One of a handful of curveball bookings at this annual heavy rock gathering the UK rapper ended up on the wrong end of a snack attack during his set.

The same might well have happened to Aussie electro rockers Pendulum except they turned it around to prove the surprise mega draw amid a mainly metal menu – a three-stage manifesto that saw vintage glam gang Kiss challenge Guy Fawkes for pyro power as cheery chaps Simple Plan supplied lighter entertainment on the Tuborg Second Stage.

Sheffield's Rolo Tomassi got tongues wagging among future star spotters while The Subways supplied a welcome indie distraction. As did the enduring Ash, singer Tim Wheeler introducing the Irish band as "your guilty pleasure".

As young bucks Kids In Glass Houses dodged incoming bottles, Aussie rockers Airbourne invoked the spirit of Bon Scott-era AC/DC, frontman Joel OKeefe giving the security boys a headache by scaling the second stage's rigging to fly his nation's flag.

Cello-powered Apocalyptica provided a competing spectacle ahead of dreary prog plodders Within Temptation on a last night bill that promoted Welsh chart-botherers Lost Prophets to headliners.

Singer Ian Watkins was almost apologetic about their position. He needn't have been. With enough rabble rousing anthems to have a convent punching the air, LP confirmed Download still has a knack for creating heroes.
David Dunn

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