Hello everybody!
I am Alessandra (Alina), Manowar fan since 2002.
Usually we discover our musical heroes during childhood, but I had something more important to do at the time. My battle against Hodgkin lymphoma started in 1984. I was an adolescent and even if I recovered in a few years, I was shocked for the illness itself and for the aggressive chemo therapies I got. I felt it was so unfair, I didn’t deserve such sorrow!
I had to leave the school for a whole year, I stayed in the hospital for a month, while doctors tried to find out what was happening, I got surgery for a biopsy, then they were sure and I started chemotherapy. After that, I had to go 500 Kilometers away from home for a month, to do radiotherapy. I felt so bad, I felt alone (even if my grandmother was with me and did everything in her power to make me feel comfortable), and I must admit I desired to die, but I survived.
Yes, I survived, but I lost my love for life. Nothing had ever been the same since then.
But I was so lucky to meet a true friend some years after, and it was her who introduced me to Manowar, giving me Warriors Of The World CD. She had been listening to heavy metal since childhood, and it was her old boyfriend who introduced her to Manowar, and then, she did the same for me.
So, MANOWAR music came into my life and everything changed, because I found out the warrior inside me. I listened to their music, learned lyrics, and entered the world of true metal, I bought all CDs. I found courage, I found something inside my heart, something which probably was there already, but I didn’t know I had it. There aren’t enough words to express my gratitude to Manowar: they took me to a better level.
I saw MANOWAR live a couple of times, I experienced the fantastic event of the fan convention, I met all Manowar musicians, some great brothers and sisters, I bought CDs, DVDs, shirts, and yes, I became addicted. Proudly addicted.
Sharing such great moments with the greatest sister on earth, was a daily gift, and still is. We are sisters of steel but also, we are real sisters, not by blood, but by spirit.
I can say I became a Manowarrior since my first touch with true metal. I know there are many other bands out there, some good, some others not, but I don’t care. There is MANOWAR, fuck the rest! I don’t need others! I breathe Manowar and keep them in my heart.
There was a bad period, when some events and people prevented me from going to concerts and I had to stay apart from the world, to change my lifestyle, but my love for Manowar never stopped. It was so painful, I am sure that every Manowarrior can understand what could mean being prevented from seeing Manowar live, but no one could prevent me to keep my dreams alive, to listen to a song whenever I wish, or I need it.
This is what I got from Manowar: I learned to never give up. And believe me, I will never give up on something I really want (“we fight ‘til we win or we’ll fight until we die”).
Every single day, when I am low, sad, angry, I just put a Manowar CD on my stereo, and everything turns good: I have the strength to fight my battles and to face my enemies.
But also, when I am happy or proud, I party with Manowar music.
I took part in Joey DeMaio’s Spoken Tour, in November 2019. Joey’s words about “never give up” lighted another great fire in my heart, and I got much more motivation to win my battles.
Joey is not just a great musician and composer, as we all know, but he is also a true inspiration and you can feel it clearly if you spend some time talking to him. He has such an incredible charisma! I hope to meet him once again, as he makes you feel great … Well, he told my friend and I “I want to see you again”, so let’s do it as soon as possible!
One little note to all fans: everyone of us would like to have MANOWAR in our own cities, but let me say that I always traveled abroad to see them (I am Italian), and every time it was worth it!

Dear Manowar, brothers and sisters of metal, I’d like to share my little story.
My name is Yuki Fujita and I’m from Japan.
The first time I listened to Manowar was around the “Louder than Hell” era.
I wanted to see Manowar live but that chance didn’t happen until 2005.
I got to know Manowar would have the fan convention and the headlining show at Earthshaker fest and I thought I had to make it.
I didn’t have fellow Manowar fans around me so I joined the official forum and started to talk online with fans from different countries.
So when I travelled to Germany and the fan convention actually started, I didn’t feel like it was my first time to meet brothers and sisters from all over the world!
At the fan convention, I participated in Miss Manowar contest and it was unbelievable enough that I won the contest, which I had not expected but it was such a great honor.
My first Manowar concert at Earthshaker Fest was just overwhelming.
The whole experience was just magical and full of memories. I had never seen so many dedicated fans before, and the energy and passion of the band was so strong.
This experience changed my life a lot –
To make a really long story short, if I hadn’t attended the fan convention and Earthshaker Fest and met fellow fans there, I wouldn’t have my current job (translator) and band members (I’m a singer in a band by the way).
What is very special about Manowar and fans is the bond between them.
I was honored to be part of The Circle to represent Japanese fans, and the interaction with other representatives and Magic Circle Music was a precious experience.
I don’t see the fellow fans so often because we live in different countries but through the forum and SNS, I feel they are close friends (and of course I see them at the concerts of Manowar!)
2014 was another landmark in my life – Manowar came back to Japan!
The concerts were great with no questions especially when I finally saw Manowar in my own country with my friends and fellow fans.
I thought it was the most enthusiastic crowd of Manowarriors I had ever seen!
Besides, I was so proud to be a little guide for Joey when he wanted the infamous mamushi (snake) sake – now I really wish Manowar would come back to Japan to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
Why do I love Manowar?
It’s the strong message in their music- fight for life and believe in yourself, whatever others say about you.
When I’m feeling down, Manowar’s music always gives me strength to break through difficult situations.
As a singer/musician, I’m not like Eric nor my music doesn’t sound like Manowar, but I keep the spirit of steel and metal that Manowar always gives me.
(I’m not famous at all but still there are assholes who want to bring me down…in those situations Manowar helps me a lot!)
At the concerts, I’m blessed with great friendship of brothers and sisters – we have different languages, cultures, ideas and religions but with Manowar, we’re always one family.
How great is that?
Manowar is always special in my life and I’m looking for my next adventure on the tour…hopefully in Japan!
Best wishes from Japan.

Yuki Fujita

MANOWAR celebrates its 40th anniversary on the forthcoming tour and many of YOU have reasons to celebrate, too! Take the example of Jozef from Slovakia who celebrated his 40th birthday on MANOWAR’s show in Zürich last year. Many happy returns of the day, brother and thank for sharing your story.

+++

Hello Manowar Team

I am Jozef and I am from Slovakia. I am a fan of Manowar since 1992, in that time I bought my first two CD’s Hail to England and Into Glory Ride. Over time I bought more CD’s, DVD’s and other Manowar products. Until now I’m a big fan of Manowar. I was on concert in Zürich 2019. I celebrated there my 40th Birthday. I was born on 7. 6. 1979 and the concert was on 8. 6. 2019. In Germany I met Joey DeMaio on the Spoken Word Tour ‘The Blood Of the Kings’ where we drank Slivovica together. It was a big moment for me. I will be a fan for the rest of my life.

Greetings from Slovakia
Jozef

+++
Send your celebration photo to frontrow@manowar.com or post with hashtags #MANOWAR and #anniversary with a brief description of your reason to celebrate!

¡¡¡VIVA MANOWAR CABRONES!!
¿Qué banda permite que sus fans envíen su historia en su idioma natal?
Sólo existe una banda, aquella que tiene a los mejores fans del Metal. MANOWAR.
Por ello decidí escribir mi historia “Manowarrior de por vida” en mi idioma natal, español de México.
Me llamo Ignacio Muñoz Bautista, y tengo 25 años y 10 años en la historia de Manowar
Recuerdo cuando empezaba a ser llamado por éste estilo de vida. Desde los 8 años, me convertí en Rockero con Chuck Berry y a los 13, el Metal cambio mi vida…
Comencé con Metal en la vena más extrema, Thrash y Death. Sin embargo, a los 14 años al escuchar el bajo de Geezer Buttler en Children of the Grave, llamó mi atención el Metal más clásico. Fue así que comenzó mi obsesión por la búsqueda de verdadero Metal.
MANOWAR llegó en el momento perfecto cuando entré a la preparatoria a los 15 años. Mi amiga Alexi y yo pasábamos las horas libres cantando clásicos del Heavy Metal de Priest, Maiden, Helloween, etc. Fue esa amiga, quién me presentó… Guyana (Cult of the damned). Nunca imaginé que un instrumento como el Bajo se escuchará ¡tan cabrón! Joey DeMaio era el responsable de esa intro tan épica y única. Y la voz, tan expresiva de Eric Adams, un narrador de historias asombroso ¡Maestro!. Ross The Boss ¡sin palabras! ¡Pura calidad Premium en los solos de guitarra! Scott Columbus… tambores de guerra que sonaban después de “ Thank you for the the Kool Aid Reverend Jim…”. Nunca había escuchado canción alguna como Guyana… ¿Quién toca esa canción? ¿MANOWAR? ¿quiénes son? Necesitaba más dosis de ellos…
En mi hogar no teníamos internet en esos tiempos e iba a lugares de contracultura y “underground” como el “Tianguis cultural del Chopo” a conseguir música. Ese mismo fin de semana busqué algo referente a Manowar. El primer CD que encontré y compré fue “Thunder in the sky”. ¡A huevo! Otro álbum tremendo, cada canción, una joya y lo que más me sorprendió fue la grabación de “Father” ¡en 15 idiomas diferentes al inglés! “Padre” la canción de mi más grande mentor y modelo a seguir, mi papá. Esa canción lo describe perfectamente puesto que fue agricultor de niño y adolescente y a la fecha nos sigue enseñando a mi grandioso hermano y a mí, la paciencia y entrega de trabajar la tierra y obtener grandes resultados por el esfuerzo que implica ello. Muchas canciones de Manowar me recuerdan a él y a mi madre, auténticos guerreros; mi padre llegó solo de un pueblo de provincia a la Ciudad de México hablando Náhuatl (idioma natal de México) y mi madre de niña, juntaba fierro y vidrio en la basura para ganar dinero y a pesar de venir de cierto nivel de “pobreza”, ambos lograron vencer cualquier adversidad sin poner excusas y sabiendo que “for any day that stings, two better days it brings, Nothing is as bad as it seems” y “always, carry on!”.
A partir de escuchar ese disco, sabía que tenía que conseguir todos, y así, todo el dinero que obtenía de trabajos estaba destinado a conseguir material original de Manowar y ésta dicho: “quien busca encuentra”. Llegaron a mi todos, poco a poco, e inclusive los DVD´s Hell on Earth. Yo no lo creía, puesto que sólo leía reseñas de ellos en revistas. Esta serie de videos me mostraron el gran trato y entrega que tiene Manowar con sus fans, como ninguna otra. Y el deseo de verlos en vivo se hacía más grande.
Cuando supe el año pasado que venían a México, ¡no podía creerlo! Y éste año, el inicio de una batalla que está ocurriendo por hacerse de un lugar en la Nueva Era de grandes retos para la humanidad, fue ambientado por Manowar en el Hell and Heaven Metal Fest. Las palabras no alcanzan a describir la energía que sentí esa noche. Todo fue increíble, profesional, y lo más cabrón que he visto en cuanto a espectáculo en mi México lindo y querido. El audio, escenario y setlist (The Power of thy Sword ¡nunca imaginé escucharla en vivo!) espectacular y de una calidad inigualable. ¡Gracias por demostrarnos de que están hechos! Y callarle la boca a esos incrédulos que decían que ustedes jamás vendrían. Y además… ¡Un DVD! Cuando me vi en la promo del 40 aniversario ¡no lo creía! ¡Gracias! Yo sé que éste DVD superará las expectativas de todo fan en el mundo.
Muchas gracias MANOWAR por ser el soundtrack de mi vida y combustible para afrontar retos en éste gran camino de la vida. Ustedes han estado presentes en mi vida deportiva y marcial como boxeador amateur, siempre me presento con la “Sign of the Hammer” =T=. Presentes con mi familia, viajes, trabajo y estudios, e incluso, en los agradecimientos de mi trabajo de Tesis (Bachelor´s Degree ) de Ingeniero Ambiental yo cité una frase de Warriors of the World United “…Con sueños de ser un Rey, primero debes ser un Hombre.” Que refleja la paciencia, trabajo duro y disciplina que debes tener para lograr tus, objetivos, metas y propósitos.
¡Vamos por más triunfos! en mi desarrollo humano, en mente, cuerpo y alma ¡siempre estarán presentes MANOWAR! No importan las adversidades, porque siempre estaré con mi “Corazón de Acero” que dirá al rugir de sus canciones: “¡Ponte de pie y pelea! Haz caso a tu corazón, siempre un intento más que no tengo miedo a morir ¡Levántate y pelea! Di lo que sientes, que he nacido con un ¡CORAZÓN DE ACERO!” =T=

+++

Which band allows their fans to submit their story in their native language?
There is only one band, the one that has the best metal fans. MANOWAR.
So I decided to write my story “Manowarrior for life” in my native language, Mexican Spanish.

My name is Ignacio Muñoz Bautista, and I am 25 years old and 10 years in the history of Manowar
I remember when I started to be called by this lifestyle. From the age of 8, I became a Rocker with Chuck Berry and at 13, Metal changed my life …

I started with Metal in the most extreme vein, Thrash and Death. However, when I was 14 years old when listening to Geezer Buttler’s bass on Children of the Grave, the more classic Metal caught my attention. That is how my obsession with the search for true Metal began.

MANOWAR came at the perfect time when I entered high school at 15 years old. My friend Alexi and I spent our free hours singing Heavy Metal classics from Priest, Maiden, Helloween, etc. It was that friend who introduced me… Guyana (Cult of the damned). I never imagined that an instrument like Bass would sound so bastard! Joey DeMaio was responsible for that epic and unique intro. And the expressive voice of Eric Adams, an amazing storyteller. Teacher! Ross The Boss speechless! Pure premium quality guitar solos! Scott Columbus… war drums that sounded after “Thank you for the Kool Aid Reverend Jim…”. I had never heard a song like Guyana … Who plays that song? MANOWAR? who are they? I needed more doses of them …
In my home we didn’t have internet at that time and I went to sub culture and “underground” places like the “Tianguis cultural del Chopo” to get music. That same weekend I looked for something about Manowar.

The first CD I found and bought was “Thunder in the sky”. Of course! Another tremendous album, each song a jewel and what surprised me the most was the recording of “Father” in 15 languages other than English! “Father” the song of my greatest mentor and role model, my dad. That song describes him perfectly since he was a farmer as a child and adolescent and to this day he continues to teach my great brother and me the patience and dedication of working the land and obtaining great results for the effort that this implies. Many Manowar songs remind me of him and my mother, true warriors; my father came alone from a provincial town to Mexico City speaking Náhuatl (the native language of Mexico) and my mother as a child, collected iron and glass in the garbage to earn money and despite coming from a certain level of “poverty”, both managed to overcome any adversity without making excuses and knowing that “for any day that stings, two better days it brings, Nothing is as bad as it seems” and “always, carry on!”

From listening to that album, I knew that I had to get all of them, and thus, all the money that I obtained from jobs was destined to obtain original Manowar material and this one said: “who seeks finds.” They all came to me, little by little, and even the Hell on Earth DVDs. I didn’t believe it, since I only read reviews of them in magazines. This series of videos showed me the great treatment and dedication that Manowar has with his fans, like no other. And the desire to see them live grew greater.

When I found out last year that they were coming to Mexico, I couldn’t believe it!

And this year, the beginning of a battle that is taking place for a place in the New Age of great challenges for humanity, was set by Manowar at the Hell and Heaven Metal Fest. Words fail to describe the energy I felt that night. Everything was incredible, professional, and the most bastardo I have seen in terms of spectacle in my beautiful and beloved Mexico. The audio, stage and setlist (The Power of thy Sword, I never imagined listening to it live!) Spectacular and of an unbeatable quality. Thanks for showing us what they are made of! And shut up those unbelievers who said that you would never come. And also… A DVD! When I saw myself in the 40th anniversary promo, I didn’t believe it! Thank you! I know that this DVD will exceed the expectations of every fan in the world.

Thank you MANOWAR very much for being the soundtrack of my life and fuel to face challenges in this great path of life. You have been present in my sporting and martial life as an amateur boxer, I always present myself with the “Sign of the Hammer” = T =. Present with my family, trips, work and studies, and even, in the acknowledgments of my thesis work (Bachelor’s Degree) of Environmental Engineering I quoted a phrase from Warriors of the World United “With dreams of being a King, you must first be a Man.”
That reflects the patience, hard work and discipline that you must have to achieve your objectives, goals and purposes.

Let’s go for more wins! in my human development, in mind, body and soul, MANOWAR will always be present!
No matter the adversities, because I will always be with my “Heart of Steel” that will say at the roar of its songs: “Stand up and fight! Pay attention to your heart, always one more try that I’m not afraid to die. Get up and fight! Say what you feel, that I was born with a HEART OF STEEL! ” = T =

Ignacio

My name is Joe, and I’m from Hertfordshire, England.

When I was 14, my friend introduced me to Heavy Metal. Among other songs, he showed me Die with Honor by Manowar, and I loved it. The bass intro, the guitar licks and Eric’s unbeatable vocals, I was hooked. I began going from album to album, listening to Manowar songs, and about 2 years later, I finally came across Defender

This song, about a deceased Father’s letter to his son really hit my heart, as I lost my own father aged 5.
I found myself replaying the line “I would’ve been there to watch you grow” over and over.

When I went to college, I met a guy named Zak, who liked metal. I showed him Manowar, he showed me other great bands and we’re best friends today. We used to drink, and bang our heads hard to songs such as Fighting the World, Burning and The Demons Whip. Some time later I also met a girl who loved metal, and knew Manowar. We dated, got together, and I took her to see them in Birmingham. I also got to meet Manowar there on my Ultimate Fan Experience. Drinking with Joey and getting to speak with Eric was a high point in my life. We saw the concert and it was amazing. Manowar fans aren’t like the rest. We are a family

The final word in my Manowar story, is the Spoken word tour.
My girlfriend and I traveled to Germany to see it, little did she know, I was planning to propose. In front of the Kreuzberg mural, just around the corner from the show, I proposed to her, and she said yes! After calling our families and friends, we went to the spoken word show. This was Joey DeMaio’s closing message

“You meet good and bad people in life, but as long as you stay true to yourself, good people will find you”

Manowar and their music has helped me overcome many tons of bad shit in my life, brought me some of my fondest memories, and I can’t imagine my life without them. I am an Immortal, forever

Hail to the Kings of Metal, long may they Reign!

How can a person constantly challenged by adversity and controversy succeed against all odds, develop a successful long-lasting career and live a rewarding life?

In his new podcast, WORDS OF POWER, multi-talent Joey DeMaio talks about the life lessons that helped him achieve this and live his dream.

Read all about it on the link below:

MANOWAR’s Joey DeMaio Releases Episode 1 Of New Podcast “WORDS OF POWER – With Joey DeMaio”

6 years ago Tokyo celebrated the Kings Of Metal 2014 Tour and the power of true metal.

A very special moment in MANOWAR history.

We will never forget the boundless passion and loyalty of our Japanese Manowarriors !