*Kai Hansen is a legend. Gamma Ray is making their long awaited U.S. debut. They put on an amazing show and the crowd is going apeshit the entire time. With Kai being a standup comedian, they are running behind with their time. I tell their stage manager they have to cut one song. He signals to him on the stage and Kai takes it to mean, You can do one more. I was pissed beyond belief. After throwing my hat at some innocent crew members backstage (which has become a trademark over the years), I ordered Shane to close the curtain on at the end of I Want Out. The crowd almost yanked the curtain down because I didnt let them take a bow. I was so pissed that I went straight up to the band balcony and proceeded to kill 3 beers within 2 minutes. I finally calmed down and Kai and the band apologized for the miscommunication. I apologized for being a dick with the curtain. Once that story got out in the industry, it set my reputation as a fair promoter that didnt take any shit regardless of how new I was to the game.
*Angra followed Gamma Ray and was absolutely on edge because we were 30 minutes behind and they were the last band of the night. They thought everyone would leave as soon as Gamma Ray was over. I told them to relax and that the crowd would be there. Kiko proceeds to get pissed and gets in my face and accuses me of being unprofessional. I jumped right back at him and went nose to nose and told him to back the fuck off or not play at all. Chris Roy (my stage manager) pulled me back and the show went on with a full house. And yes, Kiko and I had a few drinks in their dressing room after the show.
*I invited Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth down to be my special guest for the show. I was in the process of doing everything I could to establish my name and I basically wanted to show him that I could do this shit and have Iced Earth at PP USA IV. I went to his hotel room before the show to just have a beer with him. We sat at the table and I looked him straight in the eye and said, Jon, Im paying for your entire trip. Im not asking a thing of you. We both know I wanted Iced Earth next year and thats why you are in Atlanta on my dime. Im basically here to kiss your ass the entire weekend. He laughed and said I may just be one of the most honest promoters that he had ever met. Later on, Blind Guardian was taking *forever* with their soundcheck and threatening to put us behind. However, I couldnt cut them off. They were Blind Guardian! Jon saw me sweating it and acting nervous with the crew. As soon as Hansi finished their song, he walked down on the floor and yelled, Ok ladies, you have been fucking around for an hour and Glenn has a show to run. Get off the stage. And they did. I will forever be grateful to Jon.
*Devin Towsend was alien to the prog/power audience at the time. He had only played out with Strapping Young Lad so no one from my audience really knew his stage persona. He proceeds to open the show with Summer of 69) and then shows the audience his progressive nipples. Folks were looking at each other like, wtf? As the show proceeds, he tells them to stick the next song in their cunt and proceeds to play an amazing set. Unfortunately, prog is serious business and some goobers left during his set. Evidently, it didnt fit in their cunt. To this day, I wish I had recorded his soundcheck with him doing vocals as the Swedish Chef Muppet.
*Edguy are just as much fun backstage as they are on the stage. They were genuinely happy to be there. The Fuck-Fuck sing along was just hilarious (and made it to their live album as a bonus video). I had so much fun with them that they were invited back as headliners based on personality just as much as musicianship.
*Pain of Salvation followed Blind Guardian and ended the night (due to Guardians flight schedule). They played to a room that was only 60% full. It was right then that I knew that ProgPower USA was really PowerProg USA. Those that stuck around witnessed something that no other band has still done to this day. The fans chose the entire setlist and it was awesome.
*Mac (RIP) from Threshold was hanging out upstairs in the band balcony after their set. I didnt have a chance to meet him previously and introduced myself to him. I told him he had an amazing voice. He replied, I know. Im still not sure if he was joking or not.
*Michael Hakansson (ex-bassist of Evergrey) was scheduled for a guest appearance during Reading Zeros set. He runs out on stage and starts thrashing around like a madman with his bass. It was intense as hell. Of course, nobody realized his bass wasnt plugged in so it was all air-guitar.
*DC Cooper was the first name to work the lobby like his life depended on it. He was out hosting his own meet and greets and mingling with the crowd the entire night. As a result, he made some devoted fans for life. I will always be grateful to DC as he was one of the first to help define the festival atmosphere.
* I had met the Tipton brothers from Zero Hour at the first festival in Chicago. They are the nicest guys you will ever meet. They are also the first surfer dudes this hillbilly had ever met. They probably thought my IQ was a total of 5 based on my accent while I thought Jeff Spicoli didnt have shit on them. Right on Jasun.
*Angra followed Gamma Ray and was absolutely on edge because we were 30 minutes behind and they were the last band of the night. They thought everyone would leave as soon as Gamma Ray was over. I told them to relax and that the crowd would be there. Kiko proceeds to get pissed and gets in my face and accuses me of being unprofessional. I jumped right back at him and went nose to nose and told him to back the fuck off or not play at all. Chris Roy (my stage manager) pulled me back and the show went on with a full house. And yes, Kiko and I had a few drinks in their dressing room after the show.
*I invited Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth down to be my special guest for the show. I was in the process of doing everything I could to establish my name and I basically wanted to show him that I could do this shit and have Iced Earth at PP USA IV. I went to his hotel room before the show to just have a beer with him. We sat at the table and I looked him straight in the eye and said, Jon, Im paying for your entire trip. Im not asking a thing of you. We both know I wanted Iced Earth next year and thats why you are in Atlanta on my dime. Im basically here to kiss your ass the entire weekend. He laughed and said I may just be one of the most honest promoters that he had ever met. Later on, Blind Guardian was taking *forever* with their soundcheck and threatening to put us behind. However, I couldnt cut them off. They were Blind Guardian! Jon saw me sweating it and acting nervous with the crew. As soon as Hansi finished their song, he walked down on the floor and yelled, Ok ladies, you have been fucking around for an hour and Glenn has a show to run. Get off the stage. And they did. I will forever be grateful to Jon.
*Devin Towsend was alien to the prog/power audience at the time. He had only played out with Strapping Young Lad so no one from my audience really knew his stage persona. He proceeds to open the show with Summer of 69) and then shows the audience his progressive nipples. Folks were looking at each other like, wtf? As the show proceeds, he tells them to stick the next song in their cunt and proceeds to play an amazing set. Unfortunately, prog is serious business and some goobers left during his set. Evidently, it didnt fit in their cunt. To this day, I wish I had recorded his soundcheck with him doing vocals as the Swedish Chef Muppet.
*Edguy are just as much fun backstage as they are on the stage. They were genuinely happy to be there. The Fuck-Fuck sing along was just hilarious (and made it to their live album as a bonus video). I had so much fun with them that they were invited back as headliners based on personality just as much as musicianship.
*Pain of Salvation followed Blind Guardian and ended the night (due to Guardians flight schedule). They played to a room that was only 60% full. It was right then that I knew that ProgPower USA was really PowerProg USA. Those that stuck around witnessed something that no other band has still done to this day. The fans chose the entire setlist and it was awesome.
*Mac (RIP) from Threshold was hanging out upstairs in the band balcony after their set. I didnt have a chance to meet him previously and introduced myself to him. I told him he had an amazing voice. He replied, I know. Im still not sure if he was joking or not.
*Michael Hakansson (ex-bassist of Evergrey) was scheduled for a guest appearance during Reading Zeros set. He runs out on stage and starts thrashing around like a madman with his bass. It was intense as hell. Of course, nobody realized his bass wasnt plugged in so it was all air-guitar.
*DC Cooper was the first name to work the lobby like his life depended on it. He was out hosting his own meet and greets and mingling with the crowd the entire night. As a result, he made some devoted fans for life. I will always be grateful to DC as he was one of the first to help define the festival atmosphere.
* I had met the Tipton brothers from Zero Hour at the first festival in Chicago. They are the nicest guys you will ever meet. They are also the first surfer dudes this hillbilly had ever met. They probably thought my IQ was a total of 5 based on my accent while I thought Jeff Spicoli didnt have shit on them. Right on Jasun.
