Simon Rushworth
Every year we preview the must-see acts at Download – from the main stage mainstays to the buried treasures.
And who better to kick things off in 2012 than the reformed Black Sabbath featuring original frontman Ozzy Osbourne?
The ebullient Brummies will close the festival after winning critical acclaim for their hometown warm-up show last month.
And we reckon they’ll put the gloss on what looks set to be a fantastic event – regardless of the weather. Look out for more previews all week!
Band: Black Sabbath
Where: Jim Marshall Stage
When: Sunday June 10 (21.00-22.45)
Who: The godfathers of heavy metal.
Why Watch Sabbath: It’s the original line-up (minus in-dispute drummer Bill Ward) and Tony Iommi has battled cancer to be there – it would be rude not to.
Why Miss Sabbath: The only legitimate reason is that they’re the last band standing and you may be face down in a muddy ditch after a three-day bender.
Must Hear: Paranoid from the 1970 album of the same name. If you don’t know this one you don’t know metal.
Overrated: War Pigs – opens Paranoid but the title track and Iron Man are way better tunes.