I should've written this when I got back last week, but I was far too exhausted and had too much to do that I just couldn't find the time in which to do so. So now, a week later, I'm sitting down to write about the awesomeness that was Rock im Park. And every moment is still as fresh in my mind, as if it only happened yesterday.
It was terribly brilliant, if that makes sense at all. Everything that could've gone wrong did, but even so it kicked major ass!!
We set off late-ish on Friday; me, the emo, the two Americans (Ohio and Brother) and the Proper Irishman (from Monaghan, with a permanently happy smile and positive demeanour no matter what the situation, not to mention the best accent ever!!). I was slightly worried about travelling and staying with people I didn't know very well, but thankfully all of us bonded on the train and, by the time we arrived at the Zepplinfield, we felt like old friends. I was very excited to get a new wristband to stick next to my two-year-old Download '07 one. It's a bit too long, though, I should probably cut it..
Rock im Park is situated around two lakes and, obviously, some forests and parkland. But, the most infamous thing about it is, of course, that it is where the Nuremberg rallies took place and, even more notably, where
Der Triumph des Willens was filmed. Even being there felt strange, maybe even moreso than being in Dachau.
We eventually found spots to camp, near one of the lakes, set up the tents and headed off to see the first performer - Chris Cornell. Now, I love a bit of Audioslave and even some Soundgarden from time to time, but Cornell's solo stuff leaves a lot to be desired. He strutted out wearing grey drainpipes, knee-high boots and a loose beige top, and launched into his most recent single,
Part of Me, with the charming chorus line "That bitch ain't a part of me". It got the crowd going, but about ten minutes in I was bored shitless and dragged the emo off to the only inside stage to see Bring Me The Horizon (who blew me away when I saw them earlier in the year). The kids were pretty hammered and kept passing out at our feet, but the lads put on a good show. We almost died laughing when Olli Sykes, the frontman and a gigantic spa, ordered the Germans to do a circle pit by saying "Round and round Germany, round and round" over and over. Good stuff. We almost got crushed getting out of there, but it was worth it. For me, at least. The emo wanted to tear his hair out. I bought a T-shirt then. The selection was amazing! And they were so cheap! I got one with a sexy lady on it, which I later discovered hadn't got the bands on the back. So I bought another one the following day. We also had the festival-themed cocktails, Rocking Park, which were fucking delish I must say.
We found the lads and all headed to see the mighty Limp Bizkit, all of us very excited that Wes Borland is playing with them again. We lost each other about five minutes in, but the set was AMAZING. The only downpoint was
Behind Blue Eyes, which Wes actually left the stage during. I mean, who picked that for the setlist? It sucks and it's a total downer! Regardless, the set was great and we got seriously pummelled in the mosh pit. Getting out of the main arena was horrible. Everybody pushed and we were squashed pretty badly. There was very little crowd control all weekend, but I suppose it's difficult with such a huge amount of people.
While we were waiting for the others, the emo noticed he was missing his wallet, with the 300 quid that he'd been saving up to splash out on me at the festival. He was devastated. When the others arrived, the Proper Irishman offered to help us look, assuring us it'd turn up. Of course, we couldn't find it. I held the emo in the tent that night, which felt strange but nice. We didn't get much sleep. Some Brit asshole was yelling about The Killers all night. But we awoke still fairly hopeful. And it was sunny out! Well, for a bit anyway.
We spent most of Saturday trying to blag our way into the press area so that we could hit the Polizei up for the emo's wallet. They were unhelpful, as per usual, and told us to come back later. We found the others at Papa Roach and rocked out for a bit. They stayed to see Staind, we legged it off to watch Placebo. By that stage, it was beginning to rain quite heavily, and I was regretting my choice to bring a pair of pumps, shorts, a hoodie and tights with a variety of tops. I was cold. But Placebo warmed me up. They were amazing. Brian Molko is getting on a bit, and his ponytail makes him look like Bono, but they were incredible anyway. We were blown away.
We saw the end of Killswitch, but although the emo was fairly impressed, I tend to find myself wholly underwhelmed by them. We got right up the front for Marilyn Manson, and I was jumping up and down excitedly on the spot waiting for them to come on. We got talking to a German couple who were very impressed by our Irishness. Unfortunately for me, Mr. Manson didn't seem to be in the mood to play to, as he called it, "Dutchland" and stormed off stage after only an hour. The set was pretty decent, and the new stuff sounded great, but I couldn't help but feel cheated by somebody I've always considered one of my heroes. He barely sang any of the lyrics, which begs the question - why bother playing if one is just going through the motions?
We were squashed again on the way to get water, and met some lovely Irish people in the queue. The setup of RIP is completely different to DL. There aren't many water stations, and the area itself is bigger, although the stages are quite close, which is a plus. Paying for showers sucks. I only ended up having one, which sounds disgusting but it was all I could afford given that I ended up paying for the emo all weekend too! (I was paid back, thanks to his lovely parents).
Anyway, we were very excited for Korn, especially because it was the emo's first time seeing them. We'd lost the others again by the time they came on. The Pure Irishman went to see The Killers in the end, bogger that he is. But he was really, really missing out because Korn played the BEST set I've ever seen them play. I almost cried when they played
Thoughtless, my favourite song of theirs. I'd never heard it live before and it didn't disappoint.
Blind as the encore was amazing too. The pit was insane. We met another Irishman in it. We were seriously tired afterwards, and needless to say, we slept well that night!
Sunday dawned bright and sunny, but it didn't stay that way for long. The Pure Irishman dragged us all to see Flogging Molly, but the Americans disappeared en route. We later discovered that Ohio had decided to rethink his strategy of not wearing a jacket or hoodie in the rain and ran back to get one as soon as it started to drizzle. We were not so lucky. We got DRENCHED. And I was in shorts. On the way back to the tents to change, the emo threw off his soaked T-shirt but kept his sunglasses on and happily strutted back topless in the downpour. He's still ill this week, as a result (but he looked damn good, so who cares).
Although we were dying to see Madness, the emo and I had to trek out of the festival grounds into Nuremberg to find an ATM (Germany has a distinct lack of them). Seeing as it was a Sunday, nothing was open, and it didn't help that we looked like the survivors in a teen slasher film - covered in muck, soaking wet, dishevelled, pissed off and not wearing nearly enough clothing. Since my hoodie had got soaked earlier on, we only had one between us. And he, being the gentleman that he is, decided I should have it. So we looked a bit mad. We were out trekking for about two hours in the rain, thus missing Madness. We blagged our way into the press area again (being that my German is so good - har de har) and I FINALLY found an ATM. Yey! The Polizei had his wallet too, although the money was missing and they charged three quid to get it back. Typical German bullshit.
I threw caution to the wind then, and we had a few drinks before the Prodigy. I was very very excited to see them, but he wasn't so much. It didn't matter anyway, cos their set was amazing. Techno pits fucking suck, but we had such a laugh bouncing about amongst the pillheads. And then, once they were done, the real fun began - the hour long wait until Slipknot. I was determined to get up the front, which we did after some jostling about. Unfortunately, it was then that the heavens opened and we were drowned in the coldest, heaviest rain I have ever felt in my life. We sheltered under our one hoodie. The emo screamed at me to run to shelter somewhere properly, but I refused. I'd waited four years to see Slipknot, I wasn't giving up my place then.
And, of course, it was completely fucking worth it. Not only did we have the best view of the stage, but the set was amazing. Joey was so teeny behind the drumkit, Jim was so tall next to Corey, Chris did situps off Clown's drumkit when it was spinning in the air, Craig puked off to the side somewhere.... It was incredible. We were freezing but I didn't feel it. They opened with
Sic, my favourite song and they were perfect, even though they didn't play
My Plague once again. I sang extra loud to
Dead Memories (which holds a special place in my heart because of the past year) and
Everything Ends, which was preceded by one of Corey's speeches about not letting the assholes get you down. They're quite an inspirational band, as fucking stupid as that sounds. And they still make me feel like less of a freak, even at 21 years of age. Oh, and the "Zero Bullshit" was fucking epic as always. They exchanged hugs and exited the stage to
'Til We Die, played over the sound system, and it was the most perfect way they could've gone.
We discussed every little detail all the way back to the tents, not really minding the cold or the squashing in the queues. The others were already packing up when we arrived. We'd decided to leave in the middle of the night to beat the rush. We packed up as quickly as we could and headed off, leaving the emo's tent, which I accidentally broke earlier in the day, behind. We were in the train station by 3AM but the train wasn't till 5. We sat and chatted about anything and everything. The Brother, being the youngest of all of us, seemed most thrilled by the whole experience, but needless to say we were all fairly impressed. As a weekend, although imperfect, it kicked major ass.
We were kicked off two trains for having a Bayern ticket that wasn't valid till 9AM, but we had a great time anyway. We eventually made it home and parted ways with knucks, of course. The emo and I slept, fucked, showered and set off for the airport what seemed like five minutes later. I cried when I had to leave him, which I wasn't expecting. I stuck on
No Surprises on the train home and cried some more. Only Slipknot calmed me down, of course.
And now, a week later, I still can't believe it's all over so soon. It was amazing. I'd go again tomorrow if I could.
And now I've six weeks left here and I don't know what to do!!!!
Song of the day: Slipknot -
Before I Forget.
