Thomas Jensen: "W:O:A is a festival from fans for fans"

02 Septembrie 2014 Alin Pildner

Thomas Jensen:

Thanks to Monster Energy, we managed to talk with Thomas Jensen, the co-founder of WACKEN Open Air, festival that celebrated its 25th edition this year.


METALHEAD.RO: Hi Thomas, glad to finally get a chance to talk with you. We are also promoting shows here since 2004 so Wacken its kind of a Mecca not only for us but for every metal promoter, I guess. We started with Metalhead Meeting festival last year and things are going great for 2015, so a lot o passion can get results ! I know the history of the festival but I’ll ask you, for our readers, how did Wacken started? What was the main idea and how did you bring it to life?

Thomas Jensen: When Holger and I started the Wacken Open Air back in 1990, we wanted to have a festival, where they play our favorite music – heavy metal – and where metal fans can celebrate a great party together. In Wacken there was a small hollow where the local motorcycle club used to meet and party. We gathered some friends and everybody brought something to organize this festival. And so the Wacken Open Air was born. We never expected that it became this huge international festival.


Poze Poze pentru articole - wacken 01


METALHEAD.RO: How hard is to manage hundreds of bands for a week? I’m having nightmares just thinking at the Advancing Sheets and keeping hundreds of them in order.

TJ: You can’t handle them all by yourself that’s impossible. But fortunately we have a brilliant crew which manages to work with the bands before the and during festival. Nevertheless it is a lot of work which keeps us busy the whole year. But it also is a lot of fun – it’s like a big family gathering.


METALHEAD.RO: Regarding the production part of the festival, how many production teams do you have? Are they seperated in some way?

TJ: Yes, we separate the production in divisions, one is the division infrastructure which includes for example power and water. Another area is security and the planning and construction of the site itself. There a lot more. For a festival of this size you need to delegate.

Poze Poze pentru articole - wacken


METALHEAD.RO: How did Wacken evolve since 1990 with a lineup of 6 bands to 2015? When I ask how I’m surely thinking about the concept of “Wacken Open Air”.

TJ: In 1990 we started with no concrete concept. There was just the wish to listen to our favorite music and celebrate it with other metalheads. But the W:O:A is a festival from fans for fans and I think this is the most important fact and maybe even the concept. We are still big music fans and that is how we plan the festival: We take our passion for music and think about what the community would like. Holger and me were never afraid to try new things - sometimes it worked out, sometimes not. That’s how Wacken evolved.


METALHEAD.RO: Whose idea was with the Wacken Firefighters to open the festival every year? I think it’s like a tribute everyone brings to them for keeping you safe :))

TJ: The village Wacken is deeply involved in our festival. And like I said before: Holger and me are not afraid of trying new things. Somehow the idea was born that the Firefighters could play maybe at the festival and we thought why not!?


Poze Poze pentru articole - wacken


METALHEAD.RO: How does it feel to have a festival sold out in 48 hours with just two bands announced (at that time)? How did you manage the “public unrest”? Many were left outside the festival grounds because they didn’t buy tickets.

TJ: That was unbelievable! We never expected that! We are very thankful for the support and trust the community is showing us by this fast sold out. With our ticket exchange we tried to create possibilities for those who didn’t get a ticket in the first place.

Poze Poze pentru articole - wacken

METALHEAD.RO: Wacken Rocks South & Seaside are the two little brothers of Wacken Open Air. What was the main idea behind them?

TJ: We had the idea to bring Wacken and the special feeling to other areas and countries. But we had to experience that it is not possible. You cannot duplicate the uniqueness of the Wacken Open Air. It is something that grew 25 years.

Thank you so much for your time, see you in the front row!
Emil | METALHEAD.ro



Concerte recomandate: