Leeds Festival 2005 - Friday

WOW.. my ears are still ringing!

Having gone to every Reading Festival since 1998, this was my first visit to the Yorkshire Leg of the Carling weekend. As we drove on to site, we find ourselves in a gawd damn forest! It's an impressive setting as we make our way through to a clearing in Bramham Park to park the car. It's heads or tails time as we guess the right way to get into the main site.

We achieve the first task of finding an opening onto the site labelled as the entrance. Some camping sites within are in the woods - which is a new one on me! - and solves the mystery of the ban on campfires.

The terrain is surprisingly dry having heard reports of plenty of rain on site and is hilly - not good for a man of my fitness! Once we find the wristband exchange - more by luck - the main arena beckons and we set about getting our bearings.

Inside it has a disjointed feel, perhaps because it's all new, but having to go through stalls to get to the main stage feels odd and the site is quite spread out. It feels bigger than Reading, despite the additional stage/tents and fairground rides this year.

Once we find the bar then the main the stage, Alkaline Trio are already on so we have a bit of munch and watch the end of their set - meanwhile the beer gets watered down a little with a couple of passing showers, it's certainly cold up north!

I do like the positioning of the main stage, it's almost the furthest place from the main entrance, but unlike Reading, it's on the piss - to the left of you as you walk towards it. This puts it at the bottom of a slight hill, so you get a cracking view which is nice.

Funeral For a Friend are on next and I was surprised by them. I don't recall watching them before but really enjoyed it. We were propping up the bar at this point so didn't get into the crowd as much as we'd like, but I'm keen to watch them again, so something good has hit a chord (and it's not the attempt for their entry to the most pathetic backdrop competition!).

I was going to see NOFX, but needed refuelling, so went to grab some stuff that you could vaguely call food. I discover that the Duke Spirit were at the signing tent, so headed over there and got a few autographs and a chat. Was quite pleased as Leila remembered me! Had a quick discussion about their plans for the weekend. She tells me they're sticking around Leeds on Sat to watch some bands and that Mr Manson has a huge wardrobe back stage... so being a big fan of his, I'm excited!

I find myself again tempted by the bar before reaching the main stage to catch a bit of Iggy Pop and the Stooges. After Wanna be Your dog, I drag myself away from this good set to the Radio 1 tent and catch the last song from Maximo Park. The tent almost clears out after their set, so I squeeze to the front to see the Duke Spirit. The tent refils just before they come on and put a great display of their material. The crowd seemed to take more convincing than me, but as the upbeat songs came in the second half of the set, the atmopshere built up and they came off with the crowd wanting more.

Again the bar has some magnetic pull when I'm on my way to the main stage and it's probably a good job I missed half of the Incubus set - partly due to this pit stop - as I was unimpressed with their seemingly lack of energy on stage. No matter as they soon clear off and we move forward to get a better view of Marilyn Manson.

The stage is covered by a black curtain and the anticipation builds, as does the dry ice before MW Gacy comes on with a teaser intro as the curtain comes down slowly (party due to a slight snag on its release!). Manson comes on spouting some creepy atmosphere building lines that I'm later told is something to do with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The set is put into motion with the opening track Get your Gunn. This is followed by an array of tracks from his greatest hits album, with mObscence, Tourniquet and Tainted Love just some of the highlights before Manson shouts the immortal words "How does it feel, to be one of the Beautiful.... People".

The set closes in a blaze of glory and they come back for a one song encore Suicide is Painless. Manson is carried off looking really drained - I guess he had a lot going on this week with the Kerrang awards the previous night! I'm blown away as usual, it's 4th time I've seen them and am not disappointed. I'm just hoping the stories of their imminent retirement are untrue, although I understand they have 18 songs already written and may go off for a while to do other projects. Well after a set like that, they'll be moving on from the top.

The set change seemed to take an age, but by the time Iron Maiden stormed onto the main stage my ears were still buzzing and they were treated to a greatest hits session. Bruce seemed to be particularly up for it, perhaps it's their way of giving 'one in the face' following the Ozzfest incident, or history with the (Reading) event or that - as he proudly boasts on stage - he's a northerner.

The set included Trooper, Number of The Beast and the awesome Run To The Hills which had the (mainly) biker looking crowd rocking to a level that I have only seen a few bands capable of and actually doing. I remember their set at Donnington a few years back left me a little disappointed, but this time they met and surpassed all hopes and expectations. The tour they'd recently taken to America seemed to be there with an awesome stage layout, pyro's, and (of course) a few appearances by Eddie.

The roadies came in ready to take the tour south, and we headed home. Finally got to bed at 5.30am. My ears were still ringing at 2pm on Sat when I awoke. Despite the great time that I had, there was just one small annoyance about the event...
...I wish I was at Reading and had 2 more days to go !! (probably the southerner/traditionalist in me)

So I've got my ticket for 2006.. see ya there !

- - - Lenny.