Iron Maiden declare 'metal should rule the world' at Sonisphere
Iron Maiden closed the Sonisphere festival for 2010 last night (August 1) with a spectacular headline show at the Knebworth event.
Frontman Bruce Dickinson took the opportunity to say that heavy metal should "rule the world" during his band's slot on the Apollo Stage, saying that if it was left to the mainstream media the music on show at the festival would be ignored.
"Today is like a special day, a celebration of everyone that likes heavy metal," he said from the stage. "If we left it up to the media and the BBC no-one would know about this music. If heavy metal bands ruled the world we'd be a lot better off. There would be more a lot more drinking and a lot more shagging and nursery rhymes would sound like this."
Playing against a star-lit backdrop and under a huge triangular lighting rig, the band played a set featuring songs mostly from their last three studio albums, 'Brave New World', 'Dance Of Death' and 'A Matter Of Life And Death'. A few older numbers, including 'Wrathchild', were also aired.
Iron Maiden played:
'The Wicker Man' 'Ghost Of The Navigator' 'Wrathchild' 'El Dorado' 'Dance Of Death' 'The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg' 'These Colours Don't Run' 'Blood Brothers' 'Wildest Dreams' 'No More Lies' 'Brave New World' 'Fear Of The Dark' 'Iron Maiden' 'The Number of the Beast' 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' 'Running Free'
Earlier in the day ragga metal specialists Skindred played, with singer Benji Webbe dedicating several songs to "those neighbours who tell you to turn the music down".
Slayer played a set featuring the first and last songs from their classic 1986 'Reign In Blood' album - 'Angel Of Death' and 'Raining Blood'.
Alice In Chains played a mix of greatest hits and tracks from their recent 'Black Gives Way To Blue' album, ending their set with classic crowd-pleaser 'Rooster'.
Elsewhere Pendulum proved their metal sensibilities by bringing out Anders Friden, vocalist of Swedish death metal band In Flames, with whom they collaborated with on recent album 'Immersion'. Together they played the track they worked on together for that LP, 'Self vs Self'.
