Basel/Switzerland
25 June 2011
Alice
Cooper in Basel: WOOOW
unfortunately my text is too long. If you
like to read it please go to: http://www.myspace.com/570573221/blog/543407159
Since Download ended, I've only slept about four hours. I even had a dream about blogging about the festival (I kid you not). So here we are, post-festival - still freezing and hungover and reflecting on the rainy weekend.
What did you all think of Download Festival 2011? Which bands did you catch? Which were your favourites? Which ones did you think were absolute rubbish? Let us know below.
My highlight was probably Alice Cooper's set. I can safely say there was no other performance with a guillotine, an electric chair, and a massive snake wrapped around the singer's neck. And we got to hear a brand new song, called 'Bite Your Face Off', which Cooper described as "a tip of the hat to The Stones. Very early ‘60s Stones kinda song. But definite Alice lyrics” at a press conference earlier in the day.
I also really enjoyed The Pretty Reckless. Although you can't help but feel a bit uncomfortable seeing a 17 year-old Taylor Momsen lift up her shirt in front of a festival crowd with nothing but tape across her nipples. But you can't deny that the girl can sing. Plus, she put us all to shame by braving the muddy fields in huge platform heels.
by Rebecca Schiller
www.nme.com
Basel/Switzerland
25 June 2011
Alice
Cooper in Basel: WOOOW
unfortunately my text is too long. If you
like to read it please go to: http://www.myspace.com/570573221/blog/543407159
Took my 3 kids to see Alice and they loved it.From my point it was a great set,sounded great(have seen Alice numerous times in 15 years).Twised Sister were fantastic,Dee Snider is a legend.Paul Gilbert is another legend,he is one of the true guitar greats and they played shy boy,all in all a great afternoon.
I had a good weekend apart from being too cold & wet to enjoy Sunday afternoon - we called it a day after Buckcherry.
I saw some of Thin Lizzy after arriving from work, then Alter Bridge, The Darkness and part of Def Leppard, but they bored me, wish I'd gone to Pendulum instead, left early.
Saturday started with Rock Sugar who we caught by accident but loved, caught the last bit of Skindred, then Welcome Wednesday down on the Red Bull, back for Dio Disciples, then Skunk Anansie on Main - Skin is always amazing - Cheap Trick, Twisted Sister who I can't believe I've never seen before and were fantastic, before Alice who was the main reason we went. Heard a bit of SOAD as we walked back to the camper but I'm not familiar with the music and it didn't invite me.
Sunday - started with Belligerence in the Red Bull as we were parked next to them, nice guys, could go places. then Raven Vandelle on the Jaeger, Autumn in Disguise just to shelter from the rain, Bowling for Soup - very entertaining and most welcome at that point of a cold wet day! Then we took the tent down before it rained again before watching Turisas - they rock, but they didn't get long enough - and Buckcherry. Pity to miss Black Veil Brides and The Cult, but just too cold & wet.
I didn't find anything in Pepsi Max that I liked whenever I popped in - 2nd stage was best overall for me - though I would have liked to see Evile again, they clashed with Skunk.
And @Rangel - Main stage might have been slightly weaker Saturday, but overall I felt it was the best day.
I went to see System rather than Alice because they've been my favourite band for as long as I can remember and I never caught the chance to see them live before. Besides, I was right at the front so even if I did want to leave to see Alice, I wouldn't have made it out! Hoping to make up for it by seeing him some time later this year though. :)
Also saw Skindred, Bowling for Soup and Ax7 were pretty awesome too. (Only there for the Saturday) Shame to have missed out on KoRn, Children of Bodom, Puddle of Mudd, CKY, Pendulum, Disturbed, Bullet, Pretty Reckless and Turisas though... Besides System and Alice, I felt Saturday's lineup was marginally worse than the other two days...
Alice all the way baby! I have to say though that it was a photo-finish with him and Rob Zombie though as to who delivered the better set.
Alice I think has done better, though Rob was on fire!
I'll be seeing Alice in Manchester Uk October for the 16th time, so he must be doing something right...Right?! x
Was only there for the saturday, perfect day with perfect weather. Crowned the day by watching Alice.
I caught Skindred, Hollywood Undead and Ax7, Alice and Bowling for Soup.
Skindreds Helicoptor was proper funny and they really know how to get the crowd bouncing.
Hollywood played a really power set from start to finish.
Avanged were just plain Ace.
Caught all the bands on the second stage saturday in the 6hrs leading up to Alice, even fainted in the crush as Twisted Sister played their last song!
All worth it to be centre stage right at the front (thanks to the 2 kind S African fans in front who offered to swap places with me & on who's behalf I lodge a plea to include SA in the next tour!).
I would comment on the other bands but Alice drove everything else right out of my head with his/their magnificence - ok the Dio Disciples deserve an honourable mention - they did him proud
The show was brilliant as ever & England thanks you Alice - I would say come back soon but, apparently you can't keep away!!