Wake up to the real world...

... that is indeed the title of the latest and newest and most
awesome album of Pretty Maids. I love it too bits even though they
don't need Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers" to stay on top, actually
that's the only track I don't like. Don't misunderstand me now, I
love Deep Purple and I love that song among allt he others, but it's
perfect the way it is and if you're doing a cover you shouldn't copy
the song but make it your own... and now I've trashed Pretty Maids
exactly the opposite from what I intended.

I am in love with Pretty Maids, I didn't quite understand this until
the 90s. When they released "Sin-Decade" with "Please Don't Leave Me"
on it. That was the song that made them immortal to me. Not because
it was a hit but because they knew of the song, that made them Thin
Lizzy-fans, just like me and that made them worthy and lovable and
adorable and they deserve every bit of respect there is to give.

The thing is, I am a huge fan. I've seen all the shows in
Copenhagen/Sweden since 1990 (but one that I missed in 2001 I think,
becuase I didn't know about it AND I lived in Stockholm at the time).
I consider myself their greatest fan and I do it solemny because I've
been there, at the shows, I bought their CDs and I've mentioned them
every time possible. It all was proved in Stockholm 2004 when they
played at Draken on my Birthday. It was me and this other guy that I
only knew by looks not by name. We were their biggest fans and Ronnie
Atlins dedicated "Please Don't Leave Me" to my for my birthday. I
loved it so much. It was the best night ever, the party went on until
4 in the morning and I considered myself extremly happy and extremly
celebrated. Now, that only happens once. I got to hear "Please Don't
Leave Me" and get a personal dedication, oh if I only had it on
tape...

Yesterday I saw them live again, in Copenhagen. A Christmas gig no
less adding both "In Santas Claws" and "A Merry Jingle" to the
set-list. It was amazingly good and a briilliant audience. One young
man kept pushing me and had desperate needs to stand on my feets - I
took him for drunken bastard until I saw he was wearing a Pretty
Maids hat and on his cellphone he had a Pretty Maids loga. The boy
was nothing but a huge fan wanting to stand in the front so I let him
have the spot. I remember those days... I used to have a site called
Savage Heart where I put photos from the Pretty Maids concerts I'd
been to...

Anyway, this is my tribute to the band. The day after the oncert of the year.
I am the fan, others are the friend and the journalist but I will be
forever truly yours devoted fan.