Rockstars I Have Met

To me, meeting well known rockstars is like an out-of-this-world experience. I never dreamed of being able to go to conserts and meeting rockstars, I didn't think of it as an option because it seemed like the ultimate dream that would never happen to me. Then I met TJ, and the dream became true; gigs and meet and greets were no longer out of my reach. I'm one lucky and happy metal chick, and I got a lot of memories to look back on, and new ones to look forward to. Here are the rockstars I've met so far, and some short stories from the meet and greets :)

1. Blaze Bayley from Wolfsbane, ex-Iron Maiden

3. Kai Hansen from Gamma Ray, Unisonic

5. Sal Italiano from Anvil

7. Roger Glover from Deep Purple

9. Don Airey from Deep Purple

11. Michael Ehré, Henjo Richter and Dirk Schlächter from Gamma Ray

2. Chuck Billy from Testament

4. Steve "Lips" Kudlow from Anvil

6. Robb Reiner from Anvil

8. Steve Morse from Deep Purple

10. Joe Lynn Turner from Rainbow, Deep Purple

12. Mr. Hansen again :)

1. We met Blaze Bayley last year in May when he had a gig in Kristiansund. He was selling/signing CDs and meeting the fans, and we walked up to him to introduced ourselves as Marita and TJ from Grimskull. It was very cool to meet him in person after working with him on the song "Iron Eyes". A very nice and talented man!

2. When we were at Getaway Rock Festival in Gävle, Sweden last year we were lucky to make the cut to meet Testament. I had the booklet to the album "Souls Are Black" in my bag and got it signed by all members. I also got my pic taken with Chuck Billy. He was very nice and let me come and pose beside him, not just accross the table. Their show was amazing, and I was in a thrash trance the whole time. Testament is one of my favorite thrash bands ever!

3. Still at Getway Rock Festival last year, I were lucky to spot Mr. Hansen's green hair. He was hanging out by the VIP entrance, and I almost lost my speach, but managed to say to TJ "OMG, it's Kai Hansen!!!" We walked up to him, and I got a cover signed, and my pic taken with him. It was so cool to meet my hero. I also snuck up to him to have another cover signed while we were watching Iced Earth. He smiled and winked at me, and I were in heaven! <3

4, 5 and 6. Meet and greet with the Canadian metal band Anvil at GRF. We didn't know about the meet and greet so I didn't bring anything to get signed. But they had a piece of paper that they signed, and I got my pic taken with all of them. The show kicked ass, and people wanted so much more when the show was over, but due to the gig schedule, they couldn't come back on. Metal on metal!

7, 8 and 9. Roger Glover, Steve Morse and Don Airey from Deep Purple backstage in February this year. This was my third time meeting them. TJ and I translate for Ian Gillan and as a bonus we get free gig ticks and backstage passes. I've met Ian Gillan once, and Ian Paice twice. Deep Purple is amazing, and the members are so nice and cool!

10. A quick meet and greet with Joe Lynn Turner from April this year. I asked the bass player from Come Taste The Band if we could meet with JLT, and he fixed us up and took our pic with him. Joe Lynn Turner is such an amazing singer, and a cool dude!

11 and 12. Backstage with Gamma Ray at Skogsröjet Festival in August this year. We had a great conversation with Michael Ehré and Henjo Richter, a quick hello with Dirk Schlächter, and some chit chat with Kai Hansen. It was very cool to hang with one of my favorite bands, and it's a fun memory to look back on. They were all so nice and friendly. Cheers to the metal!