Where Are They Now? - The Headliners Of Download 2003
5. Saturday Main Stage Headliner: Iron Maiden
Though Maiden were making their Download debut, by no means were they unfamiliar to holy lands of Donington Park. Over ten years prior, Maiden would make what would be their final appearance at Download's precursor, the Monsters of Rock Festival.
The band were gearing up to release their second album since the return of beloved frontman Bruce Dickinson, 'Dance of Death', featuring one of the most early-2000s album cover you're ever likely to see. The lads were having a weird CGI phase at the time...
Maiden have continued to stake their claim of being one of the biggest bands in the world, releasing a succession of increasingly broader and acclaimed albums, the most recent of which being 2015's 'The Book of Souls'. In an interview with Blabbermouth in November 2020, Brucie confirmed that the band were tinkering around with ideas in the studio, but for now, will have to settle for a 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination.
Their return to Donington Park would begin Maiden's march to becoming the patron saints of Download, headlining again in 2007 (spawning the iconic "scream for me Donington!" war-cry), 2013 (featuring an equally iconic Spitfire flyover), 2016, and are scheduled to headline once more for the 2022 edition, alongside KISS and Biffy Clyro.