Irish trio Dead Label have toured with Machine Head and Fear Factory, hit up festivals all over Europe and released their second album, Throne of Bones, last year.
They open the Dogtooth Stage at Download on Saturday, and promise to leave a memorable impression.
Drummer Claire talked festivals with Total MK...
Download Festival - what does it mean to you to be playing the spiritual home of heavy rock?
Claire Percival (Drummer) - It is such a massive dream come true for us! We can’t wait to get there and step on the field as artists!
Download is one of those monumental festivals in anybody’s career.
It's like the gates are open and you're welcomed! We are so grateful that Andy Copping had time to check us out! We are going to make sure Download remembers us!
Give us your best - and worst - festival memories, whether as a punter or performer…
CP - Best memories, so many!
One is playing the Sophie Stage at Bloodstock 2015. That was so cool. We had an early enough slot on the Sunday so our expectations we for a small crowd, boy were we mistaken! The tent was packed. That was so awesome.
We had a killer set and enjoyed it so so so much! Our friend Fiaz who had moved to Canada surprised us by being there to, so that was just the cherries on top!
Worst memory...hummm maybe when as a punter I went to Download and I lost my welly in the muck! it wasn’t that bad, but I guess that was the worst? Oh this is a best moment/worst for embarrassment sake.
At Bloodstock we got this super awesome EMP blow up guitars, anyway I kept chasing the singer from Sepultura with it! He seemed happy enough but that was some serious embarrassment the next day! Hopefully I don’t repeat that at Hammerfest!
Who are the bands that you most want to catch at Download?
CP - System of a Down for sure! That's going to be amazing! Airbourne are a must! I have seen them loads of times but never outdoors! Rob Zombie is an absolute must! And then i have to check out some bands I have never seen! I love discovering new bands.
What can people expect from your set on the day?
CP - We have an early slot so our plan is to wake everyone up! Its going to be lad, heavy, groovy and impossible not to headbang!!! We will be playing some songs that have been released and some that have not!
And how to best survive the festival experience - what three items can't you go without? And why?
CP - Baby wipes, Baby wipes, baby wipes! If you have enough baby wipes you can do anything! Clean socks and lots of plastic bags! A good attitude is always helpful too, you're not there to get a good rest, once you know that you’ll have the best time.
And lastly, tell us what you'll be up to after Download
CP - We will be back in the UK two weeks after for Upload and Wildfire Festival in Scotland.
Then we are going to Europe in July for shows with Nervosa and Agressive Music Festival! keeping as busy as we can while writing!
To book tickets and for all the latest Download news visit www.downloadfestival.co.uk
