Download boss Andy Copping's Picks of the Friday bill

By
published

The best bands to see on Friday at Download, according to the man who books the bill

Promoter Andy Copping is the man who puts together the Download festival bill every year. Here's his personal guide to the 'must see' bands playing on Friday.

TeamRock
More about classic rock
Johnny Winter posing for a photograph in 1984

“Everybody wanted to fight him, give him a tape or get him high. Anything except leave him alone”: How blues icon Johnny Winter survived addiction, shady business deals and himself
Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi posing for a photograph in 2010

“I lost the tips of two fingers in an accident when I was 17. Doctors told me that I had no hope of playing guitar again. I refused to accept that”: The life and times of Tony Iommi, metal’s indestructible dark lord
The Heavy Metal Kids posing for a photograph in 1974

“John Bonham was at the bar drinking quadruple brandies. He just turned around and whacked Gary in the stomach”: The crazed tale of the Heavy Metal Kids, the cult rock’n’roll hooligans with a tragic TV star singer
See more latest
Most Popular
Tom Araya fronting Slayer in 2019
“I said, ‘There’s a band called Iron Maiden? Who’s that?’”: Tom Araya didn’t listen to metal before joining Slayer
Papa V Perpetua
Watch Tobias Forge break down the story behind each of Ghost's iconic frontmen – including every Papa Emeritus, Cardinal Copia and every character leading up to Papa V Perpetua
Jon Bon Jovi performs during a campaign rally with Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, at the PNC Music Pavilion on November 02, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"My focus moving forward is on the re-release of Forever, and God willing, getting back out on the road." Jon Bon Jovi on what's next for Bon Jovi
Bruce Dickinson in 2024 and Ghost frontman Papa V Perpetua in 2025
“Had fans had mobile phones, they would have been climbing over old-age pensioners to take selfies”: Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson is a big fan of Ghost banning phones from gigs
Gene Simmons Band performs at Alcatraz Metal Fest on August 11, 2024 in Kortrijk, Belgium.
For a cool $12,495 you can be Kiss star Gene Simmons' roadie for a day
The Ramones
Napalm Death have recorded a cover of a Ramones song with a guest appearance from Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore – and we cannot wait to hear it
Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher of Mastodon
"After 25 monumental years together, Mastodon and Brent Hinds have mutually decided to part ways." Mastodon announce shock departure of guitarist Brent Hinds
Ozzy and Andrew Watt
"Ozzy is the real life Iron Man." Ozzy Osbourne's producer Andrew Watt gives an update on the singer's health as the countdown to his final show continues
Sex Pistols in the USA
“The audience was throwing everything from bottles to rats to pig’s ears at the stage." The Sex Pistols look back on their wild, dangerously out-of-control and ultimately doomed first US tour
Smashing Pumpkins group portrait
“I’m a freak and I ain’t changing for anything.” Billy Corgan says Smashing Pumpkins are “one of the most misunderstood bands in the history of rock ‘n’ roll”, but he believes that history will be kind to his band