Music

Photos & review: Iron Maiden at Download Festival 2016

The mighty Iron Maiden headlined day three of Download Festival 2016, and it was epic.

It’s rare to grace the grounds of Donington without Iron Maiden being a hot topic, even during the years they aren’t headlining. Luckily, it’s 2016 and Bruce Dickinson has Ed Force One parked up at East Midlands Airport and the rock legends ARE headlining the Sunday at Download Festival 2016.

Sure, it’s still sludgy and we’re all a little damp, but the perpetual delights of The Number Of The Beast and Blood Brothers alone prove Maiden still pack a punch.

Newbies Speed Of Light and The Red and The Black are the best received of latest release The Book Of Souls, while a Wasted Years finale makes the mud stains more than worthwhile.

It may not be an absolutely vintage performance on their part (but let’s face it, their back catalogue takes some hell of a beating) but Iron Maiden still stand head and shoulders above the rest.

Photographer Steven Haddock was in the pit for the Ticketmaster Blog…

Like these photos? See more of Steven’s work at stevenhaddock.co.uk and find him on Twitter @stevenhaddock.

Keep up to date with our Live Download Festival 2016 Blog.