Gibbo

So it's been announced that Rammstein will headling Sunday night at next year's Download Festival, with the mighty Iron Maiden headlining on Saturday night (bringing with them their 'Maiden England'/'Seventh Son' stage show and set!) My excitement at seeing Maiden on my birthday next year is dampened by the thought that the rest of the bill will be the usual collection of shouty crap, the odd decent band (if we're lucky), and bands that should have stayed dead and buried (The Darkness? I'm talking to YOU!) Anyone else here likely to give Download a go next year? Any thoughts on the possible line up (Slipknot, Rush, Van Halen, Stone Sour, Green Day and Queens Of The Stone Age are all rumoured to have been approached to play over the course of the weekend)?

Floor Jansen (formerly of After Forever) gets my vote ... Sharon del Adel (Within Temptation) also has a great voice ... Tara Teresa (who provided the female vocals on Firewind's 'Allegiance' album is well worth a listen ... obviously, the mighty Pat Benetar and Ann Wilson ... the new female vocalist (whose name escapes me) for UK proggers Mostly Autumn has a lovely voice on her ... Kate Bush ... oh, and Grace Potter is a current fave (whaddya mean, 'Who?'?!)

Happy Days, indeed. I've given it more than one spin since borrowing your copy ... I'm not convinced that the rest of the Gibbo clan are quite so keen

I read a review that panned this one left, right and centre ... I can't help but wonder of the reviewer actually listened to the CD, or if they just saw a picture of the band (all 'Easy Rider' extras) and made their judgement on that?

Dio and Maiden for me ... although it was a close run thing, what with Y&T, Priest and Mercyful Fate all having albums in the list ... Saxon's 'Crusader' is by far and away the worst thing they've ever recorded ... *shudder* ...

Aw, bless you and your ramblings ... well, you know you're preaching to the converted with me on this one - I've had 'Lambs To The Slaughter' for quite some time, and I can thoroughly recommend it, so I'll be picking this one up, too ... anyone who likes decent metal should check this out.

You approve? Honestly, this sounds like one of the best albums of the year so far. Just really really good songs. I will re-evaluate beforre taking the plunge though... No, you won't ... you'll do what you always do and buy the CD before re-evaluating This one is definitely a 'guilty pleasure' for me ... I may even buy it!

Ooh yes, that would be nice. Even nicer if they left Anthrax at home... Oh, shush - Anthrax are a great live band ... you'll be 'Among The Living' before you know it (didja see what I did there? Didja?)

Now if only the Anthrax/Testament/Death Angel tour currently doing the rounds in the US would come to the UK ...

I love the first two Maiden albums, but Di'Anno pissed it all away ...

I hate you ... although not as much as Mrs G does

Seriously ... SELF CONTROL! Not that I'm complaining, mind you - 'cause at least I'll get to hear the album without having to pay a penny for the privilege ... selfish? Moi?

I'd go to more shows if the cost of travel wasn't so bloody ridiculous ... and if I actually had an outside chance of catching a train home after midnight ... the last time I went to a London gig, I had to leave early because none of the usual late trains were running

Alright, alright - you've convinced me to check this out. If I end up really liking it, I shall blame you entirely

I like what I've heard of In This Moment ... I've got one of their albums somewhere ...

I've finally managed to seek out a few songs from this album ... I hate you, JamesEagle, it rocks like a bastard ... *adds another title to the ever-growing 'must have' list* ...

I always liked the Hooker-fronted Tigertailz ... be interesting to hear what they sound like now ... And going from a guy to a chick singer didn't do Arch Enemy any harm

It 'stars' Tom Cruise and Russell Brand ... that's my idea of Hell, so I'll avoid this one like the plague, thank you very much!

Yup, she's another star in the eBay universe ... She won two of my CDs, contacted me after the auction had ended and gave me the same story ... she asked if she could pay by the middle of June, to which I replied that I wasn't really keen on the idea of waiting nearly a month for payment ... after sending a few e-mails her way, I got a reply to say that everything would be sorted by the 20th June ... I'm not holding my breath. I'm not a Business Seller, I'm just trying to raise some extra cash selling the CDs that I don't listen to anymore, and the amount of money involved is very small ... but this lady is just taking the piss. When I suggested that, given she obviously has access to a PC wherever she is, she might like to pay for the CDs as a gesture of goodwill - and then I would happily post them whenever was most convenient for her - the silence was deafening. What infuriates me is that people like this can do what they like, and nothing can be done about it ...

I think when we're only looking our standards can be sky high. If these are women we're only going to fantasise about, we might as well be picky. I would be far less choosy with 'real' women, but with women I'm never likely to meet, what the hell? And as for Scarlett, I hardly had to look hard for that photo. The first page of matches on Google had plenty of pictures of her looking similar to this one. Looking at the photo above, it's not like she's pulling a silly face or anything, but she still looks rough. Just. Don't. Get. It. Miss Johansson + looking like Black Widow = your argument is invalid, mate It's all okay - just had a quick chat with Scarlett and it turns out that's she isn't hugely upset that I don't find her attractive. Phew! I'm sure that's a load off your mind Now, if you could just persuade her to opo across the river into darkest essex, that'd be great! *pop* ... POP across the river ... sorry, hands shaking too much at the thought!

I think when we're only looking our standards can be sky high. If these are women we're only going to fantasise about, we might as well be picky. I would be far less choosy with 'real' women, but with women I'm never likely to meet, what the hell? And as for Scarlett, I hardly had to look hard for that photo. The first page of matches on Google had plenty of pictures of her looking similar to this one. Looking at the photo above, it's not like she's pulling a silly face or anything, but she still looks rough. Just. Don't. Get. It. Miss Johansson + looking like Black Widow = your argument is invalid, mate It's all okay - just had a quick chat with Scarlett and it turns out that's she isn't hugely upset that I don't find her attractive. Phew! I'm sure that's a load off your mind Now, if you could just persuade her to opo across the river into darkest essex, that'd be great!

Good man!

He was working IT support in an office I worked in a couple of years ago ... he's still good mates with Tony Dolan, and was pleasantly surprised when I told him I was a fan

Agreed - they went rapidly downhill after 'Empire' ... and now Tate appears determined to completely tarnish the Queesnryche name ... pity ...

I think when we're only looking our standards can be sky high. If these are women we're only going to fantasise about, we might as well be picky. I would be far less choosy with 'real' women, but with women I'm never likely to meet, what the hell? And as for Scarlett, I hardly had to look hard for that photo. The first page of matches on Google had plenty of pictures of her looking similar to this one. Looking at the photo above, it's not like she's pulling a silly face or anything, but she still looks rough. Just. Don't. Get. It. Miss Johansson + looking like Black Widow = your argument is invalid, mate