Andy Copping would let AC/DC bring their own stage to Download Festival again
If the band hypothetically agreed to play
Last updated 4th Jun 2024
Download Festival booker Andy Copping says he’d agree to having two Main Stages at the festival again if AC/DC came back to headline.
AC/DC famously brought their own stage to Download Festival for their fabled Friday night headline slot back in 2010 with all other acts playing on the adjacent Main Stage.
During his one-off Planet Rock show Andy Copping’s Secrets of Download, Copping said that AC/DC’s headline slot is still one of the most talked about moments in Download Festival’s 21-year history.
“Something a lot of people still talk about now was back in 2010 when AC/DC insisted on bringing in their own stage,” Copping said. “When I booked AC/DC, which was a massive, massive deal at the time, AC/DC didn't do festivals. They just did their own shows.
“I talked them into playing Download and their production manager came up and we went through everything with meticulous detail. We'd said to them that we were going to replicate all AC/DC’s stage and their production as long as we could keep it in for the rest of the festival because they were going to be playing on the Friday night and obviously Download operates Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And that was all agreed.”
He continued: “Literally about three weeks out of the festival, the production manager rang up and he’s gone, ‘I know you said you were going to replicate it, but the band are really insistent on bringing their own stage. Can you accommodate it?’ I then said, ‘Well, I guess we can but can other bands play on it?’ And he said, ‘No, because we're going to want to take the stage away and use it for the rest of the tour.’
“So that meant we had to come up with a new plan, which meant we were going to have two main stages at Download in 2010. I just remember people when they came on site - because we hadn't let anybody know - they just came and saw these two huge stages in the main arena.
“On the Friday, of course, AC/DC came out and played on that stage. All the other bands that were playing the Friday on the Main Stage, played on the other stage that we had. It was quite a logistical nightmare to deal with, but I don’t think it affected the overall look of the festival. And now we've got a story that we forever talk about – AC/DC bringing their own stage.”
Confirming he’d do it again, Copping continued: “People have actually said to me, ‘would you do that again?’ And I said. ‘yes I would! If it's AC/DC why would you not?! You want to accommodate them.’ So it was one of those things, it has been a one off – AC/DC haven't been back and certainly haven’t asked for the for their own stage. But, yeah, I'd certainly do it again and that was a big, big moment.”
AC/DC play two colossal shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in early July as part of their Power Up World Tour.
Headlined by Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy and Avenged Sevenfold, Download Festival takes place at Donington Park from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th June 2024.
Elsewhere in his Secrets of Download show, Andy Copping revealed that a “big band” will be playing a “very special” secret set at this year’s event.
Listen to Andy Copping's Secrets of Download:
The very first Download Festival in photos:
The Main Stage at Download Festival 2003
The very first Download Festival took place on the hallowed turf of Donington Park – home of the legendary Monsters of Rock – on Saturday 31st May to Sunday 1st June 2003.
Iron Maiden headline Download Festival 2003
Two-times Monsters of Rock headliners Iron Maiden topped the bill on the opening night of Download 2003.
Iron Maiden headline Download Festival 2003
Iron Maiden's performance at the inaugural Download Festival was part of their Give Me Ed... 'til I'm Dead Tour.
Deftones at Download Festival 2003
Other main stage performers on the Saturday were Marilyn Manson, Deftones (pictured), Ministry, InMe, Murderdolls, Amen, Funeral for a Friend, Stampin' Ground, Shadows Fall and Murder One.
Download Festival 2003 crowd
Years before the advent smartphones, the Download Festival 2003 faithful attended the event armed with disposable cameras.
Ministry at Download Festival 2003
Ministry's All Jourgenson sings into his understated microphone stand on the Saturday at Download Festival 2003.
HIM at Download Festival 2003
Ville Valo of Finnish gothic rockers HIM during the band's Saturday set on the Scuzz Stage. The second stage also boasted performances from A, Reel Big Fish, Taproot, Sepultura, Reef, SOiL, The Hellacopters, SikTh, 3 Colours Red, From Autumn To Ashes, Queen Adreena, Violent Delight, Arch Enemy, and Chimaria.
Download Festival 2003 crowd
Download Festival's name has a two meanings. The word 'Download' was a murky word at the time thanks to Napster and illegal downloading. Download was also seen as a Monsters of Rock for the 21st century and the internet would provide connectivity with its audience. Tickets had a download code on them so fans could get tracks by some of the bands performing.
Audioslave headline Download Festival 2003
Late rock legend Chris Cornell on stage with Audioslave during the band's main stage headline set on Sunday night at Download Festival 2003. It was Audioslave's only appearance at Download, however Chris Cornell would return with Soundgarden and as a solo artist.
Audioslave headline Download Festival 2003
Audioslave replaced original headliners Limp Bizkit on the line-up after Fred Durst and co. cancelled.
Keith Flint at Download Festival 2003
The late-great Keith Flint on stage with his fleeting solo band Flint on the Sunday at Download Festival 2003. The Prodigy headlined the second stage at Download Festival 2006 and 2009 before stepping up as main stage headliners in 2012.
Stone Sour's Corey Taylor at Download Festival 2003
Wearing a Union Jacket emblazoned with the words 'Donington' in marker pen, Corey Taylor played the very first Download Festival with Stone Sour. Slipknot have headlined Download five times since the festival's inception, and Corey has also performed as a solo artist over the past 21 years.
Metallica play secret set at Download Festival 2003
A truly landmark Download Festival moment, Metallica played a secret set on The Scuzz Stage on the Sunday afternoon.
Metallica play secret set at Download Festival 2003
Metallica performed a 10-song set on the rammed-to-the-rafters stage, including a clutch of tracks from their soon-to-be-released album 'St Anger'.
Metallica play secret set at Download Festival 2003
Also on The Scuzz Stage bill alongside Metallica on Sunday were NOFX, Boysetsfire, The Bouncing Souls, Strung Out, Thrice, Spunge, TSOL, The Real McKenzies, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Brand New, Instruction, Beatsteaks, Randy and Fabulous Disaster.
The Darkness' Justin Hawkins at Download Festival 2003
Justin Hawkins backstage before The Darkness' performance on The Main Stage. Audioslave, Zwan, Flint, Apocalyptica, Less Than Jake, Disturbed, Stone Sour, Evanescence, Mudvayne, Spineshank, One Minute Silence, Raging Speedhorn and Instruction also played on the second day.
Billy Corgan at Download Festival 2003
Billy Corgan on stage with Zwan on the Sunday at Download Festival 2003