LINKIN PARK IN METAL HEAVEN

LINKIN PARK fulfill a childhood ambition when they headline Download festival this weekend.

 

 

US rockers Linkin Park, who starred at the Donington Park event in 2004 and 2007, reckon there is no better festival for hard rock fans.

 

Frontman Chester Bennington, 35, told me: “Being American we never had many good rock festivals to go to as kids.

 

“Donington is a place we all dreamed of playing when we were growing up. Now we are headlining, it’s awesome.”

 

The six-strong nu-metalers are seasoned pros at putting on humongous spectacles.

 

“We tend to play big outdoor gigs so it won’t be too different,” explained Chester.

 

“On this tour we decided to bring all the imagery and visuals of our album A Thousand Suns on the road with us. There’s a strong narrative.”

 

Headline acts have a reputation for acting like prima donnas backstage, and Linkin Park admit that they are no different.

 

“Lady GaGa has got nothing on us,” joked Chester. “I need an entirely white room where no other human has been. I then bathe in the purest goat’s milk for three hours before going on stage.”

 

What next for the band?

 

“I’d love to do Glastonbury, it’s so rich in history,” admitted Chester. “But I’m guessing we are a little too hard rock for them.”

 

Frontman Chester Bennington, 35, told me: “We would be over the moon if Michael wanted to give us a prop like some old car that turned into a robot. But he hasn’t offered us one yet.”
 

Visit downloadfestival.co.uk for more on next weekend’s event.