Saxon played a storming set to a huge crowd at this evening�??s (June 14) Download.
Before the band came on stage the gathered throng, who were spilling out of the small Gibson tent, repeatedly chanted the group�??s name.
Taking to stage a little later than scheduled at 8.10 (BST) the five-piece sauntered on to a sea of �??Saxon�?� cheers and rock claws
Silver haired front man, Biff Byford, whose mane reached down almost to his elbows stalked the stage mike in hand while the rest of the band pummelled through a back catalogue of hits.
Despite their age the black attired quintet were animated throughout the show �?? with Byford often coming to the front of the stage arms raised making the crowd cheer while bassist Nibbs Carter head banged almost constantly.
A few tracks into the set Byford: �??Hello, well it's good to be back Donington! I've been waiting a long time to say that.�?�
He then joked after looking out at the huge crowd: �??I thought this was meant to be a small gig!�?�
Then Byford asked the crowd if they wanted to hear new songs or old songs to which the unanimous reply was new.
He laughed and responded: �??You bastards.�?�
Crowd interaction was on a high for the gig�??s entirety but when the band played �??Wheels Of Steel�??.
Byford got the whole tent to chant back the chorus �?? placing the mike in their direction so he could hear them better.
Just before the end of the set a clearly excited Byford, while looking out at the huge mass of people spilling out of the tiny tent, said: �??Is this the main stage or what? We played with Metallica in Germany last week and this is must better than that.�?�
After their last song the band left the stage to a mass of cheers.
Saxon played:
Attila the hub
Motorcycle man
Let me feel your power
747
Dogs of war
Heavy metal thunder
Wheels of steels
Princess
Jun 14, 2008 at Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh -
Jun 14, 2008 at Faversham, Leeds -
Jun 14, 2008 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff -
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