On August 20, 1988, Castle Donington became the center of the rock universe as over 100,000 fans gathered for the Monsters of Rock festival. Despite heavy rain turning the grounds into a mud-soaked field, anticipation ran high with Iron Maiden headlining and support from rock giants KISS, David Lee Roth, Megadeth, Guns N’ Roses, and Helloween.
Iron Maiden was promoting their concept album Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, while KISS, having ditched their iconic makeup, were eager to prove they could still command a major stage. For Guns N’ Roses, the moment marked a meteoric rise—just two months after releasing “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” which was dominating airwaves and MTV alike.
While fans were electrified, the festival soon turned somber. During Guns N’ Roses’ high-energy, 40-minute set, a crowd surge led to the tragic deaths of two young men. Later investigations attributed the incident to poor weather and a sudden collapse in a densely packed area of the audience. The band only learned of the tragedy after leaving the stage.
Behind the scenes, press gathered for interviews, with Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose predictably drawing attention for his outspoken attitude. In an interview snippet recorded that day, Rose—sipping a Coke and wearing his own band’s T-shirt—offered no-filter opinions on their fellow performers.
When asked if Guns N’ Roses had similarities with any of the day’s bands, Rose responded candidly: “Maybe only in attitude. I liked KISS in their early days. Now, I think the only thing we have in common with KISS is that we like to make money and we like girls. Their music comes second. For us, music is everything.”
Pressed on whether GN’R shared anything in common with Iron Maiden, Rose’s answer was blunt: “I hope not.”
Despite the controversy and tragedy, the 1988 Monsters of Rock event remains a significant, if bittersweet, chapter in rock history—marking GN’R’s unstoppable rise, Iron Maiden’s dominance, and a reminder of the delicate balance between spectacle and safety in live music.
