This weekend the monsters of rock return to Castle Donington for the 10th annual Download Festival - but make no mistake - the Download of today follows in the tradition of the Monsters of Rock festival first conceived in the 1980's. Since then, Donington has been a spiritual home to British Heavy Metal with an incomparable pedigree of acts having played to millions there since its inception. One act however stands head and shoulders above all in the history of this illustrious venue : Iron Maiden.

Exactly 25 years after playing to a record breaking 107,000 souls at Donington, Maiden will make history this Saturday by headlining there for an unprecedented fifth time. On this occasion the band reaches Eddie's skeletal hand over the rift temporal to offer a new generation of British youth the opportunity to experience what is considered by many to be one of the greatest live-shows in Rock history when they present their landmark 'Maiden England' stageshow from 1988. With a setlist that accurately reflects the bands contribution to music over the 30 years they have reigned at the top, those born decades after the bands first hits and monstrous world tours will be able to experience for themselves the bludgeoning riffage of Iron Maidens literary brand of galloping heavy metal which has inspired and influenced some of today's biggest bands and enraptured fans everywhere from Boise Idaho to Bangalore.

Putting on a successful festival that benefits the economy and legitimately entertains is an enormous task and finding a main-event act that will please the vast majority of the mass of humanity that will be present at Download is still more difficult. Much like back in '88 when Maiden played a secret gig at Queen Mary University of London to warm up for their Donington appearance (albeit billed as their alter ego 'Charlotte's Harlot') Britain is once more in the grip of recession and young people everywhere (particularly those in full time education) are economically disadvantaged by the reckless borrowing of our elders. It speaks to the pragmastism of Live Nation not to mention the stature of Maiden both musically and in terms of sheer drawing power, that the success of the Download Festival can be entrusted to them once again in such a treacherous financial climate. It is almost as if Iron Maiden are Britains house-band, the default 'go-to' act when one needs to find a legitimate heavyweight name that can help carry a festival the scale of Download.

Partnering with LiveNation to bring the classic Maiden England show to a new audience is US lighter manufacturer Zippo who are supporting the festival for the third year in a row, sponsoring the prestigious Second Stage where British favourites Enter Shikari will headline. Ever since the iconic sea of flames was first created as Zippo lighters were waved in the air calling for an "encore", Zippo's windproof lighters have become forever associated with Rock n Roll. In celebration of this and Downloads 10th Anniversary the Download Dog mascot has been coloured with flames and Zippo are offering lucky fans the chance to win a limited edition flame detailed Download 2013 lighter. Rather than paying simple lip-service to the spirit of rock n roll, Zippo is bringing the concert experience a step closer to fans by also giving away exclusive side-of-stage tickets to winners of their Air-Guitar competition being held at Midday each day of the festival to enable fans rock out with their heroes.

Iron Maiden won't be around forever and irrespective of musical persuasion, anyone would be well advised to grab a ticket to this three day celebration of music. Donington Park is a special place with an indescribable aura that resonates through the annals of Hard Rock and Metal. It is the place where Rick Allen of Def Leppard took the stage for the first time since the car accident that severed his arm to show the world how to drum with one arm and reclaim the title of “Thundergod”. It is the stage of Guns N'Roses first messy arrival in Great Britain back when they were a young gang of LA misfits bent on conquering the world. It is the scene of a thousand other triumphs and tragedies of Rock and yet, this is not just about the bands or how Rock and Metal can't be snuffed out with the prevailing winds of whatever be the mainstream musical sensibilities of the day might be - it is about one of Britain’s greatest bands reaching out across the generations, over and above musical prejudice and ignorance to grab the kids of today by the scruff of the neck and say “Here take this, and take it forward”. 


To Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Download Festival Zippo are giving away a Limited Edition Download 2013 lighter especially for Cambridge students. For a chance to win simply tell us how many times Iron Maiden have headlined Donington Park.