Andy Copping confirms a 'big band' will play secret set at Download Festival 2024
“Keep your eyes and ears peeled," he tells listeners
Download Festival booker Andy Copping has told Planet Rock listeners that a “big band” will play a “very, very special” secret set at this year’s festival.
Over the Bank Holiday Weekend, Andy Copping hosted a special one-hour show on Planet Rock called Andy Copping’s Secrets of Download.
The one-off show saw Copping go behind the curtain and talk about some of the most memorable Download Festival moments of the past 21 years.
Ahead of playing Metallica’s 2003 track ‘St. Anger’, Copping reflected on the heavy metal legends’ secret set on The Scuzz Stage at the inaugural Download Festival over two decades ago.
Copping told listeners: “In some years we've had some secret sets from different bands – Enter Shikari, Black Stone Cherry, Bullet For My Valentine. But one of the very special secret sets, which kind of, I guess, sets it all off, was Metallica back at the very first Download (in) 2003.
“They'd spoken to us that they wanted to do a secret set, which, you can't imagine our response to that, we were completely over the moon.
“But then it was the practicality of making that work, fitting it within the running order on the second stage that was back then. Anyway, we managed to do it. Nobody had a clue that Metallica were going to be playing. I remember particularly on the day when they were playing, the tent suddenly started to fill up as word got out.”
He continued: “I saw a few people walking around the site, and I was saying to them, ‘you really need to go to stage two. Metallica are playing!’ And they're looking at me like, ‘who’s this idiot in a cowboy telling me to go and see Metallica? There's no way they're playing!’ And they’re thinking I’m some kind of a weirdo.
“Anyway, the band played. It was completely and utterly immense as you can imagine, and just great memories of that. Obviously, Metallica have been back at Download a number of times over the years but that was particularly special that year when they did a secret set for us.”
After playing ‘St. Anger’, Copping revealed that Download Festival has a big name secret act locked in for this year’s event.
“That’s ‘St. Anger’ by Metallica, harking back to the time when they played a secret set for us back in 2003 at Download,” Copping said.
“One thing’s for sure, you’ve got to keep your eyes and ears peeled for this year at Download because, yes, we have an another band coming in doing a secret set. Something very, very special. Big band. So look out for that.”
Headlined by Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy and Avenged Sevenfold, the 21st Download Festival takes place at Donington Park from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th June 2024.
The final tickets are on sale from Download Festival's official website now.
Listen to Andy Copping's Secrets of Download:
You can listen to the whole Andy Copping’s Secrets of Download show below where he also discusses AC/DC bringing their own stage to Download Festival in 2010.
The very first Download Festival in pictures:
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