy to be going to Sonisphere. I’ll only be jealous if I miss out on tickets for RATM’s free gig on Wednesday, because in my opinion Aerosmith aren’t anything special. The headliners are just about as good as last year I’d say, AC/DC making up for most of it, but I still stand my ground (however biased it may be) that Knebworth has the better headliners and overall lineup.

what a load of shizen, hardly blows sonisphere out of the water, roll on august

Yeah. Disappointing. No Metal headliners. Nevermind… So… Bloodstock or Sonisphere?

HOLY FUCK that is fucking amazing can not wait XD

wooooooooooooooooo rage are there but id rather see someone else than aerosmith but still chuffed about RATM im defo going now

What a load of shit! AC/DC were a great coup, but RATM only got on because of the number one battle and Aerosmith are awful!!! Old men playing cheesy film ballads!!!

Very disappointing news!!!

At least I can have an early night on the Sunday if Aerozimmer plays that day!!!

They better get some more metal on the bill!!!

I’ve suddenly started to hate life.

In all fairness even tho i don’t like the line up, AC/DC and Aerosmith are suitably big for the 30th annerversary. But rage you serious it should be an Iconic band who have been around as long as the other 2.

I really don’t know what’s going on with Download this year. The only salvation is that I’m sure all the other bands (you know, the smaller ones, 5FDP, Sylosis, Anterior, Shadows Fall, whatever).

I’d be surprised if Download tickets were selling with much enthusiasm at the moment. Not impressed unfortunately

It’ll still be an awesome festival, but not because of the headliners.

over the moon about RATM but not bout aerosmith
defo getting my tickets 4 download

fuck off fuck off and fuck off basically aerosmith will be awesome!!!!!!!!!

if you only know the ballads you really need to check your history \m/\m/

not as big an anouncement as i thought!!!!!

bit of a waste of time waiting 4 that disappointment
still, andy’s probably laughing, all the oldies coming out 4 ac’dc and aerosmith, probably sell out like last year

bit of a waste of time waiting 4 that disappointment
still, andy’s probably laughing, all the oldies coming out 4 ac/dc and aerosmith, probably sell out like last year

Just like to say 1 giant… FUCK ME!!!

they need something good on the 2nd stage for sure. don’t get me wrong i like aerosmith but either this was the worst publicity stunt ever or they really will fall apart before the festival! so far the lineup is really not doing anything for me

oh well if the rest of the lineup ends up as shit as the last 2 years i’ll save my money for bloodstock and sonisphere

“Due to the insane demand for tickets for the free Rage show in Finsbury Park, we have decided to jump on this year’s Download Festival as well”

AKA “We need something to cover up the money we lose for the free show so we are headlining download because something good proberly pulled out and andy was desperate”.

What a meh bunch of headliners

Can’t believe that there’s no Metallica!! Very underwhelming indeed!!

You moaning fuckwits! You are clearly not familiar with Aerosmiths earlier works!

AC/DC, Rage against the machine and Aerosmith??! This is going to be huge!! I’m going to soni and download. Summer 2010 is going to be, quite frankly AWESOME!!!!

Kiss, Slayer, Free RATM gig, Download, Sonisphere

Sonisphere better than download??? Well I guess everyone’s entitled to their own stupid opinion!!!

Pretty Impressed! AC/DC & Aerosmith… Awesome! RATM… Seriously! They good but not that good, they only done one decent album. There are far more superior and better bands out there! Thought Download was a rock and metal festival, the only decent one in the UK but not so sure now! It will just gradually get like Reading! RATM will be far more suited doing that!

wait, that rage quote – “Due to the insane demand for tickets for the free Rage show in Finsbury Park, we have decided to jump on this year’s Download Festival as well” – since ticket registration ended yesterday r they suggesting they signed on late ystrdy/early today?
if so, what a load of bull it is

Yeah!, so this has been over-hyped to hell.

Saw rage in 08, good gig but hardly along time ago.

AC/DC is awesome, unsure about Aerosmith – need to do more listening.

Hopefully Van Halen will play

aerosmith are pony never understood how they were so popular, ac/dc not my cup of tea, just suprised they get a headline slot anywhere after all the arena/stadium tours they been doing.
ratm though why has everyone jumped on the hate wagon they are a massive band big enough to do reading/leeds so why not download? thay got a solid song list to make a set full of hits, and they hardly been doing tours the public have been asking for so it’s great to have em do 2 shows in a month, as when rage are done they will be done and you wont see em again for a long while.

HAHAHA … looks like sonisphere wins =)

Aerosmith don’t even have a singer and there last two British shows were crap.
9 ballads at Wembley & Hyde Park bored me to tears. Lets hope they perform Rocks and Toys In The Attic. Otherwise forget it.

Rage was obvious after last weeks announcement. So they get paid a great sum for a free show the weekend before.

Andy Copping is full of shit

Bloodstock for me as they got Devin Townsend also it’s cheaper.

Download has left me feeling totally underwhelmed then again they weren’t going to top last year just like monster of rock never topped the 95 bill.

Thinking about it Cold are touring US at the moment and haven’t announced any UK dates so come Copling do the decent thing and a 3rd band i want to see.

Tommy, fair comment. they should go and do Reading or Leeds and leave download for Rock and Metal bands like it should be!

AC/DC good R.A.T.M not haed line metiral aerosmith are poo werst headliners line up thay had at download

Who says that Aerosmith has to include Steven Tyler? They may have a douche bag replacement!

rage are suited for download, okay theres a bit of funk in there but fuck me are they metal, they get some serious pits going, aerosmith and dare i say it ac/dc should piss off to hyde park rock festivals they do yearly or the new one at victoria park which is aimed at classic rock.

i always thought download to be a heavy muxic festival but for the past few years its gone downhill. metallica rage and rammstein would of made brilliant headliners but with the competition od soni each festival will be respectivley weaker in terms of line ups as they battle to get the big names imagine if there was the one festival with the names announced at the moment. you could have rage rammstein and maiden headlining and slayer, anthrax, deftones that would be sweeeet

What are you muppets complaining about. Aerosmith and ACDC. 2 of the greatest rock bands of all time. Im wetting myself!

aerosmith kinda disappointing… rage kinda disappointing… we’ll se with the next bands how good it’s really gonna be.

hope soni gives another announcement soon

@Tommy yes that would be sweet but noone would turn up as they’ll still be at home drooling into there breakfast at the prospect of seeing such a line up.

If anyone isn’t happy with this announcement, they have ZERO ability to party.

I’d go so far as to say they’ve never enjoyed themselves. EVER.

AC/DC and Aerosmith in the same weekend? I’ll be dancing all the way through til the next Download!

Everyone who has moaned about these headliners are obviously teenagers who have no clue about what donington is and always will be! fuck you and fuck sonisphere!

I saw Aerosmith @ Donington in 1994, they were shite then and funnily enough that hasn’t changed. Rage on the other hand are awesome, stop crying girls, go and enjoy the show

You’re all a bunch of whingy cunts aren’t you? 2 of the biggest bands ever and a band you were all jizzing at for getting to number one. It’s huge, whether you like it or not.

I assure you i’m not a teenager grandmaster, But Aerosmith haven’t released and album in about 10 years and Rage are populur at the moment because some people on Facebook thought that simon Cowell was a cunt and wanted to piss him off not for anything they have done as a band themselves.

still nothing winning me over lets hope these 5 bands do, my guess alexisonfire and DEP will be 2 of em! but wht a fucking stupid time to announce em. well this years festival season so far is dying on its arse

RATM a headline act, clutching at straws there dont even consider them a rock band! On a more positive note AC/DC and Aerosmith will be awesome!!!

Guns N Roses & Metallica for Hard Rock Calling anyone

LOL DOWNLOAD IS A METULZ FESTIVAL FOR METULZ BANDS, THESE HEADLINERS R SHIT

seriously, I thought people had got over this by now

@Grandmasterrew and will. if everyone was as narrow minded as u they should be shot!

i know very well what donington is about, and i know how to party. nor am i a teenager (oh to be 18 again, i wish!) i just happen to prefer iron maiden and heaven & hell, rammstein and children of bodom. i wouldnt mind seeing ac/dc so if day tickets go on sale i’ll probably go.

but you two fuckers need to appreciate that just because people don’t agree with your opinon doesnt make them wrong, in fact u both sound like teenagers to be honest.

anyway we should all be glad there isn’t a piss-weak emo headliner at these festivals for a change!

how can you say that Knebworth has the better line-up when Download’s only announced 11 of its bands lol :S

If Download had just announced any 2 from Metallica, SOAD, Guns n Roses or Van Halen it would be sold out by tomorrow.

May I remind the folk on this website for what must be the upteenth time that Download is a ROCK, spelt R.O.C.K for anyone insane in the membrane, festival… this being it’s 30th anniversary of M.O.R it seems fitting to have AC/DC and Aerosmith
Besides, there’s at least 2 other stages each being headlined themselves, and often it’s the smaller bands people like to see anyway, as the big ones draw people in

Load of shit! I expected a lot better after getting AC/DC. It should of been the greatest festival ever, but they have f**ked it up with these 2! Metallica should have been there at least, and I was hoping they might have got the Chili Peppers as the other headliner. So pissed off!

As a massive metal fan i would just like to give one big FUCK ME THIS IS GONNA BE AWESOME!!! Although im into metal i also have a slightly more open mind than alot of people here who need to get out more n stop telling everyone else if its not metal its shite because u clearly have forgotten the bands that paved the way for metal music. Oh and btw i would also like to say i went to c rammstein in manchester alnd yes it was amazin but they have toned the stage show down compared to previous tours because when they play sonisphere there gonna be in daylight so there stageshow will be very unimpressive compared to there indoor shows they will need to get by on music alone . AC/DC and Aerosmith are gonna tear the place down guranteed!!!

Tbh I reckon Soundgarden is gonna make or break either festival. Whatever festival gets them will win the so-called “debate” over which is better. Hopefully Sonis will get them as I have my ticket already!

Honestly couldn’t give a shit what anybody thinks, im the happiest person in the world right now, yeh aersosmith isn’t that amazing but it will still be fun to hear and to hear acdc a donnington is a legendary event to behold, I actually can not wait!!

Heavy metal or not, either way there are some great fuckin’ bands playing this year. If you don’t like the line up, don’t go. I for one will definately be there!

Metal up your arses!!

look if you don’t like RATM and Aerosmith just get a day ticket for AC/DC. Personally I prefer the headliners for Soni and off to Poland anyway.

megadeth deftones then rage, how good is that

Why don’t you fuckers just fuck off you moaning fucking twats!!! There are some amazing bands on the line up already. You pricks complain people aren’t open minded enough to get you, then moan like bitches when someone is open minded enough to put a line up on that’s not all metalcore or whatever shit you fashion twats are into!!!!

Hammerfest and Bloodstock then!

Its good but not living up to the hype.

I’m stoked about RATM playing but I think it’s abit didgy how they’re on about just jumping on the download bill cause of ticket demand for there other gig. There’s no way Copping would have already booked them before this whole X factor battle thing…..I reckon he had someone better that must have pulled out. Still stoked though…..line up has plenty of potential, like everyones saying it’s the smaller bands that make it good but the face that they were like ‘oh this is quite possibly gonna be the best download lineup in history’ pisses me off since it quite clearly isn’t………gonna be sick though

Reading and Leed and T In The Park are all so much more massive festivals than Download, if RATM could headline them before the facebook campaign then they can easily headline Download.
I actually question the thought process of most people here

Didn’t read the comments above cause im knackered, but are we sure Tyler will be playing with Aerosmith? they might have replaced him by them, still time to cancel aswell etc

i love music and i love metal and rock most of all what we have here are 3 headlining bands that if you havent heard live before this is likely to be the last chance you will ever get to do so and for that im eternally greatful to andy copping for giving me this chance and everyone else who cant see just how big that actually is to me and many others should not be commenting on this page its a disgrace that you would even speak of such influential bands in that way because if you were to walk up to slipknot or rammstein and even bands like metallica and call AC/DC Aerosmith or RATM shit in there presence you would be lucky to get out alive!

not sure how people can say this is shit and dissapointing!I foe one love AC/DC and Rage and have yet to see them so have pretty much cum in my pants bout that, and sayin nthat a ROCK festical 30yrs anniversary shud have METAL bands headlining is a tad closed minded and ignorant!and could someone remind me when megadeth and BFMV stopped bein metal?if u want a METAL festival knob of to a METAL festival (bloodstock/Hole in the sky) if u want a gud mix of rock and metal then go to download.I’m personally not closed minded enough to only like one style of music, so i’m more than happy to go to download.

Dissapointed. that is all. its a rock/metal festival. after last year with FNM coming adn selling the fucker out. andys taking a new approach to the bands. old bands = sell out.
this is shit.

While I’m quite happy about AC/DC and Aerosmith i feel kinda cheated out of a headliner with RATM being there. What ever day theyr’e on I hope theres a good band on the 2nd stage. Overall I’m not bothered about whether Download or Sonisphere or Bloodstock are better as I’m going to all 3 anyways.

It couldda been worse, couldda been the ‘07 lineup with Maiden dropped in favour of Paramore >.<

i cant wait for the circle pits etc for dude looks like a lady… and love in an elavator… this is the first time ive gone to download and dont like the headlines….hopefully a decent metal band will headline the 2nd stages

torn, went to soni last year, enjoyed v. much (cue trolls) anyway, this year would love to see rage (cue trolls) but can’t make it, unless possible day ticket.

P.S. teenagers can have an opinion on music (final call all trolls), plz don’t label us because a couple of keyboard crusaders are narrowminded f*cktards

What a load of old shit. There i was thinking Download was a METAL festival for the METAL fans. METAL being the main reason for Download. Go back to 2004, that was a METAL festival. Anyone notice a word stand out in this comment?!

Theyve announced the other 5 bands:

Lamb of God
Stone Sour
Five Finger Death Punch
30 Second to Mars
Billy Idol

Ok, 30 Seconds to Mars. Discuss.

hurry up metalhammer the download website already had them up for a few mins now :p

Don’t forget METAL mingers – Aerosmith are the grandads of hard rock and metal. They inspired all the guys that give you hardons nowadays. They are fuckin amazing live (if they cut out the shitty ballads, and they HAVE to as its fuckin DOWNLOAD!) and they will kick some major ass coz they HATE each other right now, so the tension will make for a red hot gig in true MONSTERS OF ROCK style. Inspired lineup!

I think it’s a great line-up.
You’re not listening to the right Aerosmith as someone up there said. To be quite frank, I’m happy that it isn’t Metallica or Iron Maiden, because Im bored shitless of them.
It’s quite an original line-up and I’m happy with that. Go to your Bloodstock or Hammerfest, we wont miss you.

that’s now the 3rd year running i have to go elsewhere. 3 strikes and all that, i’ve had it. they’ve been softening up for years. sonisphere or bloodstock have taken the heavier mantle. download is just turning into a festival for an older generation. don’t know about you guys but i like something to look forward to at the end of every day. i don’t care if it’s a giant (has-been) name or not, just has to be a great band. ac/dc – ok, i will look over 1 softer classic night. but ratm and *aerosmith*!? they’ve really outdone themselves this time.

i can’t believe how upset some people get just cos several of us have said we don’t like the lineup. don’t take it so personally guys! i hope everyone who goes has a great time, much as i will at soni and bloodstock

I’d defo go, if I was 16 and lived in the UK.

AC/DC + Aerosmith, total result. i’m glad they’ve broken out of the rotating headliners of Metallica, Iron Maiden and Linkin Park (not that i don’t love Metallica and IM). nice to see some classic bands who rarely play the UK. it’s made my decision that Download is my fest of choice this yr

I don’t know how any rock fan couldn’t be happy with those two?

though if i had the cash i’d prefer to go to all three (Bloostock, Soni & Download)

meh very average lineup so far as its not har to see any of these bands in th UK.

but do you think Tyler will really turn up?????

Download is not a fucking METAL festival if you don’t like the line up don’t go simples! In my opinion it’s a good set of headliners to pull a crowd – money is the only reason for festivals download is a business and with donnie goin bust I think this is a logical lineup ok this year will see more kids goin to see ratm but so what, I’m not goin download as I saw acdc last year and at mk with the offspring I saw ratm Reading 2000 and Leeds 2008 both times were shit and for me there’s only one band with big lips worth seeing and that’s the stones. Bar that the rest of the lineup is repetative here was me hoping for sum fantomas or tomahawk

Billy fucking Idol

AWESOME

that conferms that bloodstock have the best line up this year with one more headliner to be cofermed

Know who else is there? METROSTATION. Self confirmed on their website. Wow download.. just wow. -_-

Meh..i like the sonisphere line up more. acdc..ok but they can bore me to tears, ive seen aerosmith, rage..not bothered.

http://www.youtube.com/edseventh

Well done Mr Copping. Shut up you whingers. Download has taken the lead on who is the better festival! Great lineup with more to come. Im wondering what Metallica have in store for us this summer.

Only reason Rage are there is because of the Xmas single, download jumping on another band wagon, very average so far, bring on BOA.

Well i have been trying to get onto Seetickets website for nearly an hour for RATM tickets. Website crashed. Andy Copping must be rubbing his hands with delight.

We got our tickets to the free Rage gig!

That website was a right bitch! It wouldn’t let us get on it for about 20 minutes. Over 80,000 people apparantly signed up for tickets, and the venue being a 40,000 people capacity… that website crashing was bound to happen

And seeing them a week later at download, not bad

All three were disappointing last time I saw them so a bit underwhelmed. That said, all three have previously been magnificent so if they each pick the right set list it should be great.

Well, what a f*** up, free gig allocation was. I would just like to express my displeasure with the way the whole allocation of RATM tickets was done. The site crashed for over an hour and when you did get onto the site, there was the constant refresh menu. I took a morning off work to apply and i must admit the system was extremely poor. I actually don’t mind not being allocated the tickets. It is the lack of information you receive in terms of site, when you eventually get on. I waited for over 2 3/4 hours and got nothing. Pathetic. A complete waste of time. I think i will be one of many thousands of people who feel let down by see tickets, moreover i think RATM will be disappointed by such a poor allocation system. Looking forward to Hammerfest.

well it aint blown my head off should of been ozzy and rob zombie metallica that would have been wicked.

Fuckin sweet line-up this year.

Aero! your talking out of your arse !!! aerosmith invented metal and hard rock what are you smoking ?

It was bands like WASP and name more ! who started it.

I would like to see aerosmith just to see steve tyler fall off stage.