CHILDREN OF BODOM Bassist Comments On Upcoming DOWNLOAD Festival Appearance

CHILDREN OF BODOM will perform at this year's Download festival, set to take place the weekend of June 13-15 at Donington Park, Leicestershire, UK. Although the Finnish outfit has been approached about the event a number of times in the past, a consistently tight schedule has never made it possible for them to take up the offer. Until now.

Says bassist Henkka T. Blacksmith: "We've been aware of the Download festival for a number of years now, but our touring & recording schedule has meant that we've just never been available at the right time. However, with the campaign for our new album, 'Blooddrunk', we plotted everything out well in advance, so if the offer to appear should come our way, we'd be ready... and we're delighted to say that it has! And we ARE! You know, it's a great pleasure for us to be involved with an event that has such an incredible history. Back in the early '80s, the Castle Donington festival was a truly ground-breaking event, one that every band dreamed of playing, and now in 2008 it's our turn to make a bit of history. See you down the front... then in the bar!"

Also scheduled to appear at Download are KISS, LOSTPROPHETS, THE OFFSPRING, JUDAS PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD, RISE AGAINST, HIM, ALTER BRIDGE, DISTURBED, IN FLAMES and INCUBUS, among others.

In other news, June will see the reissue of the first four CHILDREN OF BODOM albums: "Something Wild" (1997), "Hatebreeder" (1999), "Tokyo Warhearts" (1999 – recorded live in Japan) and "Follow The Reaper" (2000), an album produced by noted musician and performer Peter Tägtgren, who recently rejoined forces with the band for parts of the recording of forthcoming CD, "Blooddrunk".