DOGS BLOGS

11pm Wow! Download you rocked! Maiden played an absolute stormer - as always - and completely laid waste to all you crazy freaks down the front. 'Fear Of The Dark' had to be the biggest spine tingler, especially with you lot singing along - Dog felt proud! Bruce Dickinson seemed to hint that the band may be planning some live spectacular of their own, so look out for that one. But there's one festival you need to put in your diary NOW - Download 2008 (13-15 June). I'll see you there, it's gonna be another rock riot baby! 


7.30pm 
Dog's backstage kennel is closing now. The Download website is almost full to capacity anyway as more than 12,000 fans tune in to watch the final Main Stage bands, Evanescence and Iron Maiden. No prizes to where I'm heading!

6pm 
Download Festival director, Stuart Galbraith, has just held a press conference for journalists. Key points included:

- 80,000 fans have enjoyed Download over the weekend. "It's difficult to put into words how good it's been", said Stuart.

- In the first year that the Main Stage has been streamed live, 6,000 people have been monitoring this website, including my blog - the majority of those from the US.

- With Download now a global brand, organisers are planning to export the festival to two new countries in 2008.

- The recycling scheme has been working well. The main arenas have been cleared daily and one guy has spent the entire weekend picking up beer cups to fund his trip to Ozzfest in Australia!

- Next year's festival will take place from 13-15 June - yes that's one year and A WEEK to wait - to fit in with the European festival calendar. Early bird tickets, costing the same as this year's festival, go on sale from Friday. 

4.55pm 
Hailing from nearby Birmingham, Napalm Death are treated to a heroes homecoming reception before they proceed to batter everyone senseless!


4.46pm 
Frank Carter, singer from Gallows, is guesting with Kids In Glass Houses over on the Tuborg Stage and they've just launched into a Glassjaw cover. Oh what a surprise, Frank has dived into the crowd. Gallows have to take the prize for most active band at Download 2007 - they also kicked up a storm in the Duracell Powerhouse last night.

3.54pm 
Lamb Of God have just dropped their challice picture backdrop to reveal a new one - a mocked up US flag with one star. The caption reads 'Pure American Metal'. It sums up their set - solid and unrelenting.

3.42pm 
Download Dog is on the loose! I've been let off the leash to go and meet fans. Come and see my by the side of the Main Stage.


3.31pm 
Two World War fighter planes have just flown over during Lamb Of God's set. It's official - they're a threat to national security!  





3.17pm 
Hardcore Superstar have just had to cancel their Tuborg Stage show for unknown reasons.


3.15pm 
The first Red Bull X-Fighters show of the day kicks off, gravity defying stunts that leave the crowd with hearts well and truly in mouths. The compere has totally lost his voice after three days of geeing up the crowd, but the six riders are point perfect, pulling off all manner of aerial tricks to the delight of onlookers.


2.37pm 
As promised, Devil Driver manage to get the biggest circle pit of the weekend, with one huge effort spanning around half of the tent.  

1.57pm 
Spotted! Legendary footballer turned household name Ian Wright - apparently looking 'cardboardy, 2D and unresponsive'. Has the metal proved his Schmeichel-like undoing?!  


12.51pm 
Cancer Bats belie the early hours by inciting a huge circle pit with their excellent metal-laced hardcore over on the Dimebag Darrell Stage. As the band finish, thousands of fans descend on the arena as the excitement grows for Unearth's hotly-anticipated set.


11.25am 
Performing their debut UK show, Indian metallers Parikrama kick off the Main Stage with hard hitting but polished hard rock. Having played support for Iron Maiden during their a recent tour of India, the band were invited to Download on tonight's headliners' special request - and you can see why! 


11.15am
It's the final day, the big one, Mastodon, Maiden, Killswitch, so many more - just the thought of it is making Dog's hair stand on end! First off though, the Dimebag Darrell Stage opens in dramatic fashion. Plooms of thick smoke and forboding, ominous music introducing After Forever who kick off the day with a heavy dose of opera tinged metal.