Sadly, the number of folks who've attended every single PPUSA are dwindling every year..so how many of us are there left now?
My first one was the Stratovarius/Angra/Therion one (5?). Did not even know about this until then. Damn shame I did not now about the PowerMad that was just right there in Baltimore. At that time of the original PowerMad shows, I was just getting into the whole power/prog scene (after getting so fed up with the crap that was constantly being shoveled down our throats via the radio. Needed to find music that I actually
enjoyed and not something to just listen to because it was there and that was what the radio/major record labels felt we needed to listen to.) Thank God for the internet to allow me to discover many of these bands, as I sure as hell would've never known about them via the mainstream channels, ala FM radio, MTV, etc.
Bonus question: How did you hear about PPUSA? Anyone can answer this one.
As I mentioned above, I was just getting into the whole prog/power thing and it got to the point that I would actually like to
see some of these bands actually perform, not just simply listening to the CDs or whatever I managed to find on the old MP3.com website back in the heyday. (where I originally found some Blind Guardian tracks as well as some of the old DragonForce when they were still DragonHeart, not to mention others (If I recall, I've also gotten some Amorphus tracks off of there as well back in the day). As an aside, I remember having people tell me they don't bother with MP3.com because they only had "no name bands" that "must not be any good because they are not played on the radio". I told them that just because a band was not on the radio had nothing to do with how good they are and in fact, I'd be willing to put many of these bands up against just about anything heard on the radio. But I digress.....
First, it was finding about Sonata Arctica playing at Jaxx (never even knew I had this totally kick-ass metal club not even 45 minutes from my house!) After that, I was jonesing for more, so I started "googling" up bands and tour dates. Found about Stratovarius, Angra, and Therion playing at this "ProgPowerUSA" thing in Atlanta. I was at the time thinking "Damn, that is in Atlanta, thus somewhat of a hike, plus those tickets are kinda pricey, but holy shit, I'd love to see all those bands". I made a mention to Dave (Diamond45) while working out at the gym, as he was, at the time, really starting to take a serious interest in my taste of music (guessing he was also getting fed up with the vapid and banal, not to mention very stale, music that was constantly being played via FM radio and such). We both are huge Rush fans, thus it was natural to find more music of similar vain, especially something a bit more modern and, shall I say? ... fresh? Not only that, but I wanted to find music again like the old Ronny James Dio, Iron Maiden and so forth that I used to like listening to back in the High School days.
I was actually quite surprised that Dave also wanted to come to Atlanta with me to go to this ProgPower thing. I did warn him that it was not going to be cheap, but he really wanted to go. Next thing we knew, tickets were purchased (thank god as that was the one that sold out in like three days?), plane flights and hotel booked. In the end, actually glad he did come, as that not only helped cut the cost of lodging, but just something so cool to find a friend that has the same interest and want to do something with.
Now, fast forward some 4 years or so later, and now we are friggan helping to SPONSER the damn thing! Like they say. The rest is now history.
Well, I guess if I gotta get hooked on something (besides skiing), this is it, plus it is much safer than drugs anyway!
Also an aside, saw Stratovarius again that monday right after the ProgPower at Jaxx, especially as I really did not plan to go since I saw them already. Glad I did, as I could not believe getting to hang out with them like I did.
Anyway, enough of my rambling, but that is basically the story of how I got into this and how I found about ProgPowerUSA.
