Sweden Rock Festival 2001, day 2

Saturday June 9th. Last day of the festival and the BIG day music wise. Shared a van with Jeff Scott Soto and some of the other guys in Talisman to the festival area. It was clear that he was eager to watch Freak Kitchen play. Arrived just in time to hear them begin. Tony, tourmanager with the Mann Charlton Band, had come with me - determined to watch some good music - and he loved it. Watching Mattias Ia Eklundh play with a fake mobilephone as well as a dildo can make any american gasp for air. Young Johan made a success, playing with them - replacing Ia on guitar. Freak Kitchen is Sweden's best band, all categories. Gotta love them. Thanx to Mattias Eliasson for introducing me to this band, I owe you a big one (and HAPPY BIRTHDAY - wish you'd been there)!

A quick rush from the Sweden Stage to the Festival Stage where my favorite Danish band's playing it loud. Pretty Maids. It's been 2 years since I saw them the last time, in Copenhagen before I moved to Gotland. They were awsome. Just as good as ever. Shouldn't be surprised really, but I am - they definitly had the audience in the palm of their hands. They made a sort of Best of... gig which was well taken by the starved Swedish fans - it's been 9 years since they played in Sweden the last time, on the Sin-Decade tour 1992.

Ronnie, Ken, Kenneth & Michael - it was great to see you guys again, wish you'd stayed for the party at the hotel, you'd loved it! Michael and Ken wanted to come with me to watch Dokken play (both are fans of John Norum), Michael was the only one who made it though and I lost touch with him as we got closer to the stage - after the gig they'd all gone, probably left for Copenhagen. If you want to see more of my photos, check out Savage Heart!

Dokken with Mickey D on bass, Mick Brown on drums, John Norum on guitars and Don Dokken on vocals was a dream come true. The bassplayer however left things to wish for and Don could have been singing with more feelings and maybe cut some of the unnecessary "do you like to get high?" and "we'll that's it - we have to go now" (after only 3 songs)... But all'n'all it was a good show and John Norum did one of his best performances ever. I was so proud of him afterwards. To me, he was the winner of the festival.

Time for a supposed food-break, but unfortunately the food ran out so I was stuck with some breadrolls! Had a walk on the grounds with my new pals in Stockholm-based band Nerved (they're friends of the Manny Charlton guys) - but when they left to check out Rose Tattoo I went to find a ride back to the hotel.

And, at the hotel there was a party going on. A quick shower to get back some warmth and then party, party, party... The Southern Rock Allstars, Helloween, Seven Wishes, Moxy, Angel, Nitzinger, Demon among others were partying all night long!