RUSSIAN TOURApril / May 2000 
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| Victor Smolski used his old contacts and organised this first Russian RAGE Tour for us. As we didn't have a status for halls there, we decided to do a co-headliner-tour with the "Russian Iron Maiden", the band Aria. This solution allowed us to travel through this enormous country and play concerts in great ice stadiums. From the beginning that was a great adventure, so everybody wishes us good luck before it started. |
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19.04.00 - 1. DAY OF TOUR - TOURSTART - D
Early morning departure from Düsseldorf to Moscow. No problem so far, if Lufthansa hadn't made trouble regarding the overweight of our luggage. As we were only three musicians and four crew members, but no tour manager who would normally take care of such problems plus the fact that our travel agency hadn't gone to much trouble, time got pretty short before we were finally sitting in the plane. So some members of our agency had to give up their sleeping late. Arriving Moscow, we cross the city during rush-hour, being invited to a press conference in a bar. The local reporters are very happy that we actually turned up, as too often bands from the west cancel dates at short notice, which decreases their confidence. After some refreshment (Russian beer is really tasty) we take the train to Wolgograd (earlier named Stalingrad and known in Germany as a notorious battlefield). But as it is a long distance to go we have to prepare ourselves for a 24 hours trip. We have sleeping-cars but all the wagons are from the GDR, anno 1970's, the railway tracks are damaged, so it is not very comfortable. You notice that the whole country is rather wasted and poor as soon as you leave Moscow. So we say cheers to each other and wait for things to happen. |
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20.04.00 - 2. DAY OF TOUR - WOLGOGRAD - RUS
Already knackered when we reach Wolgograd, we have a forced wait. Travelling with us is a troup of soldiers for the Tschetschenia war zone, which is not so far away from here. Some soldiers were killed and wounded in the train (apparently due to brawls - if you saw those killing gangs you could believe it). Anyway, the result was a full-scale police inspection, which prevented us from unloading our luggage. Due to that, we didn't have much time to preparing for the concert. Apart from our own equipment we were also using rented equipment, which had to be sorted out first, so there wasn't any time for a proper soundcheck. A huge number of police guarded the stage as 3.500 crazy fans rush into the Sport Hall. The reaction to our show was enthusiastic and we were treated like celebrities. Nevertheless we hadn't really warmed up yet, so we considered this a start-up show. Aria also kicked ass. This band has been on the road around Russian for 15 years and is one of the most popular bands. By the way, the guys turn out to be super mates who would share their last shirt with us. As both bands celebrate their 15 anniversary we already know that we will have lots of fun together. The journey continued to Saratov by bus.
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21.04.00 - 3. DAY OF TOUR - SARATOV - RUS
What's happened next is something that none of us went through before and hopefully will never go through again!!! We are driving on this terrible road with pot-holes like bomb-craters, not far away from the Kasachistan border, an absolute no man's land, hours away from the next town, when, at 5 a.m. a small Kasachstan truck smashed into the front of our bus. The driver of the truck had probably fallen asleep at the wheel, in any case we couldn't avoid the crash. In spite of heavy skull fractures our bus driver managed to steer the bus into the ditch without overturning, which actually saved all our lives and health. As we crawled out minutes later, a horrible scene was visible in the headlights of an oncoming bus. Apart from our driver (he was conscious and was immmediately taken away by the other bus), our drumroadie Ulsh Weitz (injuries to his skull), our tour assistant Tatjana (several bleeding cuts) and the driver of the little truck were injured. The truck-driver's body was terribly injured and couldn't be transported. He lay dying on the road. A freezing cold night wind was blowing so I put him into my sleeping-bag to stop him freezing to death. He and the other injured people had to wait four hours until help arrived. It took until afternoon to complete all the formalities and continue with another bus. We arrived at the Ice Sport Hall in Saratov at eight o clock that evening. After first deciding to cancel the show, we finally played a short set in view of 3,000 waiting fans. The fans went crazy about our shows but we are still in a deep state of shock. |
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22.04.00 - 4. DAY OF TOUR - DAY OFF
We spent the day sleeping in the hotel. Ulsh got another check up in a real hospital. He's not feeling well, the tour is over for him. He has to stay with us to Samara as that's where the next airport is. We all say thanks to the gods, because we were so lucky, so we celebrate our second births. The journey continued by train that evening. |
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23.04.00 - 5. DAY OF TOUR - DAY OFF
Samara, our next stop. Ulsh left us to fly home, where he was handed over to the surgeon. Medical provisions south of the Ural, where we are is not so great, so the X-rays hadn't shown the true nature of Ulsh's complicated skull fracture. If we had known how dangerous his transport back to Germany would have been, we would have been sick with worry. Ulsh is really lucky to be alive. We continue our journey to Magnitogorsk by train.
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24.04.00 - 6. DAY OF TOUR - MAGNITOGORSK - RUS
Magnitogorsk - a industrial city, south of the Urals. That means that everything is covered by a thick layer of soot and dust and it's hard to breath. There is a lot of damage, the roads look like training areas for tanks, there are burning dustbins everywhere, it looks apocalyptic. Our hotel is a totally delapidated building with furnitures made just after the war. Mike specially liked the phone with no dial. Anyhow, we face the adventure, nothing can surprise us anymore. Mike has to install his drumset on his own now, but everyone lends a hand. The concert is super again. We play our "Best Of Set" of classical RAGE songs like "Don't Fear The Winter", "Solitary Man", "Sent By The Devil", "Firestorm" and some new songs of the last albums like "From The Cradle To The Grave", "Days Of December", Back In Time", "Wash My Sins Away". Mike's and Victor's solos are highlights every evening which leave the fans overwhelmed with happiness. Mike was really happy to hear that his favourite ice-hockey-player was a member of the Magnitogorsk team and had played in the same hall before he was bought by Mike's local team in the USA. After visiting the museum of the team's trophies, we bought some shirts.
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25.04.00 - 7. DAY OF TOUR - CHELABINSK - RUS
In the morning we went to Chelabinsk by bus. Another show in an Ice Sport Hall of the local team. The city, as was every city we played in, was plastered with concert posters. TCI, the Russian tour promoter had done a really good job. In our free time we constantly gave interviews at radio- and television stations. In other countries you can only dream of such good promotion. We're getting better and better on stage. Sundry Vodka parties take their toll (here in Russia, vodka is like beer is in Germany) so our heads just drop onto the pillows in complete exhaustion this evening.
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26.04.00 - 8. DAY OF TOUR - YEKATERINBURG - RUS
Again by bus to Yekaterinburg, the capital city of the Urals. The flair of this city reminds one of Berlin and is in crass opposition to the totally decayed, impoverished industrial cities. The hotel is also super and modern and so we are in great mood. The weather is beautiful, as it has been since the very first day of our journey so we play one of our best shows generally. The Russian crew, which supports us during this tour with everything they have, is inspired (as is the audience) and that encourages us to certain vodka excesses, eventually everybody clink glasses with us, and that continues until the end of the subsequent trip to the Russians West by train. That took up all Thursday (27.04.00) too. |
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28.04.00 - 10. DAY OF TOUR - NISHNI NOVGOROD - RUS
Nishni Novgorod. Actually everything was running as usual, until, after the soundcheck, we were told that the police had cancelled tomorrow's show in Moscow. A major soccer match is planned for the same day and all the available police units were booked. But as it's not possible to do a concert without plenty of security, the authorities had cancelled our plans even though we had received permission. So, a little bit disappointedm, we played in front of 4,000 enthusiastic fans, which brought back our good mood in minutes. As the Moscow show is sold out (5,000 tickets), we decide to shift the show to the following Wednesday. At lightning speed the promotion engine is started up again to inform the fans. |
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29.04. - 02.05.00 - 11.-14. DAYS OF TOUR - DAY OFF
This situation made it possible for us to have a paid, 4 day holiday in Moscow. We took advantage of it, visiting the Kremlin, sightseeing, photo sessions, interviews and lots of parties. In the meantime our bodies have become more resistant to the effects of alcohol than they have been for years. Moscow is a fascinating, exceptional city of 20 million, with innumerable architectural and cultural treasures. The Kremlin alone, with its innumerable churches and domes and his museums, overflowing with treasures, is a wonder of the world. Who had ever thought that we western louts would one day walk freely across "Red Square". Mike especially, who had grown up in the America of the seventies, surrounded by the slogans of the cold war, couldn't believe it ("when my mother hears this, she won't believe it"). But, a no-no is to wander off without a Russian as company, as light technician Holger and guitar technician Thomas did. They ended up paying a 500 Rubel on-the-spot police fine, apparently for being drunk. However we were treated well by members of our Russian agency. |
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