The Monsters of Rock Donington August 20th 1988 35 years on

[@jeffbeck1100]

Hey Blob88. It was me that fell during DLR’s set. Loads of people fell on me and I remember the weight of more people falling (on me) It was so hot you couldn’t believe it and I couldn’t describe it.Thought I was a goner.. I just remember trying to shout “I can’t breathe” but obviously no one could hear me. Luckily, and how, god knows, I woke up in the first aid tent, covered in mud and with both my eyes bloodshot due to the blood vessels in my eyes bursting. I have the Kerrang from that day framed… and friends who went with me that day tell the story more than I do. That was the day festivals changed for the better… RIP to the guys that died that day. I’m lucky to be here. BTW: story goes that Steve Harris from Maiden saw me fall down and alerted security. I also wrote a massively long letter the DLR for saving my life but sadly didn’t hear anything back… Cheers mate. Take care.

[@oddball6992]

That was mine and my twin bros 19th birthday at that fest, good line up but crazy crushing

[@MaddogKernan]

I went to this mor at the age of 17 my 1st metal concert in a total of 40 concerts in total I remember now seeing the crowd surge at the back during gnr I never understood it then like I do now I also remember seeing some piss head storm through the crowd during DLR with his nose busted and covered in claret.

[@OlafProt]

I was in front of the sound tower, aged 16 and I remember the crowd falling forwards in front of me. I was very lucky. Some friends came out shellshocked. The crowd estimates were 107k, although a friend met a member of Maiden recently and he said they were told it was 112k. Back then crowd safety was just not at the forefront of organisers minds. And those two kids paid the price. I think if those two lads have a legacy it’s probably saving the lives of potentially 100s after, as things really changed afterwards. Having said all that, on the day we didn’t know how serious it had got, we were 16, and I saw Maiden for the first time. And so my prevailing memories of this are good. We got the train from Dorking, then a coach from Victoria coach stn. We met this lad on the coach whose parents lived in Donnington village so his parents opened a room in the house and we had somewhere to sleep! I wanted to see Halloween (saw them later in the year) Megadeth (saw them in May), DLR, Maiden. Kiss felt like old farts 😂 so I wasn’t interested. They felt lightweight compared. Do you remember Thomas McRocklin?! Played a gig at the pub in the village. By the time Maiden came on I was at the back on the hill. Loads of space around me and sang and head banged. I must’ve just had a sixth sense for personal safety. Most of my friends had gone to the front I wasn’t interested. Too nervous.

[@simonjamesdean2307]

It was a combination of circumstances - nobody was to blame. When GnR were booked to play, they were still relatively unknown. Between being booked and the actual show, they became the hottest new act on the planet. If I remember right, they were added to the line-up quite late on which is why a lot of people without tickets turned up on the day. Fans could turn up at the gate and pay cash to get in, so nobody knows for sure how many people were there. Too many, that's for sure. The official figure of 107,000 is way too low and I would guess it was over 150,000. The whole event had a foreboding atmosphere...everybody knew something was going to happen. I was lucky - I was on the edge of the carnage when GnR were playing. I managed to work my way back to a safer area. It settled down after that. We thought everything passed without incident until the police came on stage after Maiden's set and announced the deaths and appealed for witnesses. It was a crushing end to what had been a great day. That was my last Donington festival. The magic died that day too... 😔

[@TheSonnyfaiz]

Yes I believe GNR were the last act to be added onto the bill prior to the event. Absolutely no one was to blame really, I distinctly saw security approach DLR where he turned them away, it would have been hard to say what would have happened following , if they stopped that whole event, I believe the problems occurred so much so ( pulling out all the injured etc) and it was possibly at this time they wanted to stop the show because it got to a critical point. Yes 107,000 but I also believe it to be much more than that. The security worked well and you did well to get out from there. I knew during Helloween it was a big problem and By mid set I was out of there. I was behind the second huge flag that can be seen on “the clairvoyant” Maiden video in the evening.

[@simonjamesdean2307]

@@TheSonnyfaiz DLR came on after GnR so the damage had already been done sadly...

[@freemanbynature]

@@TheSonnyfaiz HI Mate, I am writing this with tears in my eyes again... every year or two I revisit this subject, today being about 1 year since my 14 year old daughter got her first Maiden ticket Future/past at Manchester, well here we are anyway, That was My flag you were stood behind, I still have it of course it is a little worse for wear as it went to many a Maiden gig after that. I agree that no~one was really to blame but I still carry a lot of guilt. The flag caused a problem or two especially catching the bottles, it was an easy target. Rest in Peace Alan Dick and Landon Siggers, whoever you are, you have my Love Peace and Respect. FreeMan @simonjamesdean That was my last Donington festival too. The Donington magic died that day. I had spent my childhood there as my Dad was a Race Marshall operating the lights at Hangar Straight. I was a young man, blonde with a scorpion tattoo, my family thought I was one of the poor guys that lost their lives as that was one of the descriptions. Love Peace and Respect. FreeMan PS We hope Alan and Landon had their Boots On! Plus I just realised I am not the only on that has scoured the Donington 88 videos for the flag :)

[@freemanbynature]

@simonjamesdean That was my last Donington festival too. The Donington magic died that day. I had spent my childhood there as my Dad was a Race Marshall operating the lights at Hangar Straight. I was a young man, blonde with a scorpion tattoo, my family thought I was one of the poor guys that lost their lives as that was one of the descriptions. Love Peace and Respect. FreeMan