Monsters of Rock – 1988

August 20th 1988 – Donington Park

 “don’t fuckin’ kill each other ” 

Axl Rose addresses the audience during the Guns N’ Roses set…..

The saddest day in my music gig going and a quote from Axl which was borne from his frustrations as the huge crowd surge at the front, he didn’t know what was happening (and neither did we). This day would sadly claim the lives of two fans, trampled in the surge. So even writing this post, I remember two people I didn’t know, but shared a musical passion for watching bands….Allan Dick, 18 and Landon Siggers, 20.

There was no social media in 1988, no mobile phones, just word of mouth. We were about half way back of a crowd of 107,000, so when this happened during the Guns N Roses set, we knew something wasn’t right, but I don’t think we found out people had died until we got home and heard it on the news. We all enjoy a good rough and tumble at a concert, but rock crowds especially have a firm etiquette of looking out for each other, so this was so, so sad. Enjoy your musics, but keep each other safe.

The day started with a car trip to the concert, the 30 miles or so up the M1, but one of our friends had cadged a lift, even though he had a coach trip booked with ticket included. This meant he wasn’t allowed to have his ticket until the coach arrived at Donington…sort of security of its time!

So, we had to park up then find the coach to get his pass in. Very funny, but went strangely smoothly. Driver was informed he wouldn’t go back on the coach and the day was underway.

Iron Maiden were supporting and had recently released Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. The key tracks being “Can I Play With Madness”, “The Clairvoyant”, “The Evil That Men Do” and “Moonchild”. A great album and came straight into the album charts at Number 1……something Iron Maiden’s loyal fan base made happen a lot.

Supporting were:

• Bailey Brothers – Rock DJs who got the day going with their tunes.
• Helloween – German rock band. I didn’t know them at this point in time, but would enjoy their music.
• Guns N’ Roses – This was really exciting as their first album in 1987, “Appetite For Destruction” had been a masterpiece and we were all ridiculously excited to see these guys live.
• Megadeath – American heavy metal band fronted by Dave Mustaine. Bit loud and full on for me, but was still looking forward to the challenge!
• David Lee Roth – Ex Lead singer with Van Halen, I could write all day about the ups and down of Van Halen!! This was Diamond Dave solo, so would be expecting a party.
• Kiss – Glamour rock and make-up. So many power rock ballad sounds to see and hear.

Helloween

This was quite a heavy start to proceedings. It was quite a blustery day as I remember it and the first time at an outside gig, I’d realised how much sound can get blown around. It was also very loud and an enormous crowd even at this early stage in the day.

I wasn’t massive on Helloween, but is was a great opening set, the highlight being Dr. Stein. Lead singer, Michael Kiske had a very Bruce Dickinson type of singing style which went down well on the day Iron Maiden were to headline.

Helloween Setlist

• A Little Time
• Halloween
• Dr. Stein
• Future World
• Eagle Fly Free
• I’m Alive

Guns N’ Roses

Obviously, Maiden was likely to be the highlight of the crowds day, but the furore surrounding Axl Rose bringing Guns N’ Roses to Donington was creating an electric atmosphere. There are only ever a few times when you can feel the frenzy and excitement of a crowd, this was one of the biggest ever that I remember.

The band finished a ridiculously successful tour in 1987 touring “Appetite For Destruction”, their first and greatest ever album. The band was Axl Rose (Vocal), Slash (Lead Guitar), Izzy Sradlin (Rhythm Guitar), Duff McKagan (Bass), Steven Adler (Drums).

They stormed through songs from Appetite…after all, they had nothing else yet! Slash was hitting some fantastic guitar to complement Axl, with the rest of the band making it one of those memorable shows…..such a shame it was overtaken by events. With modern media so quick to tell the world what is happening, it seems incredible unless you were in the mix of events, we knew nothing about what had happened, so the day continued unabated….you could tell these guys were going to be around for a while.

Guns N’ Roses Setlist

• It’s So Easy
• Mr. Brownstone
• You’re Crazy
• Paradise City
• Welcome to the Jungle
• Patience
• Sweet Child O’ Mine

Megadeath

Dave Mustaine brought his American heavy rockers to the stage. The founding guitarist of Metallica had moved on to his own project, all a little too heavy for me I’m afraid. The cover of “Anarchy in the UK” was the only one I really enjoyed. Certainly went down well with the masses of head bangers though.

Megadeath Setlist

• Wake Up Dead
• The Conjuring
• Hook in Mouth
• Set the World Afire
• Mary Jane (Last known live performance)
• In My Darkest Hour
• Devil’s Island
• These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ (Lee Hazlewood cover)
• Peace Sells
• Encore: Anarchy in the U.K.
• (Sex Pistols cover) (w/ Lars Ulrich & Axl Rose backing vocals)

David Lee Roth

I was really looking forward to this. To this day (February 2020) there are a few gaps in the “wish I had seen bands”. One of them is Van Halen with DLR singing. I’ve seen Van Halen with Sammy Hagar and now I’d see David Lee Roth solo (and I’d see him again) but fates stacked against seeing him leading Van Halen.

Diamond Dave was a showman first and foremost and the ego clash with Eddie Van Halen meant the band split and got back together regularly. I know a fair few of my friends who were into rock early than me got to see the full band at De Montfort Hall some years earlier, but not for me.

Anyway, he played a few Van Halen tracks here and I had my first live viewing of a guitarist, dare I say, better than Eddie Van Halen…….Steve Vai. I would go on to love his solo albums and he would even play with Whitesnake in the future. Steve Vai was my first introduction into guitar led music, ie music where the guitar was the star not the vocals (see also work by Joe Satriani and Joe Bonamassa)

“Just Like Paradise” was a crowd favourite and DLR taunted and teased the crowd, entertaining and getting them to sing along all over the place.

A great performer and a great show, a few covers, a few solo, a few Van Halen all with his rock and blues riffs. Although he didn’t seem quite with it, so maybe he knew what we didn’t at the time 🙁

David Lee Roth Setlist

• The Bottom Line
• Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love (Van Halen song)
• Just Like Paradise
• Knucklebones
• Hot for Teacher (Van Halen song)
• Hot Dog and a Shake
• Skyscraper
• Goin’ Crazy!
• Yankee Rose
• Panama (Van Halen song)
• California Girls (The Beach Boys cover)
• You Really Got Me (The Kinks cover)
• Jump (Van Halen song)

Kiss

I think we all came expecting Kiss to be decked out in the eye line and face paint. Disappointment number 1……just as leather bound rock gods, mind you, they did dump the make in the early 80s so just wishful thinking on our part really.

This was the only disappointment, they ploughed out the favourites and were immense showmen.

“Crazy Night” was a 1987 release and a rock anthem already, but with Kiss, you get a mix of anthems and some down right heavy rock songs like “Heaven’s on Fire”.

Gene Simmons was the lead protagonist, with Paul Stanley, Eric Carr and Bruce Kulick. They were really performing as well as they ever had at this point, having been around since 1973.

Not a band I would have gone out of my way to see, but they were brilliant at involving the crowd and have a superb collection of rock tracks.

One of the highlights of the day. Kiss took us into the dark hours, ready for the beasts……….

Kiss Setlist

• Deuce
• Love Gun
• Fits Like a Glove
• Heaven’s on Fire
• Cold Gin
• Black Diamond
• No No No
• Firehouse
• Crazy Crazy Nights
• Calling Dr. Love
• Tears Are Falling
• I Love It Loud
• Strutter
• Shout It Out Loud
• Lick It Up
• Rock and Roll All Nite
• Encore: Detroit Rock City

Iron Maiden

This was the first time Iron Maiden had headlined Monsters of Rock.

Bruce Dickinson, lead singer was amazing, just like Gene Simmons before, he controlled the audience. Running around stage like a madman with the energy of an energetic thing, it was exhausting just watching and air guitaring. Steve Harris was a great guitarist too, giving a fantastic fast rhythm to songs with machine gun like sounds, which all added to what I like to call the melodic violence within the Maiden songs.

A mix of songs from the new album, “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” together with a mix of classics from earlier albums, this was another superb set.

The encore would include “Run to the Hills”, “Running Free” and “Sanctuary” which all led to a spectacular ending to the day.

I was still finding my feet with Iron Maiden at this point, so only knew the famous songs. The crowd was so crazy for them and singing to everything, it was a wonderful experience, with Eddie the monster on stage and the traditional fireworks to end.

There would be no Monsters of Rock in 1989 because of the deaths, rightly so, as the crowd size of 107,000 would be deemed unmanageable and would be cut in future years.

I was now well on my way to enjoying rock, both glam rock and heavy rock as well my classic pop songs. I’d found a few limitations with the heavier music, but my experimentation with music would continue for a long time.

Iron Maiden Setlist

• Moonchild
• The Evil That Men Do
• The Prisoner
• Wrathchild
• Infinite Dreams
• The Trooper
• Can I Play With Madness
• Heaven Can Wait
• Wasted Years
• The Clairvoyant
• Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
• The Number of the Beast
• Hallowed Be Thy Name
• Iron Maiden
• Encore: Run to the Hills
• 22 Acacia Avenue
• 2 Minutes to Midnight
• Running Free
• Sanctuary