… To a battle I ride…

Did I know back in 1994, that song “Crown and the Ring” which I heard by accident on the audiotape at my friend’s home would turn my life upside down? At the age of 14 you actually never think about what you are going to do in the future, and it’s impossible to predict that one song can make such an impact …. But exactly from this moment my journey into the world of heavy metal began, but not only music but also the philosophy that stood behind this music was important. The philosophy of the warrior‘s life, where you always have to move forward and never retreat, never  surrender no matter how hard it will be for you. In Russian culture we have a great novel which main idea “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” almost repeats ideas of Manowar’s lyrics and that’s why this band has totally filled me with power, that helps me in my hard moments.

Audiotapes, rumors and limited information – that’s what we had back here in Russia those days.  Only “Kings of metal” audiotape that was always in my tape player, the video “Return of the Warlord” accidently seen on TV – that was my Manowar world… And then came the Internet and the information about our favorite music band that kept coming every day was a great treasure for us. The brightest moment was when I created the chat channel on the IRC DALnet chat network in 1997 about Manowar, where fans from all over the world had a chance to talk about Manowar topics and what was more  important to had a chance to become friends. With some of these people I still keep in touch and we travel together around the world to visit almost every Manowar show. That’s where I met Michael Liebenow, who at that moment was helping Manowar with their first Internet steps and sites, I met Theo and Marjo Verdooren whom you all know by the  World Wide Web Warriors, of course I can’t forget Allmighty Dawnowar – a famous  Manowar fan from the USA, and Manoel Arruda, who is still with Manowar today.  This was wonderful time, because that was the world of Manowar where we were able to share information, to share emotions and make new friends all around the globe.

…You wait in the rain, you walk through the snow…

            In such tight everyday chatting we met 1999 year, which became a year of my First live show of Manowar. I met great guys from Sweden and when I had a chance to visit Sweden Rock Festival ’99 at Solvesborg I was heartly welcomed by a pack of fifteen Swedish manowarriors who met me at Stockholm airport. This was a real interpretation of the greatest hymn “Army of the Immortals”. Three days I had to “sleep” almost on the ground in totally broken tent under heavy rain. And only Russian Flag with Manowar logo on it told everybody that that was a crazy Russian warrior that came to see Manowar here on Swedish ground. But I lost my very first battle for the front row. That was one of a few shows which I had to see from the back. When mighty intro came in I was at the third or fourth row and there was hell. Crazy Scandinavian warriors were so crazy and strong that I had to pull myself out and it was the right decision. I almost passed out and had to work pretty hard to make my lungs work back, otherwise that could  be my last show of Manowar ever. But the show…ooooh that show was incredible! Standing in the mud under the rain and listening to the “Gates of Valhalla” – I was absorbing almost every word that was sung, every guitar, bass or drum note. That was unbelievable. After the show I came back to the stage where was so silent already, like after a heavy battle. But exactly in this silence I met Eric Adams for the first time, who came back to the barrier specially for me, cause he knew me from my chat channel (I hope I can say now that he was there sometimes and chatted with fans undercover). We talked only a minute or so, but I was lucky to thank him for all the songs which were so meaningful that has helped a lot. It was the first greatest show of Manowar for me.

…I awaken the creator, in those who dare…

When I came back to Moscow I had a strong feeling that I can’t relax cause one thing was rotating in my mind and bothering me.  Eric on every show during his speech noted all the countries they played and he always included Russia into this list. But they had never played in Russia before. The Dream to see them alive in my country forced me to find information about how all this things works – how anyone could invite a band to play a show in Russia. The Internet was very helpful and I found a small but very professional company “T.C.I.”. So me and some of my friends actually spammed its email with begging to bring Manowar to Russia. But we had to wait. At the End of 1999 this thunder struck and we got news that Manowar was going  to a Scandinavian tour “Monsters of the Millenium” and that was a sign. We brought back our contacts with the employees from T.C.I. and after providing them with this information about upcoming tour we got the feeling that things began to settle.  A few weeks later we were the happiest fans in the world, cause we got the information that after some negotiations Manowar and T.C.I. made an agreement to play three shows in Russia – one in Saint-Petersburg and two in Moscow. I did my best to be helpful for everyone – I provided the promoters with as much information about the band and fans as I could. My friends and I tried to help with everything they asked us to help with. One of the story is so crazy, that I still can’t understand how I was able to do, what promoters asked me to do for the show. It was the 5^th of November 1999, actually it was my birthday and in a few days I had to leave for Stockholm to see Manowar on seven shows of the tour, and exactly at this day promoters asked me to help them. They asked me to take a huge amount of freshly printed posters and drive them to the train station to load a mail car of the train heading to Saint-Petersburg, where they would be used for an advertisement company of the show. Can you imagine how surprised I was when I was already walking beside a heavy loaded cart and suddenly understood that the  mail car had been already closed and had  loaded two days ago and nothing could be done at that moment. But I was born in the fire of Manowar songs philosophy, I had no chances to retreat, to stop and to surrender.  I was standing there and thinking how to send over five hundred kilos of posters to Saint-Petersburg and I still can’t understand which words I used to persuade a train conductor to take these posters with him almost for nothing. The craziness of the situation was so high, cause I paid the conductor less than 10 bucks for this and three bucks I gave to a local policeman at a  dirty basement who didn’t liked my activities around train car. But we fucking did it and especially because I was raised on this great band philosophy.

…is metal in the air tonight, can you hear it call…

And then the magic began. My first meeting with Joey De Maio in Copenhagen and our quite long chat at Malmoe, where I talked and talked about Russian fans about which songs they would love to hear and what Manowar should know about Russia. When Eric Adams asked me about how good ticket sales were in Moscow, or when promoters asked me to ask the band about making promo video for upcoming shows I was feeling myself as part of historical moments of this tour. Day by day, show by show the band was getting closer and closer to their first-ever show in Russia. Every day I stood in the hall watching them creating magic again and again and then the day of Saint Petersburg show came. I had all access badge so my friends and I drove straight from the train station to the venue where the concert would take place to help with building the stage all together. Believe me, there is nothing better for a fan than helping band crew members to build the foundation of the very first Manowar show in Russia. It was a real honour to help such professional masters. Lots of translations, lots of different things, lots of work and few hours later the stage was ready…. Silence and tension filled the air… and only screams of the fans behind closed doors told us that there were only a few moments left. And the show began. To stay there and listen to Eric saying country names again and right before the very moment he looked at me and with a  huge smile and scream ‘Russia’ he nailed the truth about Manowar playing in Russia. You can’t compare this moment with anything else.

And then was Moscow, the press conference, the meeting with fans, two more shows. I still remember Jeff Hair’s eyes and another crew members when they saw the angle of the stair by which they had to bring their equipment inside the building ( I’m pretty sure it was and still  is the hardest venue ever for Manowar to unload their equipment). I remember how Joey stopped the show, cause they had to rescue a fan from a second or a third row who fell unconscious during ‘Sign of the Hammer’ song, I still remember my fear that the balcony would fall down, cause whole building was shaking so hard. And then was the second show and a present that the band did first for me, and then for all of the people in the hall . During sound check with words “This is for you”  they began to play ‘Carry on’. That was a royal gift, which later was inserted into the setlist of the show. Moscow was the only city during the whole tour that got ‘Carry On’ and believe me Russian fans still remember it.  Since then, Manowar has played in Moscow lots of times, they did a full Russian tour, but these first shows are still in our  memory and hearts. Just  before the second show in Moscow, Manowar took a photo on a stage with all crew members, sponsors, promoters and us, sadly I can’t find it and I really hope that it is still in the band’s archives and will be used in a new part ‘Manowar History’ book where they will write about Russia. The most funny thing is that it’s the only photo I’ve ever done with the band together.

…Words of power calling to us all

    Holding us together

                        while other kingdoms fall…

It has been twenty years since that event, I have visited over fifty shows at different parts of the world and our red-black “Russian Manowar Brotherhood” flag is one of the most recognizable flags on different band’s videos. The most epic show were in  Longyearbyen at Svalbard over the North polar circle in April 2019. Fans from almost all over the world came there to witness the history, sadly no white bears showed around to join us for a party. But the show itself was like a party of old friends that united together at these northern lands. I remember the show in Sofia 2019 which was my number 50 show and I got my first ever bass string from Joey. But the best thing was not just memories of different shows or occasional meeting with the band or bass strings, the best thing was that I became a part of family of Manowar fans, who travel together from town to town, help each other with everything even when you visit their countries for non – Manowar related topics. This is a real FAMILY. My thanks goes to Manowar, because this band gave us a chance to meet each other and to be the part of a big story called “Manowar”.

                   Alexei (Russia)

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Dear MANOWAR,

Dear Joey,

Dear Ruxia,

Dear Manoel,

Dear Manowar-Team,

what a great contest and what a great chance to tell you my story about finding MANOWAR for my life!

My name is Christian, I am 28 years old and I live in Bavaria in Germany.

Before MANOWAR i never listened to heavy metal. Towards the end of my training period I played the drums in a Rock & Pop – Coverband. Someday our bassist asked us if we could play the song “WARRIORS OF THE WORLD”. I asked him from which band this song is and he told me MANOWAR; a Heavy Metal – Band.

I didn’t know this band so I went to the next musicstore and searched for an album from this band which included the song. So my first album was “WARRIORS OF THE WORLD”. I put the cd in my discman and started the number 8 of the album and what should i say?! WOW, it was mind blowing; the power of the first seconds of the song was incredible; what a sound; what destroying instrumental power and then the voice of the singer. I listened to the song again and again and again. Like i said, i never listened to heavy metal before. My music choice was mainstream (Rock & Pop Music on the radio and so on). Today I was crushed by MANOWAR! Again i went to the music store and bought all cd’s from MANOWAR i could find. The craziest thing for me was that i could listen to every single song; they all were so full of power and energy that no song was boring or shit! From other bands I knew that they had good songs and not so good songs but from MANOWAR every song was amazing and great! Since this day I have been listening to this great band every single day.

After a while my mother asked me about the cd´s to listen to them. She was so excited after listening that she wanted more to hear from this band.

– This is how i came to MANOWAR –

A few weeks later I was searching on the internet for the next shows and found the new “KINGS OF METAL MMXIV – Tour ” which would bring the band to Munich in Germany, near my hometown. I didn’t think long and bought a ticket for this evening. I had never joined a Live-concert before so i was very very nervous and excited. Because my mother didn’t like big mass events she was waiting in the car in front of the show venue (Zenithalle) while i was standing in the front row. This night was unbelievable for me; the band came out and the sound and the power of the music were so mind blowing that I couldn’t find the right words to explain it. Whoever joined a MANOWAR-Concert live in the frontrow knows what I mean.

After this amazing concert I told my mother in the car how crushing it was and how cool it was to see the band live on stage, to hear the great songs live and full of power. My mother said that the sound outside the area was so loud that she thought there was a tank patrol in the next street. I told her so much from this concert that she was really sad that she wasn’t with me.

After a few days I saw that MANOWAR would come back to Germany with their “GODS and KINGS – TOUR” in 2016. I asked my mother if she would come with me. At first she was afraid because of the thousands of people but after more words she agreed. What she didn’t know was that I bought a “ULTIMATE FAN STEEL PACKAGE ” which included a meeting with the band and a view behind the stage. This should be a surprise and it worked. It was breathtaking how friendly Joey DeMaio welcomed us. It was like you met your neighbour. Thank you for that!

After this concert my mother said that she would come with me to every concert of MANOWAR when they would come back to Germany again.

In 2017 the band came back for 10 shows to Germany and my mother and I were on every single show across Germany. We waited for hours in the cold. From 11 am in the morning till 7 pm in the evening to save our place in the frontrow. This was a very very cool (and cold) time:)

In Kiel my mother got the bass string from Joey at the end of the show; this made my mother very very happy and me too.

After this tour my family walked in very hard times. My mother fell ill with cancer. For a long time the forecast was not good. In this time i printed her photos from our tour through Germany, from our new friends we met on the tour. I brought her CD´s and Videos from the shows and we remembered the whole time. A week later she was recovering. Thank you god for saving her life!!! In this time MANOWAR announced the new Tour “THE FINAL BATTLE”. My mother was very sad because she knew she couldn’t go with me to this tour again because of her health. I told her to wait because the tour would start in a year. And she was hoping to go with me again to the shows.

In this very hard time MANOWAR did something that we would never ever forget for the rest of our lives. The Band and their fan manager Ruxia heard the case of my mother and made it possible for her to get safely into the venue every evening. So she could enjoy the show without fear of her health.

This gesture I will never forget! This is brotherhood! Thank you MANOWAR!

This is my story of how i came to MANOWAR and why I will always be a MANOWARRIOR FOR LIFE!!!

MANOWAR is more than a band. MANOWAR is a brotherhood. MANOWAR is hope. MANOWAR is understanding.

The music, the lyrics, the spirit; there is so much power and energy in the songs that will make you strong every day! When you have a day full of shit – listen to MANOWAR and everything will be alright! When you have a great day and everything works – listen to MANOWAR and it will be amazing!

Like Joey said on the last tour: HART und LAUT, STARK und SCHNELL – if you don´t like me, go to hell!

And that is the truth.

Either you are a MANOWARRIOR

or you are not my friend!

The Tickets for the next tour are secured and ready! We can’t wait to see you on the road again.

Have a great time until the tour-start.

Best wishes from Germany

your most loyal fans and Manowarriors

Julia, Sabine and Christian

My name is Yiğit Elvis İlgü and I am one of the millions of MANOWAR fans. I studied making plucked music instruments and am also working as a tour guide in Berlin. I love history, art and I’m a proud member of the ever-growing Army Of Immortals! What a privilege it is when the Kings Of Metal ask a fan to write something about himself.

My MANOWAR story started when I was just 13 years old. I was going through some CDs in a secondhand shop and after seeing the killer artwork of the “Kings Of Metal” album I had to buy it. I remember coming home, putting the CD into my discman, holding the booklet in my hands to follow the lyrics and the first song “Wheels Of Fire” basically took my breath away! (Well, the speed made it kind of impossible to follow the lyrics:)) This was nothing I could compare with any other heavy music I knew before! I listened to the second song, “Kings Of Metal” and it was so clear: this was my band! When the marathon was finished with “The Blood Of The Kings” I guess I was already a die-hard fan. And I had to get all the other albums asap! Today I’m 35 and still collecting everything about MANOWAR and searching for new items.

I got my first tattoo, Sign Of The Hammer, when I was 15 and many people around me said it was a mistake, that this was just a teen ambition and I wouldn’t like this music in some years anyways. Well, I never cared what others said, those people were wrong, and they were too weakhearted to build their own way of life … and now they must be complaining every day about their boring lives.

My biggest dream when I was a teenager was to attend one single MANOWAR concert. I’m from Istanbul and in the 90s we thought it was very unlikely that the Kings would ever play in Turkey. Luckily, I moved to Berlin almost 20 years ago and since then I’ve seen 60 MANOWAR shows in 20 different countries. Besides the Earthshaker Festival/Fan convention, my first show was a very special one. I was 17 and it was gonna be only an autograph-day of the band in a music store in Hamburg. But a small stage was built there and the surprise was that the band was going to play some songs! I got to the store early in the day and it was no one but Scott Columbus himself setting up his drum kit! I remember myself running towards him and he just started to laugh, calmed me down and told me there was no need of running.

That day I got to see three live songs, meet the band and I could give Joey my fan-letter signed with my own blood! The way MANOWAR had done it when they signed the contract for the “Into Glory Ride” album. This was how they wanted to show the world that they were dead serious in their dedication and that they were unstoppable! And I had to show my dedication the same way. Don’t try this at home! 🙂

One of the special moments of being a Manowarrior is when I’m on the street or in the public transport wearing my MANOWAR t-shirt as usual and some random person shouts „Hail and Kill“ at me or just does the Manowar sign. Then we know we talk the same language! That reminds me that what we share is more than the music, but also a way of life. I truly doubt that any other band could create the brotherhood and the passion for true metal like MANOWAR does. Going to a MANOWAR show is not only celebrating the best band on earth and having a great time but also having a huge family meeting, catching up with old friends from all over the world and meeting new brothers and sisters. Other than making lifelong friends, the greatest thing was meeting my wonderful wife at a MANOWAR show.

Thank you MANOWAR for the most glorious music on earth and for always being there for me. Without your music I wouldn’t be the person I am today. And happy 40^th anniversary! See you on the tour, because I will be there!

Yiğit Elvis İlgü

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For me, Manowar is about more than just their unforgettable music. Through them, I have been able to meet fans from all over the world, many of whom have become real friends for life.

Besides making these lifelong friends, which would have been enough, I was also blessed by finding the “replacement father” that I always wished for.

My childhood was marked by a tyrannical and violent creator (this person never deserved to be called a father). In 2007, I supported my 70-year-old mother in a divorce, that became a war. After more than 50 years of marriage, she finally had the courage to leave my biological producer. While I was facing all these struggles in my life, Manowar held the first Magic Circle Festival in my hometown.

Because of my business, I was able to meet and talk to fans from all over the world and they all had one thing in common: they shared a very deep connection with the band and their music.

This is when I first saw the many parallels to my life and the cohesion and deep loyalty of this fan base, as though they had cast a spell over me.

“Fighting the World” became the anthem to my life, and still is today.

Battles Are Fought By Those With The Courage To Believe
They Are Won By Those Who Find The Heart
– in these meaningful lyrics I recognized myself, my soul.

Each of us Manowarriors has text passages that reflect exactly one part of our lives.

The second Magic Circle Festival was held in 2008. It was even bigger and more breathtaking than the year before. Words cannot describe the spectacle of this festival, for me personally it was a time of rebirth.
I organized a big Fan Meet and Greet Party together with another fan/friend and as I got to know the fans more and more, it became more than just friendship with many, they became part of my family, my brothers and sisters.

In the following years my husband and I were present at almost every concert and eventually we met the band, and Joey also introduced my husband and I to his best friend, and legendary concert promoter, Rainer Hänsel.
From that first meeting, Rainer and I became best friends, on the many tours we spent countless hours together, but also privately, because we lived only a few kilometers apart.

Although I will never overcome his untimely death in 2017, I am deeply grateful that Joey introduced me to the man who became a loving, honest and charismatic surrogate father, and we were able to become the family that Rainer never had.

Joey himself is also one of the most open-minded, helpful, generous people I know, he has a rare sense of honor and strength of character you rarely see in people. A man who gives everything, not only for his family and friends, but also for his fans.

“I believe in metal more than anybody you’ve ever met. And another thing, I’m prepared to die for metal. Are you?” When he says this, you can be sure it’s the absolute truth and not just some empty interview chatter.

I have faced a lot of suffering in my life, with lies being told about me in legal disputes etc. etc., so I always feel very emotional and hurt for Joey and the band when I read bad press, usually filled with lies or when former fans turned against him or the band in numerous comments on the World Wide Web.

But just like in his song lyrics, Joey has never, and will never give up. On the contrary MANOWAR becomes stronger.

“They can’t stop us let them try, for Heavy Metal we will die!”

Manowar is not only unforgettable music and meaningful lyrics, MANOWAR is the truth, MANOWAR is, and always will be a way of life – My Life

Hail and Kill
Katja

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Hello!
I’m Ann from sunny Krasnodar (Russia).

The time has come for me to share my little story. (Pardon me for my grammar and other mistakes).

It happened in 2017. I was sitting in a coworking with headphones in my ears when the music service offered me music that “I may also like.” And, glory to the algorithms, these were Manowar! I fell in love with them from the first note. I thought: “Oh god, where has this music been all my life!”?
It was definitely the best music in the world. Beautiful melodies of crystal purity, soft clear sound, and an incomparable voice.
I just listened and listened, not interested in the musicians themselves and the history of the group.

Little by little, I began to understand the Manowar theme. Vikings, battles, motorcycles, all of that stuff. Blood, battles, swords, valor, revenge, honor, blood, kings, war, beer, Valhalla, warriors, blood, brotherhood, axes, pride, Odin, strength, men, blood … And then I understand that I’m listening to the mournful melody without words. The music was playing in a separate browser tab, in the title of which I read “Today is a good day”. And I thought, “finally”! Finally, they wrote something positive! Let the music come out sad, they are still well done, they tried “for joy”. I should have added this song to my favorites. I was so proud of them (my boys!). Next, imagine my disappointment when I read the full title of the tune: “Today is a good day … to die”. Yes of course. As usual. In their repertoire.
P.S. but I added it to favorites

The first concert:
It was generally my first ever concert of any band. Symphony orchestra, opera, ballet does not count. I really wanted to take tickets for the entire Russian tour, or at least to several neighboring cities. But in the end, I went only to the Krasnodar show. Two factors contributed to this decision:
a) everyone, absolutely all of my friends dissuaded me, in principle, from going to the concert, because “the crowd will trample me there.” They said they used to go to concerts, and there is always slam going on, and I will not survive there, besides, I will lose my hearing.
b) I was afraid that I would get tired of listening to the same thing several times in a row.

Naturally, I regretted that I had not visited the rest of the cities at the moment when THEY were on stage, bathing in the light of spotlights.

But, all in order.

I had to properly prepare for the concert:

How not to go deaf – earplugs.
How not to be trampled – to overlay with pillows (no).
How to get to the stage? (and what do you think could arise in my infantile brain?) – sweets!

I typed a full backpack of different sweets, hoping to buy a path to the stage with their help.

I offered people candy in exchange for going forward. Basically, everyone refused and let me go for free until I almost reached the fence and met wonderful guys with whom we spent an hour and a half waiting, full of laughter and chatter about everything in the world, with caramel in our cheeks.

The concert itself: They were like gods, alive and descended to the earth in all their splendor, shedding their light and music on us. They were very close, so incomparable and beautiful.

What struck me was that no one shoved me during the whole concert, no one was drunk. All behaved more than decently. And in the queue in the dressing room after the concert, there was a deathly silence. The crowd didn’t move at all and politely waited for the poor coat check girl to give out jackets to everyone.

I did not lose my hearing, and in general, the sound was so soft and clear that I did not need earplugs.

Conclusion:
Of course, I don’t have an inspiring or touching story as true-fans from “the old times” have. But it also has a place to be. What is Manowar music for me? This is to be a soaring eagle in the shower, despite the fact that in appearance you are a mouse. These are joyful sounds. This is to run through the mud to catch the first bus, overtaking stray dogs. To make it louder so as not to hear empty swearing around. It is to admire motorcycles and be afraid of crossing the road at the same time. Manowar is to love men in leather bikinis. This is when your Facebook friends are bigger friends to you than your friends in real life. Manowar for me is to wear pink and behave pretty because metal is not what you show, metal is what you have in your soul. Manowar is gentle lyrics. These are those who will never quit. These are those for whom one will go into fire and water. These are those thanks to whom I go forward. Thank you for the music and shows you make.

I wish all the team common and personal creative success! Stay safe, healthy, and happy!

With love, Ann

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Hail Brothers and Sisters,
My name is Troy Marvin King III and I am originally from Chicago Illinois.

It was in October of 1984 when my best friend Jason Broadstone came running to my house with Sign of the Hammer telling me you NEED TO HEAR THIS!!!!!. I was hooked at 12 years old; little did I know how much this band and the people I would meet because of them would have on my life.
Helping me know that I was not alone even when I was bullied in school.

I was in a motorcycle crash in 1995 that almost took my life. I was in a coma after the surgery to save my life; they were not sure if I was going to come out of it. My friend insisted on playing Manowar in my room. It was “Mountains” that was playing when I came to.

I fought with my place in the world and it was Manowar and the faceless warrior that helped me find it.

My first time seeing MANOWAR live was at the Whisky A go go in Hollywood California. I found out about it late because there had been very little publicity about it. THE PROMOTERS IN THE USA SUCK!!! The tickets were sold out but I was told if I went to the ticket window as soon as they opened there might be a couple of tickets. I was there more than 2 hours ahead of time and met a fellow warrior in the same predicament as me. We were very lucky and not only did we get tickets but as we were walking away with our tickets we heard a voice say hey you guys coming to the show tonight. We turned and saw Joey, he threw us a couple of shirts and said see you there. They blew the fucking roof off of the place. I made a decision that since the number of shows in the US is limited I was going to go overseas. I was finally able to do this for Magic Circle Festival II, III, VI (Metalfest) and V (Finland). 

My Tattoos are Manowar inspired that tell my story. I have the chains of the warrior that are broken to represent me breaking my addiction to alcohol and drugs. I have the faceless warrior and the Four Horse men (Manowar with signatures Joey, Eric, Karl, Scott) 

I was lucky enough to be part of the Circle representing the United States. I have met warriors from all over the world and I am happy to call them my brothers and sisters forever.

HAIL AND KILL
FUCK THE WORLD!!!!

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