Black Sabbath will top the Download Festival billing on Saturday night, and Adam Wakeman promises that Ozzy, Geezer and Tony will wow the masses on their return to Donington Park, writes Sammy Jones.
“I don't think anyone will be disappointed – Sabbath are on superb form and deliver the goods every night we play,” Adam Wakeman told Total MK.
And he should know; the Buckingham-based fella is their man at the keys.
`”....it's pretty much a Sabbath set with all the favourites!”
“It's always special when it's close to home – and anywhere in the UK feels like a hometown gig as we so rarely play there – and I have my family and three children coming along too.
“It will be my twins first concert at seven years of age, which makes it extra special.
“I'd like to check out Inglorious if I can, and TesseracT are on the same label as my band Headspace I think, so I might check those guys out too. My 11-year old daughter has a theatre production she is rehearsing for in the morning, so I wont be able to arrive too early as I want her to come to the festival.”
Music is in Adam's blood – his dad is prog-rock ace and dedicated 'grumpy old man' Rick Wakeman, and when not busy with Sabbath, Adam creates with his band's Headspace (their album All That You Fear Is Gone is out now) and with Snakecharmer.
“In between legs of the Sabbath tour I've been rehearsing for the Headspace shows in the summer, and European shows in December, along with getting the Snakecharmer band together ready to record the second album in the summer.
“I've also started running my music library for TV and film – www.theperfectmusiclibrary.com
which looks after mine and 50 other composers' music for TV productions, and next week I'm replacing my garden fence.
“I love a bit of DIY!
“It's great to spend some time with the family and kids too, so I'm getting in a few cinema trips at the Xscape...”
But this weekend the cinema can wait – Download is on, and this fella is lucky enough never to have endured a sodden tent, or spent a weekend wading through ankle high mud.
He's unscathed so far.
“I don't think I've ever had a bad festival experience, but that's probably because I only tend to go in a working capacity!” he says.
“I went to Glastonbury one year when my dad was playing with YES, which was fantastic.
“I've played hundreds all over the world with Ozzy and Sabbath and other acts and they're all very different, but all really good fun.”
Ozzy onstage at the Milton Keynes Bowl
But one happening later this summer ticks all the boxes for this music man: “My band Headspace are playing at Cropedy in August and my family and I are camping, so that's going to be amazing!
“I've always wanted to go to Cropedy, so to play there will be extra special,” he added.
To book tickets for the Download Festival visit www.downloadfestival.co.uk or call 0333 321 9999.
