Download Festival and Heavy Metal Truants launch Download 20 auction

Download Festival and hard rocking charity fundraisers the Heavy Metal Truants have launched their Download 20 auction.

Rock heavyweights including Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Queen, Metallica, Slipknot, Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath have all gifted rare and priceless items of memorabilia to the sale.

Currently leading the bids at over £6,000 is a rare Washburn DS 333 Dime Slime guitar signed by late Pantera legends Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul.

AC/DC’s Brian Johnson has donated a signed copy of his autobiography, Slipknot have pledged a signed guitar, and there’s a 1974 Yamaha FG-160 guitar used by David Coverdale to write songs with Deep Purple and Whitesnake.

Elsewhere, Iron Maiden have donated an original stage prop lantern from ‘Fear Of The Dark’ in a display case, there’s a signed Ozzy Osbourne photo and T-shirt, Metallica have pledged an ultimate Metallica M72 tour kit, and you can bid on two VIP tickets to see Queen + Adam Lambert in North America with flights included!

As if that wasn’t enough, Download Festival head honcho Andy Copping has donated one of his original cowboy hats plus two tickets to Download 2024.

You can see all the items and place bids RIGHT HERE

Visit the Download 20 auction

The Download 20 auction will remain online for a week before closing at midnight on Thursday 6th July 2023.

Winners of each respective auction item will be notified the following week, and all proceeds will go directly to the Heavy Metal Truants’ four chosen charities: Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, Childline, and Save The Children.

“If you’re after hand-written lyrics or a guitar that’s responsible for some of the greatest songs of our age, then this auction is for you!” says HMT co-founder Alexander Milas.

“The incredible generosity the rock and metal community has shown is really astonishing, and I can’t wait to see what these remarkable museum-quality items bring for our wonderful chosen charities.”

The Heavy Metal Truants were co-founded by Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood and ex-Metal Hammer editor Alexander Milas in 2013. Now in their eleventh year, they have so far raised £1.2 million via their annual 150-mile cycle ride from London to Donington Park, the home of Download festival, as well as a host of events, auctions and raffles in addition to virtual challenges which allow walkers, runners, and cyclists to participate no matter where they are in the world.

“The Heavy Metal Truants is a great way for the rock and metal community to come together and help disadvantaged children,” says Smallwood. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan, if you’re in the industry or in a band: you can make a difference by helping to improve the lives of kids and young people by joining us or supporting these activities, and that counts for a lot!”

Metallica and more storm Download Festival 2023:

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• Metallica
• Download Festival
• Iron Maiden
• Pantera
• AC/DC
• Queen