Anyway… Yesterday (a few hours before the announcement), I discussed with people (pretty much anyone who would listen) which bands I would like to play at Download this year. Once I’d finished it was helpfully pointed out that the festival was called Download and not LouFest. I must admit that the idea of LouFest is very appealing… so I started to think about who would play at LouFest… and this is what I came up with…

(Judging by this list, it may have to be several days long! …and this list isn’t really in order… although GN’R would probably be headlining)

Guns N’ Roses – Well, GN’R had to be there really, didn’t they? Since this is MY festival I get to pick which line-up of GN’R plays (it’s nice to play God at times)… Perhaps surprisingly, I’d like to see the current line-up. The YouTube videos and the bootlegs of the shows I’ve seen from Asia and Canada (and the surprise shows in New York) look and sound AMAZING! I’d have to be an idiot to not want to witness that firsthand! Also, since this would be MY festival, I’d like to suggest one or two songs for their set list – “Prostitute”, “This I Love”, “I.R.S”, “Estranged”, “Coma”, “Back Off Bitch”, “My Michelle”, “You’re Crazy”, “Shackler’s Revenge”, “Better”, “There Was a Time”, “Scraped”, “Madagascar”, “Street of Dreams”… well, you get the idea…

Black Ritual – There’s a chance that not everyone reading this will know who Black Ritual are. Well, I’ll bring you up to speed… they’re awesome! “1000 Yard Stare” was a crazily superb album and I’m really looking forward to the follow up. I’d be over the moon if they played “War Within”, “Terrified”, “These Pills” and “Below Zero”.

Lamb of God – Here’s another band that HAD to be there. Astoundingly good both live and on CD, it would be stupid not to include them on the bill. Songs I’d like to hear: “Reclamation”, “A Devil in God’s Country”, “Bootscraper”, “Now You’ve Got Something to Die For”, “Grace”, “Walk With Me in Hell”, “Redneck”, “Choke Sermon”… etc…

Omnium Gatherum – I love Omnium Gatherum. Really, really love them! And yet, I’m still not sure how to describe them… perhaps melodeath with a progressive edge? Whatever they are, they’re bloody brilliant! I would list songs I’d want to hear… but anything will do …especially “Just Signs”.

Devilish Impressions – I’ve had a bit of an obsession with Devilish Impressions since I first heard “Plurima Mortis Imago”. As far as I’m concerned, that album was (and still is) a masterpiece! Also, they’re bloody good live!

Vesperian Sorrow – Lou likes Vesperian Sorrow. A lot. The band can do no wrong!

Winterthrall – An awesome band that’s not afraid to work in different styles. I don’t care what they played so long as they did play! But, if they were up for taking requests, “Autumn Caskets” wouldn’t go amiss

Enfold Darkness – I’ve got so into this band recently. They are AMAZING!

Michael Monroe – Singer from Hanoi Rocks and solo stuff. Damn good… and he could always do a duet with Axl for “Dead, Jail or Rock ‘n’ Roll”.

Hate Ammo – Brilliant band! I can’t wait for their album to be released on CD (in the meantime you can listen to tracks on their MySpace). Definitely more than worthy of a spot here!

December Flower – This is a band that I discovered through the wonders of MySpace. Damn good.

Ozzy Osbourne – No explanation needed.

Sebastian Bach – I’ve really got into his “Angel Down” album recently (it’s amazingly good – if you haven’t listened to it yet, you should). A couple of duets with Axl would go down rather well too.

Tension Head – Another ‘MySpace’ band with a great sound! I’d love to hear “The Bear” and “Don’t Worry” live!

Metallica – I never used to be that into Metallica… but “Death Magnetic” changed all of that.

Finntroll – If you have not witnessed the majesty of Finntroll (either on album or live), then you have missed out.

Five Finger Death Punch – 5FDP are amazing live! I have to admit that I haven’t got into “War is the Answer” as much as “The Way of the Fist”, but if they played LouFest it would give them the opportunity to ‘sell’ those songs to me… as I’m sure they’ve all lost a lot of sleep over the fact that I didn’t like that album quite as much… That seems likely.

Aerosmith – Again, no explanation needed. However, Steven Tyler would HAVE to be there!

Thunder – I’d make Thunder reform for LouFest… If I smiled sweetly I’m sure they’d say ‘yes’.

Motorhead – No reason needed.

Alice Cooper – He’s a legend. He must play.

Meat Loaf – The first album I ever bought (on cassette!) was Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell” when I was 9. I’ve been a fan ever since.

Autumnal Reaper – Autumnal Reaper are one of those bands that I’d been meaning to listen to for ages… I recently got their latest album and was blown away.

Stigma – Love, love, love these guys! Can’t wait to hear the new stuff!

Crionics – Quazarre (Devilish Impressions) might find himself getting a bit tired, but Lou likes Crionics.

The Defiled – They’re bat-shit crazy, but in a truly wonderful way. And, well, they rock. So there.

Megadeth – It had to be done

Cor Scorpii – Listen to “Monument”. I don’t need to say anymore than that.

Bon Jovi – I know, I know… Jovi. I’ve lost interest in them for the past few albums, but if they played LouFest I would insist that they only play stuff from “New Jersey”, “Slippery When Wet”, “These Days” and “Keep The Faith”. I’m in charge, so I get to do things like that.

Terrorvision – Tequila, it makes me happy…

Skunk Anansie – Do I really need a reason? They’re brilliant!

Slipknot – I’m not a mega-fan of Slipknot, but I do like a lot of their stuff… and I’d love to see ‘em live… so that’s why they’re on the list!

Danko Jones – They recently toured Canada with Guns N’ Roses and Sebastian Bach and I read quite a few good things about them in relation to that tour… so I decided to check them out… and they rocked.

Sixx A.M. – DJ Ashba’s gonna be a bit busy, but I’ve really got into Sixx A.M.’s album.

A Road Eternal – A brutally awesome band. Everyone should worship them… Loucifer has spoken.

My Undoing – Another band from the same part of the world as Black Ritual and A Road Eternal. I think there’s something in the water there…

Buckcherry – They were fantastic at Sonisphere last year. I’m sure they’d be equally fantastic at LouFest.

Black Label Society – Zakk fuckin’ Wylde. I’ll say no more.

Arch Enemy – Brilliant vocals, brilliant guitar work… brilliantness…

Machine Men – Fantastic band… if you have not checked them out yet, you should do so… now!

Edguy – Great band! And, I want them to play “Trinidad”.

Balfor – Astounding Barbaric Black Metal.

Black Lotus – I’d imagine Black Lotus would be cool to chill out to.

Cancer Bats – Recently got into these guys – gotta catch ‘em live!

Ok… I gotta admit… I’m getting a bit tired of writing explanations now… so I’m just gonna give you a nice list!

Ironside
Swingshot
Destruction
Thin Lizzy *
Egypt Central
Winds of Plague
Ektomorf
Fragments of Unbecoming
H.I.M
Hell Within
Hexagram
I.C.O.N
Ignominious Incarceration
Nervecell
Powerwolf
Reverend Kill
Rumpelstiltskin Grinder
Secrets She Kept
Secrets of the Moon
Sammath
Slowtorch
Thirty 2 Life
Corrupted Truth
Queen *
Pantera *
Soilwork
Stemm
Stuka Squadron
Brother Grey
The Foreshadowing
Twisted Sister
Ugly Kid Joe
Extreme O.D.
Bite The Kerb
Sons of Beaches

…and that’s enough for now… perhaps…
(* I’m using my powers to bring people back from the dead for these ones)

I wish this was real

I’ve provided links where it was possible to do so… but where I haven’t, Google (or your prefered Search Engine) is your friend!

So… any thoughts on this? Wanna post your own Fantasy Festival line-up? Drop us a comment