33 Years of Community and Connection at Wacken Open Air 2024

33 Years of Community and Connection at Wacken Open Air 2024

Written by Alison “MetalBabe” Cohen

Wacken Open Air is one of the world’s biggest heavy metal festivals that takes place outside of Hamburg, Germany and was established in 1990. To give you an idea of how big this festival is… There are about 250 bands between nine stages and 85,000+ people over 240 hectares (which is 593 acres)! Basically, we walked 12 miles a day, saw as many bands as we could, and hardly slept. This was my third time at Wacken with my partner in crime and husband (Grant). The first time we went is known as the “Year of the Mud.” That was in 2015, and the last two times were mild, weather wise… 2019 and 2024. Each time we get a little better at figuring it all out. This year we bought our camping supplies in Cologne, Germany and despite the whole me missing the train to Itzehoe and being stranded in Hamburg for two hours thing, everything worked out

Tuesday, July 30th

After taking a taxi, checking in, and hitchhiking five miles to our campsite, we settled in a bit before heading to the festival. However, we could not find the entrance! With our passes, we were able to enter through an employee gate near the Wasteland stage. It was a bit overwhelming, walking in for the first time at night, so we got a drink and went to the tent to crash.

Wednesday, July 31st

We ran into Armored Saint (minus Jeff Duncan, who was on the bus) at breakfast. They were on a European tour and just arrived that morning. We saw Jeff Duncan coming out to explore get the lay of the land and caught up, before heading out to the festival for the day.

The first stand out band of the day was The Walkways, from Tel Aviv Israel. They were on the W:E:T: stage and reminded me of 90’s rock, (which I am really into right now). They were amazing. We first met Walkways bass player Avihai Lev at Wacken in 2015 when they were in the Wacken Metal Battle, and Avihai gave Grant a Walkways shirt. The singer and bass player came out after their set to say hello and take photos.

We just happened to be walking by the Faster stage when both Grant and I were in awe by the band onstage. We quickly figured out it was In Extremo. Aside from knowing their name from the Wacken posters, we knew nothing about them… And they blew both of us away! Their sound and stage show was phenomenal. We were both taken in and captivated as we watched their entire German set. You know it’s good when you can’t understand a single word and you still love it! In Extremo is Medieval rock band from Berlin with an extensive catalog since 1987.

After their set, it was time to call it a night.

Thursday, August 1st

It was super cool to see L.A. friends Bjorn Englen and Ira Black, who both noticed us from the Louder stage, with Dio Disciples. It was an incredible surprise to see Wendy Dio come out for a heartfelt thank you, and it was interesting that both Joey Belladonna and Oni Logan sang lead vocals. The set was killer and included “Holy Diver,” “Mob Rules,” “Children of the Sea,” “Heaven and Hell,” “Rainbow in the Dark,” “We Rock,” and more. DIO forever!

I popped in press and Skyline were doing a Q&A in German. I saw Simon Wright and Scott Warren chilling outside, and we said hi and took a pic. Then we saw Wendy Dio backstage and had to say hi. As a total bonus, she was with Johnny Gioeli! (Axel Rudi Pell/Hardline) Wendy immediately recognized me (I had seen her recently in Los Angeles at Rock for Ronnie 5/19/24.) and hugged me! I was so glad to have the chance to chat with Johnny after all these years. I grew up on Hardline and saw them quite a few times back in the day.

We wanted to be in the front row for Armored Saint, so we got to the Louder stage early and sat on the ground to save a spot. Saint killed it, as always. I felt proud seeing them at Wacken for the 2nd time. (The first time was 2015.) and that I’ve seen them three times this year! (St. Louis, Los Angeles, and Wacken). Jeff Duncan wore a Metal Babe Mayhem Pick Me! Shirt onstage, which is spectacular. It was thrilling to be that close for the first three songs in the photo pit. Saint put on a tight and killer set as always. They opened with “End of the Attention Span” from their last 2020 studio release Punching the Sky, and played a good selection from their extensive catalog. Personal highlights were “Last Train Home,” “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants,” “Win Hands Down,” “Can You Deliver,” and “Reign of Fire.”

I wanted to see Axel Rudi Pell and Mr. Big, but they were on at the exact some time. I started with Axel Rudi Pell at the Faster stage. The best word I can use to describe their performance is MAGICAL. As a front man and performer, Johnny Gioeli has not changed since his Hardline days. I own a few of the CDs in Axel Rudi Pell’s extensive (13+) album catalogue, and honestly am not that familiar with any of their songs, but that did not matter at all. Johnny owned the stage and the crowd. He was full of energy and charisma as he ran side to side of the stage, singing and engaging the crowd. He said something to the effect of, “I know this is a metal fest, but could we all do a sing along to “Halleluiah?” I can’t think of a priest or pastor that would not be proud of this rendition.

Since I could not be in two places at once, I left Axel Rudi Pell to catch the second half of Mr. Big’s 40th Year Anniversary farewell tour. I made my way to the front of the Louder stage easily, just in time to sing and sway to their biggest hit…. Superpower ballad “To Be with You.”

Then it was time for Paul Gilbert’s guitar solo. I remember I was so impressed at that Six Flags show with Mr. Big, Hardline, and Electric Boys as a teenager when he soloed with an electric drill in 1990 at Six Flags in St. Louis, MO. It was nice to see the band together again, although I missed seeing Pat Torpey on the drums and gave him a moment of silence. Eric Martin gave a shoutout to their Brazilian drummer Nick D’Virgilio Then it was Billy’s turn for a bass solo. I mean, I love you Billy and Paul, but Axel was magical, and I needed to get back over there ASAP.

I booked back to Axel Rudi Pell. As I got closer to Faster stage, I was smiling from ear to ear, and full of happiness. I was just in awe about how absolutely awe-inspiring every aspect of it was. Johnny made a point to introduce Axel and the band, so we were all clear about who is who. Axel Rudi Pell stole the show this day. Johnny Gioeli is a true rock star. He’s one of those vocalists who does not stand still for a second. He works the crowd, talking, singing, and pacing from side to side onstage.

Scorpions were one of the biggest bands this year. I’m pretty sure all 85,000+ attendees were there at that point. I enjoyed singing and swaying to “Wind of Change” and “Still Loving You.” It was a nice surprise to see Doro Percsh join them onstage for “Big City Nights. They ended with “Rock You Like a Hurricane” as they threw sticks and picks into the audience.

It’s hard to believe that The Scorpions were my third concert as a teenager, and all these years later I was saying goodbye to them at Wacken. After The Scorpions, I went back to the press tent to warm up before crashing in the tent and saw the replay of Flogging Molly’s set on the big screen as I warmed up by the fire pit before bed.

Friday, August 2nd

Mister Misery added a last-minute CD signing that day at 2:30 PM at Hot Shot Records, so that was my priority. I had four Metal Babe Mayhem shirts I hand-picked for the guys… I bought the vinyl for them to sign, (even though I had two copies of the CD waiting for me at home) and gave the guys my Metal Babe Mayhem shirts. Last time I saw them was in Berlin, Germany 10/31/22, so it was really great to reconnect. They even gave a shoutout about having an American there.

Back at press, I saw Mikkey Dee as he finished finished eating. He did double duty this Wacken, playing drums for The Scorpions and his solo show. We had a good chat, and I reminded him of when we first met, when him and Lemmy saved my friend Melanie from getting beaten up in the parking lot at Ozzfest in 1998, St. Louis, MO.

I went to the Gene Simmons at the Harder stage and ended up “stuck” in the photo pit for about 30 minutes. Although, I was pleasantly surprised to see Brian Tichy (drums) and Brent Woods (guitar) the show did not do too much for me. Of course, I knew the first KISS song “Deuce”. They played War Machine and a solo song “Are You Ready” Gene invited a group of kids onstage, to do brief intros and “assist” in “Shout It Out Loud.”

I was excited for Pain, so we went to the W.E.T. stage. I’ve been a fan for a while and never seen them play live. They were extraordinary. I loved them and did my first Viking row. I also did my first (of three) crowd-surfs during Pain. This was the best and longest of the three. It’s such a rush and unbelievable feeling. I was so pumped.

I closed out the night with The 69 Eyes, who are always a personal fave. I have seen/met them quite a few times, and even been to The Riff bar they own with Children of Bodom in Helsinki, Finland. Highlights included “Framed in Blood,” “Betty Blue,” “Never Say Die,” and “Lost Boys.” Ramones cover of “I just Want Something to Do” was sing along fun. I even got my dance on, like a “gothic girl,” which they played mid-set.

Saturday, August 3rd

We saw our friend Katon De Pena’s band Hirax. It’s crazy that after a 40-year career, this was their first Wacken. It was received well; they will be back. I crowd-surfed (for the second time) during Hirax. It was short, but it was a rush! We got to catch up with Katon and crew later in press, which was great!

The weather was perfect, aside from a two-hour storm that occurred during Sebastian Bach. I watched most of his set from press on a big screen and sang along, while playing a little foosball. However, I did venture out into the storm for a brief moment where a nice lady gave me her poncho and I got to enjoy a little bit of Bas live.

I got a Wacken card signed by Mister Misery during their official Meet and Greet, that I ended up protecting with a couple stolen cardboard pizza circles for the next 10 hours until I finally got back to my tent. It was great to see them again for more conversation and photos before their set.

I went into the photo pit for Motionless in White. I liked them, but I did not love them. It was nice to be in the pit for the first three songs to get a good taste of the band.

The last band I watched on Saturday night was Mister Misery, a horror metal band from Sweden that I’ve interviewed three times and now seen twice. Mister Misery exploded onto the Wasteland stage with “Welcome to Insanity.” I was in the photo pit for the first three songs, and then zigzagged to the front center. Fans were going crazy for Mister Misery. Many of them were seeing them for the first time too.

Harley thanked us several times. At one point he said, “danke schoen very f*cking much.” They were on top of their game. They played “Root of All Evil,” “Eye of the Storm,” and “Hand of Death.” Words can’t even express how unbelievable it was to hear “My Ghost” front and center at Wacken. Every song sounded as good as it did on their albums, if not better.

Mister Misery truly are in a category of their own, and their songs, harmonies, backing vocals, musicianship, makeup, costumes, and the music itself make them so unique. I literally was teary eyed – full of joy – as Harley belted out “Survival of the Sickest” lyrics “I’m not afraid to die.” When they announced that “Strangeland” was going to be their last song I HAD TO CROWD-SURF! I went UP and was ecstatic to be in the Strangeland with Mister Misery at Wacken.

To close out the Mister Misery portion of my review, I’d like to share a quote from Natascha Schmit (Arduinna’s Dawn) “I have seen Mister Misery perform since 2019 and this was the best show I have ever seen. Harley’s vocals have evolved incredibly. I loved every single note he sang! They nailed it 110%”

This was the perfect way to end the Wacken Festival, and five nights of music, friends, chaos, and fun. Until we meet again… Goodbye Wacken 2024!

Visit the Official Wacken Website here: https://www.wacken.com/de/