AEROSMITH AND RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE TO HEADLINE DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL organisers today confirmed that legendary multi-million selling AEROSMITH and double Grammy-winning RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE will join AC/DC as headliners of the 8th Download Festival at Donington Park on 11-13 June 2010. Blazing a trail that leads where others have followed, Download Festival has cemented a line-up that truly pays homage to and celebrates 30 years of rock at the iconic Donington site.

Celebrating 40 years as America’s Greatest Rock ‘N’ Roll band, AEROSMITH will return to the main stage at Donington Park for the first time in 16 years. Last playing as headliners of the Donington Monsters Of Rock festival in 1994 and 1990, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry et al return with their legendary juggernaut performance, one that has earned them the title of best-selling American rock band of all time. Aerosmith have sold more than 150million albums worldwide and 66.5 million in the US alone.

“In the early days of Aerosmith we were infected with the vibe coming out of the UK with The Yardbirds, Blues Breakers, Pretty Things and the Stones and we wanted what they had bad,” says Steven Tyler. “So baby, we¹re coming home. Rock & Roll can be pure sex and we can¹t wait to Download . . .”

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, who in a storm of publicity and heavy campaigning scored the UK Christmas No. 1 single last year, will for the very first time bring their sheer power of political alternative, hip-hop, punk rock to the festival’s main stage. To this day, Rage Against The Machine, who were presented the Hall Of Fame Award by Kerrang! Magazine in 2008, remain one of the most popular and influential political bands in contemporary music.

Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello said "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 and spread The Rage Factor around the country a bit. Here we come, muthafuckers!!"

With a line up that already boasts the likes of Them Crooked Vultures, Megadeth and Motörhead, plus 5 full days of entertainment, Download Festival has already produced an ultimate festival experience worthy of celebrating 30-years of rock at Donington Park.

Also confirmed to perform at this year’s event are 30 Seconds To Mars, the US rock act fronted by Hollywood actor Jared Leto who last played Download in 2007, and the twice Grammy nominated Stone Sour (fronted by Slipknot’s Corey Taylor). Stone Sour have played at three previous Download’s (2003, 2006, 2007), with Taylor notching up a further four with Slipknot (2004, 2005, 2009). These are joined by Virginia’s heaviest metallers Lamb Of God, for their third Download, LA metallers Five Finger Death Punch, who made their Download debut last year and British punk ‘rebel’ Billy Idol, who performed at Download 2005.

Weekend tickets for Download 2010 are on sale now via http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk.

R.I.P packages also available (see Notes to Editors)

The Monsters of Rock festival was established in 1980 by promoter Paul Loasby and the late Maurice Jones who died last year, originally created as a day-long summer festival dedicated to rock and heavy metal bands. Over the years it was quickly established as the annual event for the UK hard rock fraternity. It was destined to become a British music tradition, with Download taking over the reigns in 2003 - 30 years on and Download has become the UK’s premier rock festival.