Celebrating Tribute to Wacken: Uniting Metalheads from Around the World

0:04 Hi you lant Es cru. For see Wow Crazy Young. It's the Pipe Man here on the Adventures Pipe Man W four C Y Radio and I'm here with. Sean Davidson from Canada, juanpa Won from Venezuela, Lonzalasara from Mexico and you. Are we are tribute to Vakan. Now I want to hear about this because we're at Vocking. How did this start that you did a tribute to Vakan.

0:45 Yeah, so, actually the main people behind the tribute to Vacan are to Colombians Manuel and Raoul. Raoul's dream since he was a teenager was to play at Vacant being vacking. As you can understand, in Latin America, there's a lot of people with a huge passion for metal, but it's always difficult to really get into the scene. The scene is rather small, especially compared to Europe, and Vacant is always for all of us, kind of a beacon of hope, let's say, for metal heads, and in fact, let's say Raoul in the last years has been working a lot with the Vacant Metal Battle, promoting metal in Latin America and South America in general. He also founded the VACAN Latinos organization which also promotes everything related to vacant and to metal in different countries in Latin America, supports the bands in the Vacant Metal Battle checks okay, which countries can we include and so on. So working really close with Thomas, with Hulgar, with the organization, and as you know, there are a few anthems of Vacant okay that have been throughout the years. They have created some anthems. Actually our friend here, Sean sang one of them, or.

2:09 Was it two of them? Two two of them exactly, So we have the original singer in two of those anthems. Nice and what was the idea? So we have the thirty fifth anniversary of VACAN and it was only fitting to go through those anthems, and that was Raoul's idea, and he got close to the organization and they liked the idea also because he gathered different people from different countries and also somehow either related to the original songs like Sean or people who worked for Vacuum Metal Battle. And we have people from Sweden, from Columbia of course, some collaborators from Germany, Canada, and that's how it developed. Let's say and we got the chance to play on two Tuesday in front of the people in at Langa's hoof and released all those cool songs from the past, including some by Skyline and so on.

3:12 So that's and pretty much how it went. And so how does the crowd here at Vocking react when you play these songs? And Tuesday, the crowd reaction was great. People were like very into it. I got to sing the Hudo song from twenty ten heavy metal Woa. The reaction was huge to that. Nice came back out, we all we alternated singers came back out from my song Louder than Hell, and yeah, the crowd reaction for it was great. The room was absolutely packed and it was really really a great moment.

3:55 So what what was the first moment for all of you. That you knew about Vakin. For me, that was way back since the early two thousands. I knew about the festival and wanted to come here. I came here for the first time in twenty ten, and it just it just got into my got into my system. People say it gets into your blood, and that's that's very true. Since twenty ten, I haven't missed one except for those you know, those pandemic years. Yeah, right, I've been here, I've been to. Everyone, and twenty fourteen, for the twenty fifth anniversary was when I got to provide there will be metal for the festival.

4:40 So yeah, that's that was the start of my journey for it. Love it in my case, I mean in Venezuela. Actually, I think from all the different Latin American countries, Venezuela's the one that has the smallest scene and the most difficulties because of all that has happened for the past thirty years with that weird government we had that now is slowly coming to an end, hopefully. So indeed, I was really passionate for metal and you get to know, or let's say, through YouTube. You watched the videos, okay of the. Different bands playing at VACAN and the huge crowd and everything.

5:21 I was like, wow, it was fascinated by it. And the first time that I could attend VACAN was in twenty eighteen. That's the year I got to move to Germany because I found a job here. So I've been living in Germany since then twenty eighteen, and yeah, I of course twenty eighteen nineteen. Then, just like Sean mentioned, the same thing with the pandemic no Vacant that was really sad. And then I got the chance to play at Vacant in twenty twenty two with a metal band that invited me to play with them. Back then I was collaborating with them, and now four years later, thanks to Raoul and Vacking Latinos tribute to VACING organization, I'm back here at vacan.

6:08 Nice m spano so I speak can I in Spanish ce ce espero, keas primero proximal. Packing, pacing ports, la premio, la primo Maya Gustavo handles.

6:50 Tribute to VACING is communidad, speramo, mats grande speramos, qua mascida, volver proximo. See and it's mask grande de mundo. Musicals and mundo stuff inso in Colombia extending called Mexico Venezuela Canada. Swissa in says camos musicosi to car and different spaces con different musicals italentos.

7:41 See classis. So well, I'm gonna ask you, how do you how do you feel the differences living here in Germany about the Venezuela. Wow, that's you can't even and compare. So when I was in Venezuela. I used to sing in a band as well, and it was so difficult for us to even make ourselves, let's say, a bit known. So you had the opportunity to play some venues and you know, you wouldn't get paid at all, or you would get like a bottle of rum that was the payment, because Venezuela is known for rum. But we're not pirates, so we were like, what am I going to do with a bottle of rum? That's not what I want to have, you know, as a musician. And then there was a festival called Gilman Fest where we played at but that was really it was political, you know. So the guy that the organizer was always supporting the government of Javis, and I have to say that for us Venezuelans, that government really destroyed the country. So in the nineties the eighties, there was a medal see in Venezuela and that was all destroyed because of the government and we had to flee. Basically, ninety percent of my friends are elsewhere, which is good because I always have.

9:06 A sofa to crash same time. Yeah, indeed, I think for us we also have. A lot of Venezuelan's in different countries in Latin America, like, for instance, tribute to Vacan. Here at Vacan we played with JJ Canadian drummer, but the original drummer that they have, let's say, when they rehearsed and so on. In Colombia, Raoul and Manuel is from Venezuela, for instance. So I think in the end, I'm sure I'm not the only one other countries that are also affected by this. You have some countries in which because of the religion, metal is not accepted and you are kind of discriminated by it.

9:52 And the fact that Vaken opens its doors to everyone and no matter where you come from, and that they really give the chance to smaller bands to play that unique because all the rest of the festivals in the world they only care about money. But of course they care money, but they also care about the bands and supporting smaller bands. Like last year, I'm a band from venezuel So played here and it really made a huge effort to come here to Germany and that wouldn't be possible in other big festivals in Europe. Yeah. Well, see, that's amazing and that's a testament to people that have created this festival and the community here for sure because probably even you know, seeing Javez religion and two pais on a problema the metal.

10:50 See. Okay, so I'm gonna switch to Spanish for those Spanish seekers now Claudo to Venezuela tema they'll go we are no fum prolem grande. Real p. Salida sdul premier elementmento porkell commediatcetera lo ma young ila, partrihosa I parta Venezuela and poco triestiononta pelo largo e mal vito includes o en dia too a poco difasis.

11:34 In America pro receivos como Mexico, Argentina, Razil and the rock the metal important, the almente Colombia in Venezuela and tolamenteo pero literally in Waking and Alamannia Parau Americano and gran Na Hi salto. The mediato al moment judas priest or they are made and the imported.

12:18 Totals somanos and know nail importa thingas. Metal classies than that. So in Canadian, okay, that I can do. Tell us the difference between. The metal scene in Canada opposed to the metal scene here at Vakin, well. Here at Valkan specifically, there's just so much more passion for it and that's uh, that's what got me hooked and got me flying from Canada here every year for min Toronto. In Canada, we have a decent metal scene. Uh, but it's the main difference is your bands, like a Mona Marth, they'll play like huge venues out here, like thousands and thousands of people and much and just in in Canada overall just much smaller places. So yeah, the scene's just overall smaller out here, like there's just such passion for it, and you get to see bands that I see in Toronto. I've actually seen bands play Toronto who are like even a couple hundred people, like very small places and come here and play like the faster stage and thousands and thousands of people out there for them, and it's a great thing to see and they're just the passion here for it and the crowd reaction for it, and you get to you see the difference in the bands too. Their passion for what they do here is just so did and it's very different just on that level, just the overall love for for this music and with this this festival in particular. I mean, I don't know

13:51 if any other like festival or organized organization where there's like we played a forty five minute set of vaka an anthems. Basically, I don't know any other festival that you'd be able to go and do that for. No, Like, I don't think that all over the place exactly. Something wrong. I don't think. I don't think so. I don't know of any I don't think. I don't think they do like here. It's it's part of the culture. Like I said earlier about the crowd reaction to the vakan anthems, like all those different songs, it was absolutely outstanding. And back to you. So uh.

14:32 Since Mexicano uh Sabe La dronis the band, come on, say DC the band the band Labanda dronis London Sube that's the Mexico Uhland and and status unidos our porque jose Man. The series exam. We'd like to see them now trails like because August slower, we'd like to see them come to Vaking Ladronis. I don't know time to check them out, Okay, okay, okay, Well.

15:30 Because Ka Kiero uh Wagon uh back. See Okayenamous organist assumed Okaya in Latinus. Yes, the isolated tribute to vaking Back in Latinus. Is the most support. That's the most. Judah Alas Bandas Latinas being in Awaken or Europa and on Pekeno tour tambien Latinos is important caremos Alas Bandas Latinas the Mexico, the North America's Central America is America, cabin in Tanto a metal battle, cavin in Awaken, Betados or Solamente and uh Europa. So don't says keremos listagram back and Latinos Thamas taken the most auDA pa Sepan connect akain in in in Almaniamos base in Alamannia, y yeah in in in South America and Colombia. The connectaris as parties, Parakelas Bandas Bayatulus Calidium.

17:02 THEO I see exactly now in English. So vacin Latinos, like Leon mentioned the ideas to help support all the bands from Latin America that are playing at VACAN or in Germany or in general in Europe. And that's why we have so Leon and I are part of the VACU Latinos organization here in Germany, and we have Raoul as the main let's say, one of the main organizers in Colombia. And yeah, of course, something that also surprised us is that when this initiative came to to as the big in the beginning, the Vacant organization was really interested and they really supported us, and they really do and they really see the importance of it, and they're really surprised on how many people in Latin America know VACAN and how passion they are about it, and how much effort they put to travel so far away to be here altogether. So this is like the greatest metal summit on Earth.

18:11 I love it. And that's a sit on bandas the Costa Rica. Of course, because all the countries are invited. I mean, we hope to have a band from Antarctica soon. Let's see if the Penguins start, that would be cool, that would be really cool, cool, cool, because. There is a really huge underground metal scene in Costa Rica, but there's no festivals there. There's one festival and it's not metal, and so there's no festivals there. But I think they're also part of the vacum metal battle. Right. I think I've seen people from Costa Rica exactly. In the past, we've had a few bands also here, and yeah, in general, I think that's that's actually the idea.

18:53 Let's see what what Thomas Jensen and Holga have now mentioned this year, because every year they have this Wacking Metal Battle Conference press conference and they're they're always interested in expanding it to other countries. So I think that's really a huge help for all the metal heads around the world. That's great. So now can you tell us how they can reach out to you guys as a band, the listener's meaning and any other information we haven't covered that you want them to know about the band and buy your merch because they can't listen to my show unless say buy your merch or support you.

19:36 Exactly, no, thank you so much. I think first of all, you can follow us on Instagram, two reviewed, two vacuum okay, and you can stay tuned for what's coming because we have more surprises in the future. We're working on it and let's see what happens next year and in the next month. Also, you can support us at vak Latinos, so at at Vacum Latinos and Instagram and of course each one of us. When you see us around on Instagram, Facebook, whatever, you can follow us. And yeah, let's keep in touch. And we hope that people who are listening to this interview and maybe visit vacum if they haven't, and if they have, we hope to see you back in the Holy Land of Metal.

20:25 Final words from Canada. Oh, final words from Canada. No, that's and just another everything that we've been talking about last few minutes. Just the culture. Also at this festival, I've met people from everywhere in the world and have developed lasting friendships and. Last Spring of twenty twenty five. Reached out to me. We met here at the festival. I started putting together the ideas for what we just did on Tuesday here and we've been in communication ever since. I've met pretty well all these guys for the first time. I'm at this festival and a couple of rehearsals warm up show in Hamburg, and these guys, this whole group that they've made me feel like family, Like they're treated me like family from the moment I met these.

21:11 Guys, and that is part of the culture overall at this festival. Like I've met I've got lasting friendships with people like from Australia everywhere in Europe and now I feel like I have a great group of friends from Colombia and Venezuela and living here in Germany too. Through this process and as mentioned, we're we're gonna keep going with it, and we feel we have we have the avenues and the encouragement to keep going with this project and making it like a worldwide project. One of our one of our singers with us on Tuesdays, also from Sweden. Now we got like you know, Team Team Canada, myself and JJ and then Sweden and Colombia and Venezuelan people, and it's just it's amazing to be part of.

21:53 And like I said, I've been. In Mexico yes and and so on, and we're always probably looking to experiment on that and just like I said, it's been a it's been a great experience. You know, everybody here collectively, like I've always felt that part of a family at this festival and now in this group, it's it's the same. It's a great atmosphere. I love it. And mats plas the Mexico. Okay, you know, with Graciasmosi Felices Conoto Cado in vacan theas and and trevistam Ma Grande mass musicos Ine and masvandas latinas the Mexico, Ravanda, America, the Costa Rica urupa.

22:51 Especialmente awaken, gratias. I'm so happy you were here, uh and and I hope to see a lot more of you. And I do like, I love that Vakan is so involved with the Latin community because it is a great community. Like in your country. It's such unfortunate all the political stuff that has gone on through the years. It's horrible because you have a beautiful country and it's terrible. And I have a lot of Benezuela and friends in Florida and they're you know, they're the nicest people. Like and I want to tell the world that don't judge countries by their government. You know, you can hate the government, but love the people, because the people probably hate the government as much as you do, you know. And I grew up in time with what's his name like Escobar and Colombia Camien, beautiful, beautiful country and it's it was a shame during that time. And thank god Colombia now it's a place that I can go to and have gone to and not worry about that kind of thing, you know. So maybe maybe we're on the other side and Venezuela will be once again a great country for all of us. And I love them hit Mexico too, and Canada. I love you guys too,

24:23 because you guys are so nice. You're the nicest people in the world. Awesome, May we do try it? And no, I'm god. You said you visited Toronto, so that's great. I've been to Toronto, Montreal, Niagara Falls. I have friends in Alberta, friends all over, and my heart goes out to you to deal with those winters there too. Gotta tell you ourcore winters. Yeah we will, but we get usedtore called I wear shorts here pretty well no matter what it's doing. So it's it. And I you know, I do love your country and your people, and it pisses me off what our country has been doing with your country, just saying, you.

25:04 Know, it's it's kind of difficult, yeah, perfect thing, Like, how. Do you pick on that? It's weird? Because I gotta tell you, the first time somebody was elected in twenty sixteen, I did a joke on my radio show and like people believe me. I'm like, oh, did you hear what Resident Rump did. He declared war on Canada because they're allowing people to escape our country and go to their country. And I was kidding, but fuck man, now it's almost true. Yeah, when he had when they got in this time, yeah, it almost seemed to be true, like actually they were.

25:44 The word war was actually thrown around. It's yeah, it's crazy. It's the weirdest thing to me. And like in Florida we have a large French Canadian population, but not anymore. They all went back to Canada. They don't want to be there. And that's a shame because our country was made of diversity and people from all over the world. And I think it's fucking stupid because the whole world should just be together and love each other. We're all humans. It doesn't matter where we're from, what we do, what our sexual preferences, what our skin color is. Get to know people, stop with the stereotypes and just get to know people, because that's one of the reasons I go to Costa Rica to meet are some of the nicest people in the world, and that's how I scape the assholes in my state.

26:36 Yeah, no, perfect and everything you just said that that represents like our little corner of the world right here, right now. It doesn't matter who you are, what anything about you. You're accepted here at this place. And I've seen that all fifteen times I've been here as part of what keeping coming back and it's part of what inspired what inspired me to write two songs for this festival. Nice they've been accepted and it's just like that, that's what it puts. Into your heart. You want to do these things, and you see and then you get here and how like tired you are, how much it rains you just see, everybody here is completely accepted for who they are. And that's, like I said, our little corner of the world for right now. It's an absolutely great place. And then we all get to go home. Yeah right, and that's the way it should be.

27:21 And so thank you for bringing the world to vaking and thanks for being on the Adventures of Pipe Man. Been an absolute pleasure. Then VAK see see okay, now can we get a picture with you? Thank you for listening to the Adventures of Pipelin. I'm w for CUI Radio.