Never really fitting into the typical “girly” world, I always felt more like a hardworking draft horse than an elegant thoroughbred. At school, I mostly hung out with the boys, and they introduced me to metal music. What drew me in immediately was not so much the aggressive or dark side, but the kind of metal that gives you power and encouragement, opens your horizons, and makes you stand up for yourself.
So it was no surprise that, among bands like DIO, Motörhead, Doro, and Hammerfall, a certain band soon crossed my path. With Louder Than Hell, I discovered my true and eternal love: MANOWAR.
Why? I could write a book about it. But to keep it short: whenever I feel down, no matter how bad things are, I listen to your music. Songs like Courage or Heart Of Steel lift me back onto my feet. With Battle Hymns or Fight Until We Die, I feel ready again to face whatever comes my way. Every time I think of these songs, I suddenly find myself smiling. Your persistence and perseverance through the years are a true inspiration.
But the story does not end there. When I first started going to concerts, it wasn’t easy for me. I am shy and introverted. But my love for the music and the incredible live experience kept pulling me back again and again. Slowly I started coming out of my shell, singing loudly along, raising the hammer high, and simply having a great time.
At first I was always standing far back in the halls. But something kept pulling me forward. I wanted to see the magic on stage up close. It took a long time. Even when I lined up from noon, I often did not make it to the front row. Maybe I was just “too good for this world,” as a wise man once said.
Over time things changed. The number of shows I attended on each tour grew from one or two to as many as fourteen on the most recent tour. Basically, I go to as many shows as I possibly can, or as my boss would say, as many as I impossibly can.
And this is where the fan family comes in. Being a Manowarrior is more than simply being a fan of any band. Standing outside venues for hours, often in the cold German winter, creates a special bond between the few “maniacs” who do this. People come together from all over the world, and real friendships are formed.
Recently, the House Of Death welcomed me, and I could not be happier with my new family. They even convinced me to do things I never imagined I would do, like traveling to Estonia for two absolutely magical shows in a medieval monastery, which for an archaeologist is hard to top, or flying to London for a weekend just to witness the incredible end of the tour. Suddenly these things felt like the most natural and necessary things in the world.
Another big milestone was doing the UFE, the Ultimate Fan Experience. It started with the technical tour led by your amazing crew, which gave us a glimpse into what it takes to put these shows together.
After 27 years of being a fan, starting at the age of 12, finally meeting the band, talking with them, and being embraced by the MANOWAR family meant the world to me. It truly felt like arriving where I had always longed to be.
One thing I loved about the recent tour was driving more than 4500 kilometers across Germany on my own and completely immersing myself in this world for an entire month.
During this tour especially, there were many kids attending their first concerts. Some of them did not make it to the front row at first, but we pulled them in and helped them experience the best time of their lives. Seeing their excitement reminded me of my own first concerts.
When the band performed songs from Sign Of The Hammer and Hail To England, I finally had the chance to hear many of them live for the first time. Since I was born in 1986, those albums came into my life later, so experiencing these songs on stage was incredibly special. Now I am already looking forward to hearing Fighting The World and Kings Of Metal next year.
Being in the front row now is something truly special. The energy and performance of the band are absolutely incredible and infectious.
For the future, all a fan can hope is that you keep touring as long as the passion is there. We will always be there. And we are excited for everything that comes next, new recordings, videos, podcasts, spoken word events, and more.
I have to admit that on the technical side of music I am still a complete beginner. I can only describe what I feel emotionally. But over time I have learned a few things, and videos like BPM or The Aluminium Monster give people like me a glimpse into how complex and fascinating this world really is. Anyone who criticizes should remember that it takes something truly extraordinary to achieve what MANOWAR has achieved and continues to achieve.
I also attached pictures of my “Manowall,” documenting my journey and memories.
So all I can say is that we love you forevermore. I hope to see you all again soon on tour.
Hail and Kill!
Dani
