Organiser confirms Black Sabbath will appear at Download as planned


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Download Festival organiser Andy Copping has confirmed Black Sabbath are at the moment due to appear at the event as originally planned, despite the recent news of the band’s guitarist Tony Iommi being diagnosed with cancer.

“As far as I’m aware everything is fine,” Copping has told NME. “I’ve been told that Black Sabbath are going to be playing Download. I don’t want people to worry unduly about that, we should all just send our thoughts and best wishes to Tony Iommi.”

Copping also explained the booking of British electronic duo Chase & Status, who have apparently been the subject of a Facebook campaign calling for them to be withdrawn from the line-up.

“They’re a great live band,” Copping said. “They totally fit with what we’ve done before with bands like Pendulum and The Prodigy, who wanted them to play on their day. I know they’re going to step up and win people over. I saw them perform in Hyde Park last year and they totally blew me away with the intensity of their show.”

“They even had circle pits going on and that’s what Download’s all about. To those people who are unsure, I say go and have a look and you’ll be blown away. If not, we’ve got four other stages for you to choose from. But you should go and watch Chase and Status.”


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