MIKE JOHNSTON

Wacken Open Air 201115by Norbert SaemannWacken is a sleepy town in the far northern reaches ofGermany with a small population of almost 2,000 citizens.Despite the town’s small size, it has achieved worldwidepopularity; since 1990 Wacken hosts the world’s largest annualHeavy Metal Festival known as the “Wacken Open Air.”Year after year, thousands of devoted metal fans from allover the world invade Wacken and celebrate the world’s biggestHeavy Metal event which lasts three full days.Last year the festival had 82,500 visitors and 123 performingbands. 2011 promises to be just as successful, since the festivalhas sold out many months ago.meinl drummersat wacken 2011Stay tuned for Pure Metal’s Volume 4 onlineedition for an exclusive photo report fromthe 2011 Wacken Open Air.Frederick Ehmke (Blind Guardian), GermanyJaska Raatikainen (Children of Bodom), FinlandMarkus Freiwald (Sodom), GermanyMax Duhamel (Kataklysm), CanadaNick Gogow (Knorkator), GermanyTommy Clufetos (Ozzy Osbourne), USASimon Michael (Subway to Sally), GermanyPer Moeller Jensen (The Haunted), SwedenBastian Emig (Van Canto), Germanywww.meinlcymbals.com