Twisted Sister at Sauna Open Air Metal
Festival, Tampere, Finland, 10.6.2006
I drove to Tampere to see two of my favourite
bands Twisted Sister and W.A.S.P. at Sauna Open Air Metal
Festival. I met the same gang as last year in Oulu and together
we went to the hotel. At first I met the band's official
photographer Håkon Grav. A really nice guy. Thanks for the
tourbook and the CD!
After we had waited some time Jay Jay, Mark and
Eddie came to meet and greet us hardcore SMFs of Finland who had
gathered to meet the band. The band were super-friendly and they
posed for photos and signed everything that the fans had brought
with them. I got a photo taken with Eddie. We didn't get to meet
Dee this time because, unlike the rest of the band who had
arrived the day before, he only arrived a few hours before the
show by which time we were already at the festival area. Oh well,
I can't complain, I already met Dee last year. I wished the band
a great show and a great show it was...
Saturday's first band on the main stage was
Finland's pride, the Eurovision song contest winners Lordi. I don't
care too much for them but now I can say that I have seen them.
After them, W.A.S.P. took the stage and they pretty much set the
good mood for the rest of the day. They performed much better
than I expected. And then the main reason that I attended the
festival, Twisted Sister.
After seeing the Oulu show the previous year, I
thought that Twisted Sister were past their prime. But nothing
could be farther from the truth. They absolutely blew me away and
the entire sold out festival audience for that matter. It was
obvious that the band was fired up by the audience's excitement.
Put simply, the audience loved the band and the band loved the
audience. I've never had so much fun at a concert before and the
band obviously had a blast also. The band played a flawless set
that was tailored for the Finnish crowd by including three songs
from the Come Out And Play album. Jay Jay hinted that TS may come
back to Finland later this year. I hope so!
After the show we went back to the hotel. Some time later, to
my amazement, Mark came to thank the fans for being so great. He
told us that if the audience weren't so great, the band couldn't
put on as great a show. I got to talk a little with A.J. I asked
him about his huge garbage can drum set. He said that he still
has some of that kit but he has donated parts of the kit away.
A huge thank you to the band, plus the management and road
crew for the amazing show!
Below is the picture of me with Eddie.
