Posted by Justin Cranna 03 February 2011
Stories From Down Under
VOICEOFROCK.COM's Australia reporter Justin Cranna states his personal top 10 reasons why he would not miss Australia's Soundwave Festival this year...
Melbourne - There are many reasons why you shouldn't miss this year’s SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL this summer and I'd like to quote the infamous Slash who once said “Whenever society gets too stifling and the rules get too complex, there's some sort of musical explosion" and judging by the look of this year's Soundwave Festival line-up, an explosion is exactly what this year’s festival goers are going to get...
Here’s my Top 10 reason why nobody should miss this (and yes! I am a Melbournite who loves Hard Rock so don’t bitch if I seem biased!):
1. Iron Maiden
Mother of Mercy it’s Iron Maiden!!! Their latest album, The Final Frontier, has peaked at No 1 in 30 different countries to date!! This album has also been their biggest achievement in terms of chart success. All of this, 35 years after their inception, gives you an idea why these Metal GODS are worthy of headlining Soundwave this year! Having inspired bands such as Slipknot, Trivium, Metallica and Slayer you’d be a fool not to come just for them! UP THE IRONS!!!!
2. Slayer
Forming 30 years ago, Slayer is hailed as one of the BIG FOUR Thrash Metal bands along with Anthrax, Megadeath and Metallica. They are also one of the longest running bands next to Iron Maiden and Saxon. If you need more reason to see them live just think of this, do you really believe a band influenced by rock gods Iron Maiden – Kerry King himself said “The reason why Slayer is here is because of Iron Maiden…” – is a live performance to miss? The answer is NO! Get your ass off your papa’s couch!
3. Melbourne
Melbourne, the second largest city in Australia, a place with some of the most highly regarded live venues in the world, the place where a unanimous Melbourne City Council vote changed the name of a CBD laneway from “Corporation Lane” to “ACDC Lane” and the place where the then Melbourne Lord Mayor John so famously said upon opening this famous lane, “As the song says, there is a highway to hell, but this is a laneway to heaven. Let us Rock.” If a previous Lord Mayor happily opens a laneway and tells you to “rock” what do you think you should do? I say adopt another famous OZZY rock saying and “ROCK OUT WITH YOUR C *CK OUT”!!!!
4. Partying
69 bands, 9 stages, 11 hours, band signings, seeing the bands your parents told you not to listen to live, rocking out with like-minded people, moshpits, sunshine, awesome location, beer, whisky, bourbon!!!! I don’t know about you but all these things sound like one HELL of a party to me!
5. Slash
Arguably one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Slash is here again to rock Australia and this time it’s at Soundwave 2011. Having been a solid fan since his G ‘n R days, I’ll certainly be there to see this man live and witness history in the making!
6. Rob Zombie
Forget White Zombie, this is Rob Zombie, who created White Zombie... Need I say more? Join the rest of the Hellbillies and let it rock you better than your mama did!
7. Location
Melbourne Showgrounds is only 20 minutes from Melbourne CBD by public transport…. In Melbourne where trams are on almost every road to the extent that they just piss the drivers off. Where busses can pull out whenever they please and where Taxi drivers take you the long way round to a destination because “there are just too many of us on the road so we don’t make enough money”. All these transport options give you no excuse at all to miss this festival… unless you live in the country that is and can’t afford transport… and as a result need to walk. In that case you can be a little late.
8. Devil Driver
Having now released their hard-hitting 4th album, Pray For Villains, this band is certainly one of THE bands to see. Since forming in 2003 they have toured relentlessly and supported top metal acts such as Lamb Of God and Fear Factory. This has earned them a well-deserved solid and dedicated fan base who will almost certainly stop at nothing to catch these boys live!
9. Saxon
Another one of Rock’s legendary acts!! Besides the fact their fan base is made up of everyone from 15 year old skaters to 60 year old retirees, the mere fact that these UK boys have been together more than 30 years is reason enough to see them live. C’mon parents, take your kids, at least they’ll have something to speak to the teachers about at school on Monday!
10. History
Soundwave has been around since the rock of ages….or to be more precise since 2004 when the festival originated alongside the Swan River in Perth known then as ‘Gravity Soundwave’ before the festival began travelling to the other Australian capital cities in 2007. It has ever since spoiled us with some of the finest Australian music acts and international top acts such as Good Charlotte, Grinspoon, Deftones, The Offspring, Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More, +44, Incubus, Alice in Chains, Bloodhound Gang, Lamb of God, Jane's Addiction Jimmy Eat World and countless others….all from various genres including Rock, Metal and Punk. The organizers of Soundwave clearly know what they’re doing so you know what to expect!!!
So come on fellow rockers, throw your horns up, join me and all the fans - national and international - in this land of plenty, for the festival of the year where we are gonna ROCK THE F*CK OUT!!!
Justin Cranna
P.S.: Check out DOMMIN's personal and extraordinary Soundwave video greeting below:
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