HELL AIN'T A BAD PLACE TO BE
This year's monsters of rock festival, taking place at Donington Park, has become somewhat of a controversial talking point because of the distinct lack of British acts appearing on the bill.
The festival has established itself as a high point in the annual rock calendar and has seen a steady growth in attendance figures over the years, the highest of which was in 1988 (an estimated 100,000) when IRON MAIDEN headlined. Unfortunately two people were killed that year when a crush occurred during the opening number of GUNS N' ROSES' set.
The following year the whole event was suspended because of this tragedy and the future of it hung in the balance. But in 1990, MCP, the promoters, were given the go-ahead and WHITESNAKE topped the bill, supported by such acts as THUNDER (who were voted band of the day) and the QUIREBOYS.
Radio One decided to broadcast the whole event but weren't very quick on the old Bleeper button, the results being that some of those bad words that you never normally hear on the Beeb slipped out, much to the dismay of a few top people I wouldn't wonder.
Anyway, like I said earlier, there aren't any home grown bands attending this year's piss up... sorry, event, but the running order is a very impressive one, with the BLACK CROWES kicking off the proceedings. A band who are no strangers to a bit of controversy, mostly incited by the man at the front, the one and only Chris Robinson, who, during a recent visit to these fair shores of ours (when the Black Crowes did a one-off acoustic set at that bastion of jazz Ronnie Scott's in deepest Soho), collapsed due to a combination of being severely underweight and being totally exhausted. The doctors first diagnosed him as having hepatitis, but on his arrival back home in Atlanta, Georgia, the former was actually confirmed and Chris was told to rest for at least 5 weeks, so he should be well enough to perform for us.
Second on this year's bill are those Bay Area techno rockers QUEENSRYCHE. Following the release of their latest opus entitled Empire they have suddenly found favour with the American rock buying public. Their previous concept album entitled Operation Mind Crime failed to move any mountains state side, but ironically took them to a new level of popularity over here. Just goes to prove that we know a good thing when we hear it. Last year they came over to do some British shows and blew us all away with a full staging of the Mind Crime set. What a show! I've heard doubts about them translating to an outdoor festival but I have no doubts.
Now we get into stormy waters with the return of MOTLEY CRUE, a band who said they wouldn't return to Donnington unless they were headliners. Well they're not, but they are here all the same. To commemorate their 10th year, they are releasing a compilation of their best songs, aptly named Decade of Decadence. Their motto has surely got to be "Nothing exceeds like excess." They live to their standards and do as they like, something everyone would love to be able to do. They are no strangers to unfounded rumours as a result of this. Stories were around a couple of years ago that Nikki Six had died, the usual thing that surfaces every so often in such a hyperactive market.
Now, this is where things get real heavy because those metal merchants METALLICA hit us with their old stuff and hopefully their new material as well. It's been over three years since they last came out with the brilliant And Justice For All. Will their latest creation top it? We'll have to wait and see.
For the new album, Bob Rock the man responsible for the production of such million-selling bands as BON JOVI, THE CULT, and "Diamond" DAVID LEE ROTH, was recruited to oversee the operation: a man known for not recording anywhere else but in Vancouver, Canada, where his studios up in the mountains are situated. But when Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield played him some rough demos of the new songs that they had put together in the little 8-track studio that Lars has built in his house, Bob was so taken aback that he agreed to work with them at the One on One studios in LA. Sounds like we've got a real knockout of an album to look forward to.
The whole event is wound up by antipodean rock n' rollers AC/DC, a band whose heads down straight ahead sound has put them in the upper reaches of the rock world. This is their third headliner at this festival, something of a record in itself. They will be supporting their latest album release, The Razor's Edge, and will no doubt be flicking a switch or two to give us all a high voltage overdrive, as Angus Young runs riot across the stage, his school cap becoming history after the first gut rattling beat of new man Chris Slade's drums. Brian Johnson, will be belting out his searing vocals. as Malcolm Young, unassuming at the back, pumps out rhythm guitar parts like a machine, and Cliff Williams nails the bass lines to the floor.
With a line-up like this, how can any one complain? I hope that you enjoy it, and that events of the past do not reoccur. A great day and remember if it doesn't rock it isn't worth a shit!
Mark Crampton
Riff Raff
August 1991
The festival has established itself as a high point in the annual rock calendar and has seen a steady growth in attendance figures over the years, the highest of which was in 1988 (an estimated 100,000) when IRON MAIDEN headlined. Unfortunately two people were killed that year when a crush occurred during the opening number of GUNS N' ROSES' set.
The following year the whole event was suspended because of this tragedy and the future of it hung in the balance. But in 1990, MCP, the promoters, were given the go-ahead and WHITESNAKE topped the bill, supported by such acts as THUNDER (who were voted band of the day) and the QUIREBOYS.
Radio One decided to broadcast the whole event but weren't very quick on the old Bleeper button, the results being that some of those bad words that you never normally hear on the Beeb slipped out, much to the dismay of a few top people I wouldn't wonder.
Anyway, like I said earlier, there aren't any home grown bands attending this year's piss up... sorry, event, but the running order is a very impressive one, with the BLACK CROWES kicking off the proceedings. A band who are no strangers to a bit of controversy, mostly incited by the man at the front, the one and only Chris Robinson, who, during a recent visit to these fair shores of ours (when the Black Crowes did a one-off acoustic set at that bastion of jazz Ronnie Scott's in deepest Soho), collapsed due to a combination of being severely underweight and being totally exhausted. The doctors first diagnosed him as having hepatitis, but on his arrival back home in Atlanta, Georgia, the former was actually confirmed and Chris was told to rest for at least 5 weeks, so he should be well enough to perform for us.
Second on this year's bill are those Bay Area techno rockers QUEENSRYCHE. Following the release of their latest opus entitled Empire they have suddenly found favour with the American rock buying public. Their previous concept album entitled Operation Mind Crime failed to move any mountains state side, but ironically took them to a new level of popularity over here. Just goes to prove that we know a good thing when we hear it. Last year they came over to do some British shows and blew us all away with a full staging of the Mind Crime set. What a show! I've heard doubts about them translating to an outdoor festival but I have no doubts.
Now we get into stormy waters with the return of MOTLEY CRUE, a band who said they wouldn't return to Donnington unless they were headliners. Well they're not, but they are here all the same. To commemorate their 10th year, they are releasing a compilation of their best songs, aptly named Decade of Decadence. Their motto has surely got to be "Nothing exceeds like excess." They live to their standards and do as they like, something everyone would love to be able to do. They are no strangers to unfounded rumours as a result of this. Stories were around a couple of years ago that Nikki Six had died, the usual thing that surfaces every so often in such a hyperactive market.
Metallica: Back in Black?
Now, this is where things get real heavy because those metal merchants METALLICA hit us with their old stuff and hopefully their new material as well. It's been over three years since they last came out with the brilliant And Justice For All. Will their latest creation top it? We'll have to wait and see.
For the new album, Bob Rock the man responsible for the production of such million-selling bands as BON JOVI, THE CULT, and "Diamond" DAVID LEE ROTH, was recruited to oversee the operation: a man known for not recording anywhere else but in Vancouver, Canada, where his studios up in the mountains are situated. But when Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield played him some rough demos of the new songs that they had put together in the little 8-track studio that Lars has built in his house, Bob was so taken aback that he agreed to work with them at the One on One studios in LA. Sounds like we've got a real knockout of an album to look forward to.
The whole event is wound up by antipodean rock n' rollers AC/DC, a band whose heads down straight ahead sound has put them in the upper reaches of the rock world. This is their third headliner at this festival, something of a record in itself. They will be supporting their latest album release, The Razor's Edge, and will no doubt be flicking a switch or two to give us all a high voltage overdrive, as Angus Young runs riot across the stage, his school cap becoming history after the first gut rattling beat of new man Chris Slade's drums. Brian Johnson, will be belting out his searing vocals. as Malcolm Young, unassuming at the back, pumps out rhythm guitar parts like a machine, and Cliff Williams nails the bass lines to the floor.
With a line-up like this, how can any one complain? I hope that you enjoy it, and that events of the past do not reoccur. A great day and remember if it doesn't rock it isn't worth a shit!
Mark Crampton
Riff Raff
August 1991
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