16th June 2025
Strange one this. We are so used to tours where you may have five or six show days and then have a day off, but this tour, as a support band, we are playing two shows on and then we have a day off. Basically there is much time to fill.
This is a pretty big production. King Diamond have two trucks on the tour carrying their extensive stage set and two busses. We have our bus and trailer and for the German leg, where we are with Angel Witch, they have a splitter too. It just means we have to be careful with when we arrive and where we park. We know what we are doing. We are respectful of the headline band and basically stay out of their way. King Diamond have security guards and we aren’t that tough to be honest.
The King Diamond crew are very accommodating, friendly and efficient and they are good to us so all is smooth and we too are flexible so we help the day run smoothly.
After Berlin we headed across to Wiesbaden where we arrived for a day off in the sunshine. It was a public holiday so everything was shut. Even the supermarket we headed to for supplies was closed. Greg, Aaron, Will and I laughed after we had walked over a mile to get there only to find the Geschlossen sign on the door. Hilarious…not.
Basic needs on a tour. Sleep, food and a shower. I have to say the catering on this tour has been nothing short of excellent. Our get in is at midday so I am up earlier than everyone else, normally just after the Vampire (Aaron Aedy) has gone to bed. I do some work, as I part own a business in the UK and am working remotely, while I have a brew and then I go to check out the venue. There is a big crew on the tour so catering is pretty extensive. Coffee, tea, juices, breads, cereals and then there have been sometimes up to five choices on lunch apart from salads and cakes. It is brilliant and I am very grateful. I don’t like to eat before a show so I tend to have a salad around 6 with a little pasta and I don’t put away something substantial until after the show.
What is the most essential thing on tour though I hear you ask. Simple. A cup of tea, replacing Jack Daniels and Stella Artois. When Paradise Lost announce a tour the share price in Yorkshire Tea shoots up and Ceylon are put on notice.
Back to the tour. I am enjoying the shows. The crowds are really receptive, especially when you consider this is a partisan King Diamond crowd. We headed from Wiesbaden to Tilburg where we played 013, maybe my favourite ever European gig venue. It has everything. Amazing catering, dressing rooms, great crew. It has easy load ins, superb sound and lights and I even managed to get some laundry done.
I got to meet up with my good friend Fred Van Hardeveld in Tilburg. I met Fred nearly 30 years ago. He now has a bed and breakfast business in Belgium called Latyka where he brews his own beers. So he kindly brought some along for us to try.
After Tilburg we had a day off in Oberhausen. It was actually boiling hot. The bus was parked at the venue which was a ten minute walk from the largest shopping mall in Europe so it was easy to grab a bite to eat. Shopping malls are my kryptonite. I hate them. My physical strength drains quicker than a Victorian bath when I cross the threshold much to Rachael, my wife’s displeasure.
In the afternoon it was more socials. My German brothers Amir and Dirk came across to spend some time together. Again, I met these guys whilst on tour and we have stayed really close friends and we always catch up when we can in Germany, the UK or at a festival. Amir and I have watched our families grow and have often hosted each other in Duisburg or Manchester. Amir’s mum is like my second mum. She is amazing. We had a Mediterranean style dinner outside on a restaurant terrace. It was really nice, like being on holiday.
So how did the week end up? We had a superb show in Oberhausen. I am still having pinch myself moments being back in the band. In Oberhausen I felt the most comfortable yet and enjoyed it so much. I naturally have always put myself under pressure, I am my biggest critic and as a fragile musician it is easy to be critical of yourself. It is a constant mental battle for me. With this in mind I felt the Turbinehalle show was where I needed to be.
Spirits in camp were high and everyone stayed up for a drink and a sing along. Starting with the mighty Maiden, followed by Dio and by the time I went to bed Living On A Prayer was belting out. Milly, we miss you!
Ludwigsburg completed the week at the MHP Arena. Again, hotter than the sun. It was King’s birthday and this show is where we said goodbye to Angel Witch who have been opening the shows so far. They have a song where they say, “You’re an Angel Witch!” Maybe now all of us are a little.
So. As I sign off it is father’s day and I am in Milan. I am speaking to my family at home regularly but I miss my dog. We have a day off today.
So, do you want to meet the crew? You will have to wait until part three. See you then Angel Witchers!