Download Emphasises Upside

Despite the crowd dropping from 60,000 to 50,000, Download Festival organiser Live Nation says this year’s June 13-15 rock bash was "an unmitigated success."

Festival director John Probyn said the event, the first LN has staged since the departure of U.K. managing director and former Download booker Stuart Galbraith, benefited from the new site layout, specifically the fantastic view of the main stage.

LN reported outstanding performances from the likes of KISS, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Offspring, Bullet For My Valentine, Apocalyptica and Lostprophets.

Kid Rock’s June 13 slot was canceled just minutes before he was due to take to the main stage. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Nottingham, apparently suffering from stomach cramps and dehydration.

He was kept for observation overnight and released, while NME reported that Kid Rock had attended a late-night event at London’s Whisky Mist nightclub the day before his scheduled performance.

The other acts putting themselves in full view of the Donington Park crowd included Disturbed, Simple Plan, Rise Against, The Subways, Fightstar, Dillinger Escape Plan, Jimmy Eat World, Coheed & Cambria, In Flames, Within Temptation and Black Stone Cherry.