Behind the scenes of the Ringfest show - August 17
While Manowar's crew was setting up the stage, somewehere else in Germany, a good example took place of the Manowar Brotherhood: Manowar fans from different countries, who had never met before, only on the Internet in Manowar's Official Fanchat (to find in the WWWWzine), had set up a meeting to go to the show together. Read their stories and the pics show what a fantastic time they have had:
from left to right: Lady J - Catwitch - Taissa - KingMetal
Manowar Gig on August 17, 2002 at the ring party in Cologne.
Very excited to see my Gods of Metal on the Ring Party in Cologne, I surfed through all Manowar Homepages to find out something new on the gig and to cheer myself up even more! I decided to try again to go into the Manowar Chat and to have a look, what crazy people are hanging out there. On this lonely evening in front of my computer I was lucky to get in. Tja – just me. Nobody else was there. A mate I was chatting with via ICQ, gave me the advice to stay in for a while, I wouldn’t be alone for long. Soon somebody joined me and shouted out a friendly HAIL, CAT. “HAIL Cat”, I rapidly knew that here I was home. They spoke my language! We just started up a discussion about Manowar, their songs and next Saturday, the gig on the Viva stage. A certain Lady Jay from Holland (Hail Mylady) said to me that she would be there as well – cool, I said, we will see us in the front row then! J.
In this evening I was chatting until 1 am, then I decided that it’s enough for this day. Also during the next days it pulled me back again in the Chat Room – the ManoChat fever packed me! Lady Jay, Powerhead from Berlin, and I couldn’t think of anything else but next Saturday in Cologne ... and told to each which did (not) want to hear it that we would soon see Manowar live. Two days before the concert, on Thursday, Lady Jay said that she could not come on Saturday to Cologne,
because the girl who gave her a lift would not go, and train ticket and overnight accommodation in Cologne would sprinkle
her purse. You all can imagine how down she was. L Same with me, I really wanted to get to know her soon. What to do? Of
course I offered to her that she can spend the night at my house, hey Manowar Fans should stick together! So we found out
that the easiest way will be that she will come to Roermond train station; we exchanged pics and arranged to meet there on
Saturday, 12:25 am. Now I just had to tell my hubby about the unknown visitor. J And make the guest's room ready. On Friday
eve we decided that Kingmetal and Taissa would meet us in Roermond, so we did not have to look for us in crowded Cologne
and for them it would be easier to have sb knowing the way to Cologne. Yo, said & done, on Saturday at 12:25 am my hubby
and I drove to the railway station to pick them up. While waiting for the Lady Jay’s train, I wanted to know whether King
and Taissa were already there. I send a SMS, a SMS came back promptly, that they would already be at the railway station.
I turned round, cause I already recognized a couple on the other side of the station both bent over a mobile phone.
„ HEEEEEEY, KIIIIIING, TAISSSAAAAA, is it you??“ Yes, it was they. Ok, now we just had to pick up LadyJay, her train was
just coming in. We nearly missed us as I was checking the front of the train and she went out at the back, but no problem,
‘cause from the one side came Taissa and King and from the other side hubby and me. Home again, we just warmed up (or cool
down) with a tasty cold Dimix. Then in our jolly mood and full of enthusiasm we have created a banner greeting Manowar
– creative persons as we are. We just took an old tablecloth and a golden gleam spray. „ FAN'S CHAT HAILS MANOWAR “ stood
there in gold type characters. After all FanChat members had immortalized themselves there, we just had to fake the
signatures of Powerhead, Wakatanka and Cameraeye J - from those we knew that they would also take part. Around 3.30 pm,
some friends of mine joined us and we took off in direction of Cologne. Everything was alright, near a stop of the line 19
we got two free places for our steel horses, and off to the road. Everyone took a beer or a cuba libre and so we showed the
world real metal warriors. Although we met for the first time, we stood together as one. We had a really great time there.
Just ManoWarriors. Nevertheless, our holy banner was profaned promptly with good beer – how should a Cat drink in a jerking
tram without to slobber?! After we have spent the afternoon at the RTL stage, we rolled to the VIVA stage around 7pm,
always trying to contact Power and Waka via mobile. Actually we have met Waka at the merchandise stand. Around 8pm we three
women have struggled to the front row – nevertheless, we had sworn ourselves that we would stand in the first row. Then
shortly before the concert we have seen Marjo and have handed her our holy banner, so that she shows it to our Gods of
Metal. J In the first row – where else? – we also met Powerhead – many greetings to you, mlp! – and now the Chat was almost
complete (Cam, where have you been?).
Then shortly after 9 pm, AT LAST, our Gods of Metal entered the stage and immediately they got down to blow our heads off... MANOWAR, KINGS OF METAL, WARRIORS OF THE WORLD, HEART FROM STEEL, BUMP OFF POWER WITH, HOUSE OF DEATH, STING OF THE BUMBLEBEE, BLACKWIND FIRE and STEEL – It was gigantic – but unfortunately, too short!!! We all can’t wait until Manowars Tour in December now! We already planned to meet in Cologne again on December 6th, to party into my birthday after the gig.
What should I else tell to you about the show? I think how GREAT Manowar was, you could already read in the other reviews – what more should I say.
There is just to mention that we really had a great time among us FanChatter, and not just there, but in the crowd directly in front of the stage. Doesn’t matter in which face you looked before, during or after the concert, everywhere you found yourself, all the people with the same feeling to be happy to be here, to see Manowar, to take part. It is already fantastic to see people not knowing us, but taking our small LadyJay on their shoulders, so that she could see the stage; during " Brothers everywhere raise your hands into the air “ all ManoWarriors around you raising their hands into the air, hands finding hands – just to show: Hey, I am feeling the same! We are standing together strong – even if we do not know each other, doesn’t matter.
Nevertheless I should mention Joey's speech (which seems to be his favorite job apart from playing bass and some special sports J). He knows like no one else to swear us to ManoWarriors and to light a fire.
Now I can understand the Joey-Hype. (Nevertheless, my Fav. is still Eric with his impressing voice! J).
I would like to say a big THANK YOU to MARJO and the others who saved our lives with ice-cold water. I have never realized that it can still be so hot in the evening after 9 pm!
After the concert we toddled off again in direction of the meeting place. Totally sweaty and wet from the cold water which we not only drunk but also simply poured over our head. (I can tell you I still have a cold because of that!)
First of all we stood together, ensuring each other how magnificent the concert was, how totally addressed we have been by Joeys speech; we all had to admire Powerheads string of Joeys bass guitar, photos were done, promised to be in chat the next day, yes, and then, unfortunately, we had to separate. Waka+Pleasureslave went back to Duisburg, Taissa and Kingmetal to Belgium and Holland, Powerhead to Berlin, and us remaining back to ManowarTown in the surrounding of Heinsberg.
After a restful shower and a good night drink we found no end, Lady Jay and me, we still had to tell to ourselves so much, but then, nevertheless, finally we adjourned this.
The next day started with a tasty breakfast with fresh croissants in the (ähm) midday sun in the garden, we both still with dreamy and enraptured face and Sound of Manowar in the ears. Then at two pm in the afternoon one was able to see a BMW driving up to Roermond railway station, in there two mad girls head banging and roaring and screaming to deafeningly loud music strange lyrics like „ We're the KINGS OF METAL ... “. The following week the Gig in Cologne was the main talk in the Chat. We had to tell the others in the Chat EVERYTHING about it.
Some last words to Lady Jay: Never seen a mama of 5 kids standing with a migraine in front row of a Heavy Metal concert. You are a really tough woman! Lots of hugs to you and your family!
And still a few last words, directly TO Manowar: many thanks for all what you give to us, your music, your power, pure Manowar. YOU did unite so many different nationalities in true metal ManoWarriors! YOU give us the feeling to simply belong together. In this short time the other FanChatter became for me like a real ManowarFamily.
Special Hails to Powerhead, Kingmetal, Taissa, Wakatanka, DunkaPunk, Tailgunner, Makis, Mercedes, Eneko, Nuray and all other FanChatters around the world.
ManOWar, the ONLY war worth FIGHTING for!
Yours, Catwitch
from left to right:
Taissa - Lady J - Wakatanka - Catwitch - Powerhead - KingMetal
I have to start my report a few months ago... in my search for more news on the upcoming ManOwaR album i was surfing the net and came upon the official Manowar Fanchat. I started chatting there with a group of brothers and sisters that were just as crazy as i am, and who were all into true metal! It was great. We talked about everything, but most of all about our love for Manowar music and how this changed our lives. I became a frequent visitor and got to know a lot of others. It is great to talk to other fans of all nationalities and know you have at least 1 thing in common....ManOwaR!! When the gig at the ringfest in Cologne was announced , we talked about it a lot and some of us were lucky enough to be able to go there. I was very excited.. since the real tour was still months away this was my chance to see and hear the Kings Of Metal, and not having to wait for months!
A friend of mine offered to drive to Cologne and we were realy looking forward to it. i couldn`t wait till saturday, august 17th.... We talked about it in chat and those who were going agreed we would try to meet eachother in Cologne. We exchanged some mobile phonenumbers and pics so we knew who to look for. Then a few days before the show, my friend called me , saying she couldn`t go... Damn.. now what was i to do... i realy HAD to go! When i told this in chat, my sister Catwitch immediatly offered me to sleep at her place, since she was living close to Cologne.. this was great! After talking this over we decided she would pick me up at the Roermond trainstation and we would go together from there. When we discussed with Kingmetal how to find eachother in Cologne we agreed it would be easier to meet some place else because in cologne there
would be to many people. My dutch brother Kingmetal would pick up our Belgian sister Taissa in Antwerp and then join us at the Roermond trainstation. And so it was... my husband and 5 little manowarriors -who were, btw, realy pissed for not being allowed to come - brought me to the trainstation.. then it was 2 hours and 15 min to Roermond. In the train i got the SMS-messages that Catwitch and Kingmetal had arrived at the station. 5 min later i arrived there too. I almost missed Catwitch, must have walked right past her..., and walked right into King and Taissa . they knew were Cat would be, and so we all met up.. it was realy great and a bit weird, meeting the people i had been chatting with. Strange, meeting people for the first time although you feel like you`ve known them for ages.. We went to Cat`s house were we had some drinks and something to eat. We talked a lot and were realy looking forward to the show that evening.
We decided to make a banner saying: FANCHAT HAILS MANOWAR and put all our nicknames on it. Those of Cameraeye, Wakatanka and Powerhead as well, since we would meet them in Cologne, and they wouldnt have a chance to put their names on themselves.. Some friends of Cat joined us and we drove to Cologne..we decided we would go and see Paradise Lost first before going to the VIVA-stage.. Well to be honest Paradise Lost didn`t do much for me.. not very interesting.. and the band after it was realy horrible..Kingmetal and i were wondering how people could be headbanging on this music... anyway.... we were constantly trying to get contact with Powerhead. This wasn`t a great succes because when we did reach him , he couldn`t find us and we couldn`t find him.. We went to the Viva stage and tried again to reach powerhead and Wakatanka. By this time i had a huge migraine-attack from being packed in the crowds at temperatures of 30 degrees and more. My head was killing me and i was feeling sick...
We finally got in touch with Waka – pure coincidence we saw somebody answering his mobile when Cat was calling him, he was standing about 20 meters in front of us and i recognised him from his pic. But we still coulnd`t find our brother Power or Cameraeye, we didn`t have Cam`s phonenumber so it would be realy hard to find him. About an hour before the show i had two choices.. either staying in back with my headache and miss out on all the action OR standing frontrow with the same headache and have a great time.. hmmm very difficult choice.....
So i was fighting my way trough the rows and rows of metalheads, followed by my sisters Cat and Taissa..until finally we arrived at the first rows.. it was extremely hot.. there was a lot of pushing and shoving.. everybody wanted to be in front.... i have been at the frontrow at manowar shows before, but it was never like this.. lots of people fainted.. it was survival of the fittest there.. fortunatly there were people handing out water.. we realy needed that, the first time i drank it, after that i just poored it over my head to keep cool..messed up my hair, but who cares, i was going to see the KINGS! *grin * It was a long , very long wait for the kings to start, but we knew it would be worth it.. I got on omebodys shoulders and tried to get our banner up, but i saw there would be no way that it would succeed in this crowd, there was to much pushing and shoving.. i saw Marjo and decided to throw it to her, so she could show it to the kings..
She looked at me and i screamed at her, that i was Lady-Jay from the chat, she was very surprised and pleased to see us..
at the same time a guy very close to me yelled: HEY i`m Powerhead!! It was great, we finally found eachother, we shook
hands and we very excited. And then... the moment we were waiting for... FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.. ALL HAIL MANOWAR!!!!
We were going crazy, we were brothers and sisters standing together as one, all chanting and screaming the words of the first song `Manowar` our hands in the air. It was so great to stand there and get that feeling of unity.. all those people sharing their love of true metal! During the show it would happen that i look around me and see a face i don`t know, and we would raise our hands in the air, make the Manowar-sign and smile.. a feeling we understood eachother! We were realy brothers and sisters there, one big Manowar-family.. nothing compares to that. I had guys i didn`t know offer to take me on their shoulders, one of them even got his friend to do it , because he couldn`t do it himself. Thank you brothers! you gave me the opportunity to actualy see some parts of the show! A few of us made a circle to give some guy the opportunity to find something he lost.. he was so happy when he got, whatever it was , back.. The show was way to short.... Joey held a speech like only he can *grin* and i think most people there were actualy hoping he would get arrested ,so we could show the Cologne police nobody messes with Manowar or the Manowar fans...
Anyway, after Joey had ripped the strings of his bass guitar it all was over and there was silence.. but the power and might of ManOwaR was still going like thunder in our souls... We, the crazy fanchat people met again at the merchandise stand and talked some more about how great the show was.. we took some pics of our group. Some of us wanted to go to the hotel were Manowar was staying, but not all wanted too, so we decided against it. After promising eachother we would definatly meet again, we split up and went home.. in my case to cat`s home. We took a shower- believe me after all that sweating it was needed *grin *
Next morning we had a fantastic breakfast- thanks for the yummie-croissants Cat! The only bad thing was that Cat got stung by a bumblebee.. ehm, wasp *grin* . When Cat brought me to the station we screamed along with manowar ,wich we had on realy loud(is there another way) in the car. We said goodbye but promised we would meet again! And then it was back home again.. and back to everyday live.. but the ManOwaR hymns were still ringing in my ears..... ( or was that because of my walkman with `into Glory ride` in it?!)
A very special hail to Manowar and Crew, Marjo , and all those crazy brothers and sisters of the Official Manowar Fanchat!
ManOwaR, THAT`s the war we`re fighting for!
ManOwaR, the ONLY war WORTH fighting for!
Your
Lady Jay
