w/ Tim "Ripper" Owens (Iced Earth, ex- Judas Priest)
Tilla w/ Mathias 'Warlord' Nygard (Turisas)...approximately 4 hours and counltess drinks before he started pulling my tie and playing around with my shirt...oh dear, always these pseudo-homosexual Vikings
Okay, I once again apologise for the lack of postings in recent weeks.
This time actually there is a lot to say.
First of all, my last week:
Friday, June 8th
In the morning we headed up north from Wimbledon to Castle Donington where the annual DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL pulls tenthousands to the racing track. Basically it is only a new moniker for the old MONSTERS OF ROCK FESTIVAL, THE classic UK rock open air event.
This year we had four bands playing, US newcomers IN THIS MOMENT, the legendary NAPALM DEATH and PARADISE LOST and, opening main stage on Saturday, TURISAS from Hämeenlinna, Finnland.
No need to say they all were amazing and pulled thousands to their stages and all of them went down in a storm. To give you an idea what Download Festival looks like, here you can see almost the entire TURISAS set:
TO HOLMGARD & BEYOND
IN THE COUR OF JARISLEIF
OLLI's VIOLIN SOLO
RASPUTIN
BATTLE METAL
Bearing in mind that this was only 11 a.m. on Saturday, you get an idea how many people were there when Headliners IRON MAIDEN played the last slot on Sunday night.
Besides fantastic weather conditions, warm showers and sufficient toilets on the VIP Campground and all the anemnities and good food in the VIP/MEDIA area, it just was a fabulous festival. The billing had its weaknesses in Mainstream Acts such as Linkin Pork, My Chemical Toilet or Evanesensemann but all in all the atmoshphere was even relaxter and a bit looser than even the magic breath of WACKEN. Apart from our aforementioned bands, I also took the time to go and see Megadeth, Velvet Revolver, Hellyeah, Shadows Fall, Anathema, Machine Head, Slayer, Marilyn Manson, and some more...you get it.
The fun bits in the VIP area were the fantastic catering, the guys in star wars stormtroopers suites and especially the car racing eight track, with its remote control connected to a Hughes&Kettner bass amp. Every note you played on the attached bass guitar made the little car move forward. If the car moved faster or more secure if you played in time remains another unsolved mystery in the world of Rock'nRoll.
After recovering from a rough night with my Viking friends of TURISAS, serveral coffees, coconut spare ribs, many a soft drink with ice and a slight sunburn on my nose - dammit, this scorching english sun! - we headed back to London Sunday night during the set of Iron Maiden, who had just landed in their private jet on the nearby East Midlands Airport. The number of cargo planes almost striking the roof of the main stage was a bit annoying maybe.
Anyway, this rather quiet festival sunday proved to be only the calm before the storm.
Monday, June 11th
Following up DOWNLOAD the annual GOLDEN GODS AWARDS were presented by METAL HAMMER, and with the tickets and VIP passes, the order was given to dress up.
Well, so we did and boy did we rock!
The list of celebrities is long but somewhat boring. After TURISAS played a short set to the beginning of the show, I was busy losing my first ever competition on Playstation2 GUITAR HERO, whilst being supplied with Jägermeister by their lovely Jägergirls. Wicked!
It was bit difficult though, playing this game to some Misfits song, while Dimmu Borgir are playing right behind you, on stage. Anyhow a set of Lamb Of God and Machine Head and a couple of free drinks later, everybody with a red wristband made their way to one of the most notorious clubs of London.
SOUND, I Leicester Sq. London W1
That's where the party began.For the record: compared to most colleagues I really did behave myself and did not get unreasonably wasted. It was more than enough fun, though, watching anybody else do and take some pictures with one or another Heavy Metal Icon.
"Let Freedom ring with a shotgun blaaaaaaaaaaast..." Mr. Rob Flynn (Machine Head)
Mr. Biff Byford (Saxon) and Ms. Stendel (visiting London once more)
Beyond belief! Adam Deuce (Machine Head), Yours Truly and Mr. Kerry King him-very-self.
You can't see it but my knees were shaking.
Tuesday was a quiet day in the office, so much for my week...
Still waiting for some of the pics, don't worry, there's more to come.
And yes, that IS the suit I was wearing on my high school ball, so what!?
