Lost Prophets tie up this year's Download

But all the talk is about Bizzle's bottling

United Kingdom | 16 June 2008

Lost Prophets brought Download festival to a spectacular close as they celebrated playing to their biggest ever crowd with strobes, explosions and flames.

Despite getting the smallest audience of all three headliners the Welsh group produced a set that got the entire crowd bouncing.

"Show some respect for Donington, not us," roared lead singer Ian Watkins after the band thumped out 'We Kill The Old Way' and 'To Hell We Ride'. With green strobe lighting and a row of flamethrowers the group swagger through 'Last Train Home' and 'Endless Summer' as the sun sets over Donington Racetrack.

'Rooftops' proved to be the biggest sing-a-long of the weekend allowing Watkins and Co. to showcase a brand new piano-lead track. "Before we get to the fun stuff, we're going to play a brand new track," Watkins said, "It's like live karaoke – I'll teach you the words."

The enthusiastic crowd were more than happy to join in, with one girl flashing her breasts in gratitude. "Mother, put them away," quipped the lead singer before the set plunged into the massive ‘Shinobivsdrangoninja’.

The Welsh five-piece ended their set with 'Burn Burn' which triggered a series of flamethrowers at the front of the stage, with the last few beats of the drum setting off single fireworks.

Cavealera Conspiracy brought the second stage to a hectic close, while Korn frontman Jonathan Davis treated fans to a rare solo show in the third tent.

Earlier on Lethal Bizzle won this year's 'most bottled band' award on the second stage where he was pelted with bottles, cups, loo rolls and the free Muller Rice that was being handed out at the entrance of the site.

Ploughing undeterred through hits 'Pow (Forward)', 'Police On My Back' and an acapella version of 'Staring At The Rude Bois', the grime star remained defiant even jeering: "I ain't scared of you motherfuckers!" He even told VF after his set that he'd like to come back next year and play the main stage.

In Flames were literally on fire on the main stage during the afternoon, proving that death metal isn't dead and neither is the cocksure belief that goes with it. "You'd better have brought your sunglasses because we're going to be blinding," they declared to their devotees.

Jimmy Eat World managed to grab a massive crowd for their penultimate slot on the main stage where they performed 'Sweetness', 'Big Casino' and 'The Middle', which prompted a huge sing-a-long.

Airbourne's Joel O'Keefe lived up to the bands names as he climbed the rigging on the second stage to put up an Australian flag before playing a note perfect version of 'Girls In Black'.

On the main stage Apocalyptica treated the audience to 'In The Hall Of The Mountain King' as well as new single 'SOS (Anything But Love)' with a guest appearance from Lacuna Coil's Christina Scabbia on vocals.

Ex-Busted member Charlie Simpson's Fighstar dodged the bottling they received last time they were at Download as they excited an early afternoon audience with tracks from both of their albums.

That's it from this year's Download, but check back for reviews, interviews and photos from the metal festival.