While Killswitch Engage and Biffy Clyro were rocking the main and second stages last Saturday, the heart of Download Festival was with the laymen in the tent of the Pepsi Max Stage. Between the relative unknowns of Sylosis and The Union (not that those bands have any less to offer) was Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor, performing an acoustic set with a couple of guests.
The performance itself was a lovely little gem, with a number of songs from the frontman’s two bands, as well as covers of Nine Inch Nails, Alice in Chains, The Ramones and AC/DC – with a little help from Lzzy Hale’s terrifyingly good Brian Johnson-esque screeching (seriously, you could almost hear her vocal chords tearing, as well as the dropping balls of every male in the room).
Yes, I used the words "lovely little gem" to describe this man.
The highlights, however, included a brand new Stone Sour song, debuting for the first time to our unexpecting, innocent little ears (can be heard here) and (here’s a collection of words you don’t hear very often) a brilliant cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.”
But there were bigger surprises to be had for both Mr. Taylor and the fans, who may have noticed an abundance of guests suspiciously hanging around backstage. The reveal came when Alexander Milas, publisher of Metal Hammer, and Andy Copping, Download Festival organizer, came onstage to present Taylor with the “Best Download Moment Ever” award, received on behalf of Slipknot’s 2009 set.
Things got quite emotional from then on, Taylor almost bursting in to tears for the second time during his performance. The 38-year-old held the trophy above his head with teary eyes, receiving a raucous applause from the audience and more than one ‘awww!’ from me. Who said the metal world doesn’t have a sweet side?
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