Right now I’m visiting friends from the JOP-family, Anett and Markus from Red Lion Music who have been so kind to invite me to stay with them on my way from Munich to Luxemburg.
Tomorrow they leave for a festival somewhere to go see Lemmy and Motorhead, whereas I leave for Luxemburg to see Ozzy once again.
Couldn’t get any wireless internet anywhere yesterday so I’m taking the opportunity here. :) Will sleep like a baby, I’m in a small village, beautiful. We went out for a walk just at sundown, I’m not used to such silence, what a great way to relax, far from the craziness of the city.
Made it to Munich, Germany – absolutely fantastic weather when we arrived, about half an hour too early. Not too busy at the airport so I didn’t even have to wait at the Avis rental car counter. The lady saw my driving license and went: “Oh! Happy birthday!” then she walks off, comes back and says: “Good news! You will get a free upgrade to a bigger car, an automatic, and you won’t have to pay the one-way fee because this one was rented in the Netherlands“. In other words – I got 50% off!!!! Talk about a great birthday present. Otherwise I would have had to pay a fortune for returning it to another country (Luxemburg). Wow. It started well.
There was a bakery at the airport, and the germans are known for their great bread. Saw something with melted cheese on it, some sort of cheesesticks, so I bought that and oh my god. The BEST bread I’ve ever tasted! I wish I had bought more of those.
Drove off and found Olympiahalle easily, efforlessly – thank god for my TomTom GPS. It takes me everywhere I wanna go and accurately every time. Don’t know what I would have done without it. I love renting cars in other countries, because you actually get to see a bit of the country and the cities – well, people, stores, the everyday life-kind of vibe. But most of all, I guess I love the sense of freedom. I can go wherever I want and I don’t need to keep track of time. Sure, it costs more but it’s worth it.
Impressive area, I need to go out and take some pictures. Olympia stadium is one hell of an architectural work, I was impresed. There seems to be a mall or something here too but right now, I need to find the actual stadium first.
Sunny, blue skies, not sure how many degrees but it’s a great day. Alrighty, OZZTIME!
On my way to Copenhagen airport. Next destination is Munich, Germany and Olympiahalle. It’s more Ozzy-time.:-) Visiting a friend tomorrow on my travelday/day off, JOP’s tourmanager Anett. And then, Friday continuing on to Luxemburg to see yet another Ozzy-show. No rest for the wicked! Havent even had a decent night’s sleep since Sweden Rock, but who needs sleep when there’s adrenaline?! :-) Might take a nap on the plane. So I guess there will be some reports along the way.:-) Bookmark or subscribe so you don’t miss anything. Time for airport breakfast! :-)
There is so so so much buzzing in my head right now. After 4 days of non-stop music, I’m beat. Slept till noon or something, yet I’m still tired. But don’t get me wrong. I love it. When you are willing to sacrifice your sleep, when you forget to eat because seeing a band is more important, and same thing about drinking enough water (because you don’t want to risk having to run to the bathroom when a band is playing) – you KNOW how much you LOVE your music. And I certainly do – I live for it.
This years Sweden Rock Festival has been one of the best in many years. There has been a wonderful vibe. You see all those original, crazy, happy people – dressed in the most outrageous outfits, wigs – you name it, there’s just this celebration of individuality and being whoever you wanna be. You can’t live it out anywhere else than at a festival and it’s a beautiful thing, I truly enjoy just watching people. :)
Same thing with the brother- and sisterhood of rockers. it depends on the band of course. At Judas Priest, there were some people trying to hurt others for their own personal gain (get in front row, or what have you…) but at Whitesnake there was the total opposite. I had this VERY tall guy right behind me who had me know that if anyone tried to push me or hurt me in any way, they would have to deal with him first! :) Thanks man, appreciate people who are looking out for others – because that’s what it’s all about – we’re there to enjoy music!
I met so many people as well – Aftonbladet photographer Rickard, which is always nice, he’s been there every year for the past 12 years he told me. Hung out one afternoon with Suzan from Playground music. When you go way back, we were all just fans when we first met. I don’t think you end up in the music industry if you’re not a fan of SOMETHING to begin with. If you want to get rich, you have a better shot at that becoming an attorney, so I think that it all comes down to a sincere love for music.
She used to like Skid Row, like most of us did in the 90’s, then she ended up working at various record companies in promotion whereas another friend of mine went on to being a photographer and me a music reporter. We’re living the rock’n’roll dream in a way – being rock’n’roll women in our own different ways. :)
A girl walked up to me when I was sitting front row in the press tent waiting for the Judas Priest press conference. She had a smile from ear to ear and said: “I remember you sitting front row at the Judas Priest press conference back in 2008 too! You told me you were a big fan”.
I looked at her and I apologised because I didn’t know who she was. She goes: “My name is Vera, I work for Classic Rock Magazine in Russia. I remember you because you have such a beautiful face!” The lady made my day. :) There I was, feeling anything but beautiful – tired, sweaty, all the “boo-hoos” in the book, and then someone tells you something like that and suddenly you’re in a fantastic mood again. She helped me film the press conference so I could concentrate on asking the band a few questions.
However – I have to admit – I hate press conferences. You have to stand there and raise your hand like in school, ask a question and then you don’t get a chance to ask more based on the answer the artists give you – and by the time you do, it doesn’t have a natural flow in the conversation anymore so… I’m not a big fan of those.
For me, I had to go to the Judas Priest press conference because they have meant extremely much in my life. The situation with K.K Downing pissed me off SO much and for a while I felt that I couldn’t love a band whose values I couldn’t understand or share. But to get to that point after almost 30 years of loving this band, I had to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth – WHAT the f*** HAPPENED?!
I felt that Rob was sincere in his answer, and it made me feel a bit better about the situation. I also wanted to “get to know” Richie Faulkner, cause he seems an OK guy – all respect to someone who dares to fill Downing’s shoes with all the drama that goes along with it. So I asked him about joining a band that’s about to retire – but Glenn didn’t let him answer…! :)
They all recognized me though, which still feels good. Call me silly, but I’m still a fan at heart. Guess I always will be. Glenn lifted his sunglasses and waved, Rob smiled when I introduced myself to Richie, with a “Duuh, we KNOW who you are by now, Daniela!”-sort of expression.
David Coverdale recognized me too – always, always. My friend asked me afterwards – “He was blowing kisses in your direction, I saw it, cause ut HAD to be you!” Yes it was. I’ll do a little “Quick review” of the bands I saw in a different blog. Rob Zombie surprised me, he was great. Priest were not so great. Whitesnake RULED the whole festival if you ask me! Ozzy is Ozzy, you know he is one of a kind. :-)
But…! As promised – the JOAN JETT press conference. I will keep it unlisted on Youtube, so it’s not searchable there. A great question and answer in this video (a Danish journalist) at 8,07 – make sure you listen to Joan’s reply to that – she got the whole press tent go “Yeah!!”
No time for anything, I need sleep, desperately, but I HAD to upload this first. I can’t believe it. It was so amazing that once again I stood there bawling my eyes out, it was just to touching, I dont know what to say.
BERNIE MARSDEN AND ADRIAN VANDENBERG on stage with David along with Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach! FOUR guitarists from different Whitesnake eras, jesus, what can you say??
There are BANDS… and then there’s WHITESNAKE. They are just simply in a totally different league, I mean, they KILLED all the competition just like that. MAGIC – PURE MAGIC on that stage tonight!! Oh my god. For someone who’s made a living on using words for years, I’m for once totally speechless.
There will be videos from the actual show too but give me time to get sleep and everything else – and I will reply to mails and texts on Sunday. :)
Thank you Whitesnake for an amazing performance – a night none of us will ever forget!
Absolutely no time for “computerizing” now when the tempo is getting higher with more bands playing – I only had time to drive home and catch 3-4 hours of sleep. And now, shower and off again.
So, no report today about yesterday’s Sweden Rock, because there would be way too much to say. I’ll have to write about it when the festival is over, cause today is Whitesnake (among others) and tomorrow the “finale”! Monday is my birthday so my friends are taking me out, but I’ll find time somewhere…! :))
I managed to upload the Judas Priest press-conference at least. Here you go – enjoy. A comment or two about that….later on. :)
IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR 