[kj] [KJ] HellFest's Report

[Neil Perry]

That was heartwarming to read!

n

2009/6/30 Frenchy Frenzy <frenchyfrenzy at killingjoke.fr>


>  *Hi all,*

>

> * *

>

> *Last week I’ve spent one of my best moments with the Joke.*

>

> *Arrived early by plane, I had time to check in at The Mercure Hotel close

> to the south railroad central station of Nantes city.*

>

> * *

>

> *Immediately, I’ve noticed some full tattoed boys (unusual for this kind

> of places) and recognised in the lounge area the singer of the Misfits Jerry

> Only (very friendly)*

>

> *I said to myself that other artists should have reservations by the

> organization in the same hotel and ask the lady at the front desk “if Mister

> Coleman had already checked in ?”*

>

> * *

>

> *She answered : “not yet ;o))) Bingo*

>

> * *

>

> *Last time in Paris sept 08, I was already in the same hotel as all the

> boys (The Mercure at Porte de Pantin) and bumped into Youth coming out the

> breakfast room…and the front desk man took a photo of both of us…*

>

> * *

>

> *Arrived in Clisson by train, a very nice little village, I was about to

> get a pass at the VIP/ Guests tent but the young lady at the desk told me

> that the group hadn’t arrived yet and that she didn’t got any list from the

> group.*

>

> *She added that last night “Mötley Crüe gave his list 5 minutes before

> their gig at 1AM…*

>

> * *

>

> *That was 3:30 PM and I couldn’t even pay my ticket (as I do everytime to

> support the group) because I needed an AAA Pass to use my videocameras….*

>

> * *

>

> *It took me 20 minutes to go to the Artists entrance where all the tour

> buses and trucks are parked.*

>

> * *

>

> *Of course there were many security controls and began to speak with one

> of the guardian when 200 meters away from me I just noticed Jaz and Youth

> walking to their bus.*

>

> *I just began to shout “JAAAAAAAAZZZZZ as loud as I could because that was

> my only chance to get heared considering the loudness of the death metal gig

> at the moment very near.*

>

> * *

>

> *By chance, they both heared my shouts and that was the 1st good point of

> the day…*

>

> * *

>

> *As the guardian couldn’t let me in without the famous bracelet, Jaz had

> to go back to the Artist /VIP area and came back running (yes running like I

> had never seen him before ha ha ha ) and gave me the precious yellow Artist

> Bracelet’s which allowed me to go everywhere with my videocameras.*

>

> * *

>

> *Would you ever imagine on single second Marilyn Manson doing the same

> thing for one of his long time follower ?*

>

> * *

>

> *Sure not : that’swhy they are awesome and unique !!*

>

> * *

>

> *We spent some time in the Bus tour where I picked up from my bag the

> “brand new Gathering 2008 boxset 4cds” just arrived by post the week before

> and was surprised that they were astonished it had been released….*

>

> *Youth began to calculate the estimated royalties and finally signed on

> the booklet “Where is the cash Matt ?,o)))*

>

> * *

>

> *No comment, but it’s just incredible that the group is NOT informed of

> the “official” release.*

>

> * *

>

> *We went to the backstage area (in fact a big Sport Arena (surrounded by

> the 2 main stages and the rest of the site) very calm considering the

> loudness outside.*

>

> * *

>

> *I would say very well organized with many guardians checking all the

> famous bracelets in 6 colours with different authorizations…*

>

> *Of course the yellow one is the ultimate ha ha ha …*

>

> * *

>

> *Jaz & Youth proposed me to follow them for an interview for french TV and

> it was funny to see them with shorts and cigars like 2 cool tourists

> answering the questions during ½ hour.*

>

> * *

>

> *The sun was shining and the temperature was perfect, no rain predicted.*

>

> * *

>

> *A wonderful atmosphere with the 2 main stages only separated with a big

> screen; so every 5 minutes a group is playing and no wait between the

> groups.*

>

> * *

>

> *Everybody is on time and better has to, because the running order

> contains 107 groups in 3 days and no extended delay is allowed except for

> Motley, Marilyn Manson and Manowar.*

>

> * *

>

> *Saw a little bit of Soulfly (a lot of stage diving ;))) Amebix ( good

> rhythmic groove) and Misfits (took some photos with Jerry backstage (a very

> funny guy and easy to approach) and went eating  before the second main act

> of the day The Joke*

>

> * *

>

> *I’ve found the best place to film the gig with my tripod, just in front

> of the stage between Geordie & Jaz in the bouncers area. *

>

> * *

>

> *As the stage was wide maybe 12 or 15 bouncers took place behind the

> barriers and protected me from the potential stage divers.*

>

> *OK there were less than for Soulfly or Gojira (a French Group who Big

> Paul was enthusiastic about the rhythm section we saw together on the side

> of the stage)*

>

> * *

>

> *The weather was perfect and the light show was one of the best they got

> (except for the Sheph’s in 2005) and they played a classical but perfect gig

> for all the audience who acclaimed all the titles including Love Loke Blood

> ( which they didn’t want to play in the afternoon and maybe as I remembered

> them that it was “their” hit in France and people were certainly expecting

> it) Eighties , the Wait.*

>

> * *

>

> *Everybody was in a good shape and Geordie played as if he was caressing

> his guitar as usual and the groove injected by BPF and Youth is more and

> more perfect.*

>

> * *

>

> *Madness was very well acclaimed too and was not supposed to be played.*

>

> *I said to them that I had “rediscovered” this track live on stage and

> maybe they have listened to me.*

>

> * *

>

> *Next time I will ask for my personal tracks list including Twilight Of

> the Mortal which Jaz sang a little bit during the soundcheck at the Forum

> 08, Slipstream, Universe B, Implant etc…;o)*

>

> * *

>

> *I must say that the footages I got were the best ones I ever filmed

> because there were closed to me and the lightshow was powerful and the

> result delights me.*

>

> * *

>

> *I must add here one thing : during the Heaven’s gig I gave a full hard

> disk drive to the management containing all the 16 gigs and backstage &

> soundchecks I’ve filmed and they “should” release some DVD’s*

>

> * *

>

> *After the show I decided to have a look for 2 songs of Marilyn Manson

> (that was enough ha ha ha) and got back inside for sharing all those

> delicious cheeses and wines brought from my home town Lyon city.*

>

> * *

>

> *In fact, I think that the boys during the day were a little bit focused

> on their evening show and intended to deliver the best show they could.*

>

> * *

>

> *I saw the difference after the show when they were much more relaxed and

> ready for savouring Comté, Saint Marcellin and Saint Félicien, Saint Joseph

> etc…*

>

> * *

>

> *Of course we had some fresh bread from the VIP Restaurant too…*

>

> * *

>

> *Everything was simply perfect and we were all delighted with all these

> different saveurs.*

>

> * *

>

> *Sharing this with them was like the time was suspended for 1 H ½…..All

> the 5 guys and myself with nobody else*

>

> * *

>

> *After all, something very simple but a REAL moment with a lot of laughs.*

>

> * *

>

> *For example, at one moment Vincent Raven came with the guys of Amebix and

> he was…..I would say…stoned.*

>

> *I said to Jaz : “Hey here is your driver who will drive you at your hotel

> ha ha ha  and we had a great laugh*

>

> *Jaz said to Vincent : It’s like your father: you’ve got it in your DNA

> ;o)))*

>

> * *

>

> *The room finally got some new invited people and I would say that the

> guys from Amebix were very nice and they felt very honoured to be he Joke’s

> guests and I saw ”gratitude and respect “in their eyes.*

>

> * *

>

> *As It was 3 AM, we had to leave the Festival and an official small

> shuttle drove us (Jaz & Me) to our hotel in Nantes.*

>

> * *

>

> *In fact during 25 mins, there were so many roundabouts that Jaz was very

> close to be ill in the car and me too ha ha ha !! *

>

> * *

>

> *The day after I phoned Jaz in room 201 (I was in 211) at 10 AM and we

> went to the breakfast room to get forces again…*

>

> * *

>

> *It was again a simple moment but unusual with Jaz as you can imagine.*

>

> * *

>

> *We spoke about the gig, the happiness they all had playing again together

> and the projects:*

>

> * *

>

>    - *Jaz is about to be honoured by France and will receive the Medal of

>    Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in sept /oct 09 and they should play an

>    acoustic gig at Les Bains Douches where they played at their beginning(25th

>    of June 80)*

>    - *In fact he gave me a photo where he already has the famous medal but

>    ceremony will take place after*

>

> * *

>

> *This info has been confirmed to me one week after by one of my friend who

> works at the METRO newspaper.*

>

> * *

>

> *Raven and him were reconciled before his death and he was about to come

> back in the Joke, but there were no project with Atkins at all.*

>

> *“Raven was from the family not him “*

>

> * *

>

> *There are apparently 8 or 9 new songs written….*

>

> * *

>

> *They should record before end of year 200….9  ;o))*

>

> * *

>

> *One of his daughter has a restaurant in Geneva.*

>

> * *

>

> *His cousin plays in the French group from Lyon City Le Peuple de l’Herbe

> (people from the weed)*

>

> * *

>

> *Of course the awaited gig in 2012….*

>

> * *

>

> *He is going to live in Paris soon and has another project concerning his

> private life…*

>

> * *

>

> *Finally after a great shower (in our separate rooms of course ha ha ah )

> we met again and I helped him at the railroad station to get his electronic

> ticket …*

>

> * *

>

> *Jaz and computers….*

>

> * *

>

> *It’s funny because his name was printed on the ticket much more unusual

> as a signature…*

>

> * *

>

> *We said goodbye on the platform till our next “meeting” on the 31 th of

> july 2009 in Venice Italy and certainly a longer gig as they’ll play at the

> Airport Festival as Headliner with only one group before.*

>

> * *

>

> *So simply the best moments with the reunited Joke since some

> unforgettable moments in Milano 2005 with Raven….*

>

> * *

>

> *Stephane “Frenchy Frenzy”*

>

> * *

>

> *PS : Nantes is a beautiful city full of welcoming people too*

>

> * *

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>

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