Monsters of Rock 1996.
My second visit to Donington was a bit of a let down. Ozzy was Ok but nothing special and the only other band on the lineup I was really interested in - Paradise Lost - we managed to miss by about three hours.
So, my main memories of the fest are:
1. Spending pretty much the entire day on top of the hill, drinking beer and eating doughnuts. I wandered within hearing distance of Sepultura at one point, then wandered off again.
2. The trip up: Our transport was an elderly van painted to look like a cow. When the engine started playing up, opening the hatch revealed something apparently stolen from a lawnmower. Poking it with a spanner got it going again and we trundled off on our way. Then we got to a roady bit that was single-lane. OK for us. Not so good for the rapidly growing line of cars stuck behind us.
I felt a bit guilty about this so I produced a pair of stuffed toys and gave the chap behind us a puppet show. I like to think he enjoyed it.

3. Kiss. Would Kiss live up to their legendary reputation?

Yes. Sort of.

The entrance was spectacular. A helicopter swooped low over the site, searchlight flashing across the bemused punters. When it came to a hover over the hilltop the downdraught caused one of the stalls to rip itself apart,to many cheers.
"You wanted the best" cried the PA. "You got the best...KISS!"
There were fireworks, there were giant inflatable statues...there was a bunch of old men in makeup who were so shit we fucked off after two songs.

Still I kinda wish I'd seen Cecil. Just so afterwards I could say "Yeah. I saw a band called Cecil once"
(Big D, Sun 7 Jun 2009, 20:02, 2 replies)

*click*
For the puppet show. Made me smile
(SoneMe, Sun 7 Jun 2009, 21:08, closed)

oooooooooooo
that line up sounds familiar, think I might have been there.

googles.

Hmm, yes I was, Coal Chamber were rubbish
(Halfy By light alone, Sun 7 Jun 2009, 21:44, closed)