Max Mingardifter
MONSTERS OF ROCK 1981
a few initial rumours about who was to headline the second festival (Rush, Kiss, Black Sabbath), it was announced that AC/DC would be the main band with Whitesnake as special guests.

Our entourage more than doubled this year (5 in 1980 to 12 in 1981), including a couple of girlfriends. We travelled down in a transit van. This was to become our normal form of tr… Moreansit for the next decade or so.

For me, the band of the day title was taken from under AC/DC’s nose by the mighty blues rock of Whitesnake. Coverdale and co were one of the best live bands around in the early eighties.AC/DC were let down by over-long gaps between songs. Also, apart from ‘THE’ Bell, their stage show was a bit sparse. Their shows at later Donington’s were much better.

Blue Oyster Cult had a ‘very’ bad day at the office.

Slade were a breath of fresh air on a wet Saturday afternoon. I can’t recall whether it was footballs or toilet rolls (or both) that they threw into the crowd, but I do remember Noddy Holder proclaiming that the rain was ‘pissing’ in from the (AC/DC)Bell hung from a crane high above the stage. Great fun.

Blackfoot were also in the form of their life in August 1981. Good Morning and Wishing Well going down a storm, but the piece de resistance was Highway Song (a song almost, but not quite as good as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Freebird).

Paul Hartshorn Less

81n2

SLADE
MONSTERS OF ROCK 1981
Slades setlist

Dizzy Mama
When I’m Dancing, I Ain’t Fighting
Take Me Bak ‘Ome
Lock Up Your Daughters
Everyday
Something Else
Pistol Packing Mama Medley
Gudbuy To Jane
We’ll Bring The House Down
Get Down And Get With It
Mama Weer All Crazee Now
Cum On Feel The Noize
Born To Be Wild
Merry Xmas Everybody

setlist courtesy Richard

Poor quality audience sourcehttps://youtu.be/2rDr3ojTpzo

SLADE
MONSTERS OF ROCK 1981
Slades setlist

Dizzy Mama
When I’m Dancing, I Ain’t Fighting
Take Me Bak ‘Ome
Lock Up Your Daughters
Everyday
Something Else
Pistol Packing Mama Medley
Gudbuy To Jane
We’ll Bring The House Down
Get Down And Get With It
Mama Weer All Crazee Now
Cum On Feel The Noize
Born To Be Wild
Merry Xmas Everybody

setlist courtesy Richard

Poor quality audience source

AC/DC/
MONSTERS OF ROCK 1981
38PE

WHITESNAKE
MONSTERS OF ROCK 1981
Whitesnake

Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues
Sweet Talker
Ready & Willing
Don’t Break My Heart Again
Lovehunter
Mistreated / Soldier Of Fortune
Belgian Tom’s Hat Trick
Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City
Would I Lie To You
Fool For Your Loving
Wine, Women & Song
79 min

Noisy Aud recording

David Coverdale : vocals
Micky Moody :guitar/vocals
Bernie Marsden : guitar/vocals
N… Moreeil Murray : bass
Ian Paice: drums
John Lord Keyboards
4Enx Less

BLUE OYSTER CULT
MONSTERS OF ROCK 1981
Blue Öyster Cult

The Red & The Black
ETI
Heavy Metal
Joan Crawford
Burnin' For You
Hot Rails To Hell
Godzilla
(Don't Fear) The Reaper
E: Roadhouse Blues

Eric Bloom : vocals/guitar
Buck Dharma :Lead guitar/vocals
Allen Lanier : keyboards /guitar
Joe Bouchard : bass/vocals
Rick Downey : drums

It is not known if a recording of the entire set is in existence but Roadhouse Bl… Moreues was featured on one unofficial release... Less

BLUE OYSTER CULT
MONSTERS OF ROCK 1981

ACCEPT
MONSTERS OF ROCK
eME9

WHITESNAKE
MONSTERS OF ROCK 1981