Friday at Download Festival 2022 - Kerrang! Radio roundup

Download Festival 2022 is GO!

Three long years since the last full capacity event, Download Festival 2022 is officially go and tens of thousands of music aficionados have descended upon the hallowed turf of Donington Park for three days of the finest rock music on the planet.

With a raft of site improvements in 2022, including The Village area moving to solid ground, and the sun shining gloriously in the sky, the atmosphere is positively electric as soon as the main gates open at midday.

Wayward Sons are charged with opening the Main Stage and they're on fiery form from the offset ploughing through anthems like a euphoric 'Until the End', while Press Club dazzle on The Avalanche Stage hosted by Kerrang! Radio.

Backstage, Black Veil Brides's CC and Andy Biersack catch up with Johnny Doom and they have the prestigious honour of being the first band of the weekend to be interviewed by Kerrang! Radio.

Andy and CC chatted about their latest album, their future tour plans, and what they'll look like in 50 years. Watch their full interview with Johnny Doom right here:

Cor! Look at that sunshine! The sunniest Download (so far) since 2017:

The ever-genial Benji Webbe of Skindred fame also popped by the Kerrang! Radio tent for a chinwag with Sophie K:

Always a formidable force in the live arena, Skindred duly impressed with a reggae-metal masterclass on The Apex Stage that peaked with a rip-roaring rendition of 'Pressure.'

A collective of Download revellers from RockFit UK broke into a dance routine during Skindred's rousing rendition of 'That's My Jam.' Incredible stuff:

It wouldn't be an Airbourne live performance without a shirtless Joel O'Keeffe launching himself into the crowd. The Aussie hard rockers performed an electrifying set on The Apex Stage.

After the KISS Kurtain dropped, the band arrived on stage to explosions, dazzling pyrotechnics and euphoric cheers from the Download faithful. The impressive stage setup featured giant inflatable versions of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer:

The KISS fireworks finale:

Just moments after KISS dismantled their stage set, Iron Maiden's crew arrived to set up ahead of their eagerly awaited headline set on Saturday night:

Download Festival 2022 - Friday in photos:

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• Download Festival
• KISS