August 17, 2002 - Ringfest - Cologne, Germany
Hail Brothers and Sisters
I was in Cologne to see the best band in the world. The whole thing (Ringfest) was really strange. The viva stage Manowar played on was only 7 meters long. Small but fine. But when you think about the fact that only 3 hours ago Natural or Oli P. played on the same stage it's a really strange thing. Manowar's Show: The place was totally full. But I managed to get to the second row. At the Gods Of Metal Festival in Milan this would not have been possible. There I stood 50 meters away from the stage. In Cologne I stood only two meters away from Joey. The Metal Kings played only a gig of 80 minutes (a real pitty). But it was free and so it was ok. I was just missing the new single An American Trilogy / Fight For Freedom.
Heavy Greetings von Gogge ( Bodensee)
The Manowar show in Cologne was absolutely cool! In fact, with close to 50 minutes it was a pretty short concert, but hey, the Kings have played and that for free! At the beginning the whole thing seemed a bit suspicious,
since some of the fans who populated the small, picturesque place with its nice fountain at Kaiser Wilhelm Ring and Gladbacher Strasse were afflicted with slight doubts if they are waiting at the right stage and if Manowar would really come. But altogether the mood was good, and it wasn't spoiled through the music coming over from the "Allianz Hochseilgarten". Also the opener band "Die Happy" at large has been welcomed with friendliness. After the last tones of "Die Happy" volatilized and the Manowar Sound Crew started to build up the fat Equipment of the Kings, the mood already began to raise, and the drumset from Scott Columbus with the white logo at the black backside of the bass drums resolved all doubt and have been welcomed with euphoric "Kings of Metal" choirs. The soundcheck lasted and the people got a bit strained again. But then the famous orchestral intro with the deep voice of Orson Wells sounded and three men closed in leather rised from the fog and on stage and kicked some major ass with "Manowar" and "Kings of Metal"! The (in best case only) drunk dude, who up to that moment was lying lethargical before me in the meadow and who almost seemeded to be swamped with breathing, has been heeled in a wondrous way (now we have to canonize the guys!) and bounced back. My mates and me got mad as well and we left the meadow, which we picked out cause of the "good view", and ran like crazy up to the front of the stage to party with the other fans! Slogan: "Mosh for the groat!"
After that followed "Herz aus Stahl", "Sting of the Bumblebee", "Kill With Power", "Warriors of the World" which is even cooler live than on the studio CD, "House of Death", after that Joey wanted to say good bye to the fans and said that the band isn't allowed to play too loud (the Swiss police greets here)
and that's why they are allowed to play only till 12pm. Otherwise Joey would have to go into jail, therefore he let the fans confirm their loyalty to the band and make sure that we would get him out of the jail if necessary... (I think he exaggerated a bit). After that he bitched in his typical way about all false ones and those-who-hate-Manowar-and-their-fans, let the fans confirm it with loud "Fuck You" calls and praised the good, "tasty German beer" etc. Joey's comment to Top of the Pos was worth gold: "One day a girl asked me what I think about being at Top of the Pops, and I answered: Hey babe, you are on Top and I pop". As encore there was "Black Wind, Fire and Steel", together with decent feedbacks and the dead of Joey's bass strings and the promise that Manowar will come back in November. The lights went off and the bearing sounds of "The Crown and The Ring" completed the evening. It was simply stunning to see Manowar live and really on the stage, which wasn't granted to me before. It is impossible what kind of power these guys have, not to mention the musical finesse and majesty of grand melodies. Without doubt they are the Kings Of Metal. Manowar will come back and I will be there, too!!!
H&K
Martin "Wimpslayer" Becker
