New Alter Bridge Album: 8 Incredible Things To Look Forward To

6. That Download Headline Slot Rumour

Could it be? The epitome of hard rock success, and the spiritual top-of-the-pile slot for everyone from guys like James Hetfield and Bruce Dickinson to, in this case, the entirety of Alter Bridge. Basically, the band have confirmed they're going into the studio in 2016 (as soon as Myles is done touring with Slash), and Tremonti has mentioned it's highly unlikely that'll mean things get turned around fast enough to have new material in time to headline Download, but their agent was pursuing it all the same. An excerpt from an interview on Team Rock Radio reads as follows:

"I just talked to our agent and he said he's going to try and have Alter Bridge headline next time, in 2017, which would be amazing. Headlining Download... I could walk away from that one and retire."

So it seems 2016 is more of a pipe dream, but as fans can attest; AB can already put together one HELL of a setlist from their first four albums, plus even if they could get new material out fast enough, your average festival-goer is going to be more familiar with the established material regardless. It could actually make more sense to headline 2016 and springboard off that into new album sales, but time will tell. I know myself the thought of AB finally getting to dominate Download would be one of the most heartwarming sensations possible - please Andy Copping (the festival's organiser), make it happen.