Who was the headliner of the inaugural Monsters of Rock festival?
ainbow’s UK tour and decided to make the festival the final show of their tour. The festival’s genesis was planted when Rainbow’s drummer Cozy Powell suggested holding their own festival, leading them to approach Thom Whearcroft, the owner of Donington Park race track, to host the event. The inaugural festival took place on August 16th, 1980, with a lineup featuring Judas Priest, Saxon, Scorpions, April Wine from Canada, and Riot and Touch from New York. Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford acknowledged the significance of the event as the first festival in the UK dedicated solely to one genre of music, hard rock and metal. He mentioned that the band was excited to be part of this groundbreaking event. Headlining the festival was Rainbow, culminating their tour in front of a massive crowd beyond their expectations, with frontman Graham Bonnet recalling the overwhelming sight of tens of thousands of fans. Despite technical issues on stage during their set, including blown-out amplifier cones and spontaneous bird impersonations, the band embraced the moment as part of the festival’s unique charm.” After the success of the inaugural festival, Monsters of Rock continued for the next 15 years, showcasing a lineup of iconic bands like AC/DC, Whitesnake, Blue Öyster Cult, and Slade in the following years. The festival saw Saxon becoming the first band to perform twice and AC/DC as the first to headline twice. It expanded internationally, hosting events in countries like Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands. Notably, a one-time event in Russia attracted a record-breaking crowd of 1.6 million attendees, solidifying the festival’s status as a global phenomenon.Over the years, Monsters of Rock drew legendary acts like Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Motörhead, and Iron Maiden to its stage, further establishing its reputation as a pinnacle of hard rock and metal music. Tragedy struck in 1988 when two fans were fatally trampled during Guns N’ Roses’ set, leading to the festival’s temporary postponement in the subsequent year. However, it returned in 1990 with controlled capacity and continued until its final edition in 1996, headlined by Ozzy Osbourne and Kiss. Following its conclusion, the festival paved the way for Download Festival in 2003, with its organizer Andy Copping acknowledging the influence and legacy of Monsters of Rock. The festival’s impact on the live music scene remains unmatched, leaving an indelible mark on the history of hard rock and heavy metal.