Festival headliners, Slipknot, paid tribute to bassist Paul Gray with a 2 minute silence at 2 o’clock on Sunday afternoon at Sonisphere festival.
As he spoke to the crowd about Gray who died last May of an accidental morphine overdose, front man Corey Taylor described the tour as having been “very, very emotional” but that it was a “night for positivity and f**king celebration”
This weekend, Sonisphere landed at Knebworth House for its 3rd year. An estimated 100 000 rock and metal fans flocked to the iconic venue over 3 days to see some of the biggest names in music. Friday night saw the big four perform for the first time together in the UK. As they entertained the crowded arena from the Apollo Stage, headliners Metallica were joined by Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax as legendary riffs were blasted out across the Hertfordshire countryside. Members of all four bands united on stage to play Am I Evil during Metallica’s encore in front of the appreciatively wild audience.
This weekend, Sonisphere landed at Knebworth House for its 3rd year. An estimated 100 000 rock and metal fans flocked to the iconic venue over 3 days to see some of the biggest names in music. Friday night saw the big four perform for the first time together in the UK. As they entertained the crowded arena from the Apollo Stage, headliners Metallica were joined by Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax as legendary riffs were blasted out across the Hertfordshire countryside. Members of all four bands united on stage to play Am I Evil during Metallica’s encore in front of the appreciatively wild audience.
The announcement of Saturday’s line-up was initially a surprise to many true metal fans as acts from the more commercial side of rock graced the stage. Sonisphere founder, Stuart Galbraith always wanted the event to be a “rock festival in the broadest sense” and this year he invited the likes of Weezer, Bad Religion, The Mars Volta and headliners Biffy Clyro to get in on the action. The bare-chested, Kilmarnock rockers had the crowd, slightly soggy from an earlier deluge, singing along to chart hits 'Many of Horror' and 'That Golden Rule' as they brought Saturday’s entertainment to a close.
Slipknot may have stolen the show on Sunday with their distinctive aggressive thrashing accompanied by impressive pyrotechnics but notable mentions must go to Motorhead, Limp Bizkit and comedian Bill Bailey who preceded the masked, metal icons. The controversial decision to make Bailey the headline act on the Saturn Stage paid off as around 50 000 poncho-wearing, metalheads joined the musical comic in chants of “Asda, I’m not gonna be your bitch” and “Satan, have a word with yourself”.
Click here to read the full review by Robin Boot on this weekend of heavy rock!
Click here to read the full review by Robin Boot on this weekend of heavy rock!
Published on 11 July 2011 by Wayne Feltham
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