ANVIL To Play U.K.'s DOWNLOAD Festival

February 18, 2009

Canadian metal legends ANVIL will perform at this summer's Download festival, set to take place June 12-14 at Donington Park, United Kingdom.

The band, which is the subject of an acclaimed documentary "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil", will play the Donington event after last appearing at Monsters Of Rock in 1982.

Speaking on "BBC Breakfast", the film's director Sacha Gervasi said: "After playing Donington Park in 1982, 27 years on, they've been invited back to play Download."

Download festival billing so far:

ANVIL
DEF LEPPARD
DEVILDRIVER
KORN
LIMP BIZKIT
MÖTLEY CRÜE
PENDULUM
SLIPKNOT
THE PRODIGY
TRIVIUM
WHITESNAKE

The U.K. trailer for "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" — a mockumentary-like true account of fiftysomething Canadian heavy-metal practitioners Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner who, after a desultory European tour with their band ANVIL, decide to record a 13th album in a final attempt to fulfill their boyhead dreams of stardom — can be viewed below.

According to Amazon.com, Bantam Press has set a March 12, 2009 release date for the book version of "Anvil! The Story of Anvil".

At fourteen, Toronto school friends Kudlow and Reiner made a pact to rock together forever. Their band ANVIL went on to become the "demi-gods of Canadian metal," releasing one of the heaviest albums in metal history, 1982's "Metal on Metal". The album influenced a musical generation including METALLICA, SLAYER and ANTHRAX. All those bands went on to sell millions of records but ANVIL's career would take a different path — straight to obscurity.

"Anvil! The Story of Anvil" is the autobiography of Lips and Robb, two inspirational aging rockers who are now in their mid-fifties, and still heroically following their dream.

Sarah Emsley, Senior Editor at Bantam Press, who has acquired the world rights for the book, comments: ''All of us at Transworld are absolutely delighted to be involved in the global phenomenon that is 'Anvil! The story of Anvil'. At a time when an increasing number of films and books seem to be focusing on the darker side of life, it is wonderful to be reminded that if you believe in yourself, stick by your friends and never give up, you really can make your dreams come true. You cannot fail to be moved by this story. ANVIL rocks!"

The film marks the directorial debut of the screenwriter Sacha Gervasi. In 2004, Sacha wrote "The Terminal", starring Tom Hanks and directed by Steven Spielberg. He has subsequently written "Comrade Rockstar" for Tom Hanks, "How to Marry A Millionaire" for Nicole Kidman, and is co-writing "Henry's Crime" for Keanu Reaves. In 2009 he will write and direct the true story of tragic "Fantasy Island" actor Herve Villechaize and his final week alive.

Sacha, Lips and Robb said: "We are extremely excited to have this book deal in place and to have teamed up with such a passionate, enthusiastic and successful publishing company. Come spring 2009, as well as our music, we will also have a film and book to spread the spirit of ANVIL around the globe. This is what the band have spent the past thirty-five years working for."

The film will be released in North America, Canada and the U.K. in spring 2009. The distribution deal has also been agreed for Japan, with Australia to follow shortly.

For more information, visit AnvilMovie.com.

ANVIL talking about book version of "Anvil! The Story of Anvil":

U.K. trailer for "Anvil! The Story of Anvil":

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