Turnénapló-részlet Chris Caffery honlapjáról (bazi vicces)

We left at around 5 AM. We had a day off but a very long drive to Hungary.

August 5th - Drive Day

I woke up very early that day. I made sure I got some McDonald's and chocolate at our first stop. Very essential for long boring rides. I think I woke up and went back to sleep about 6 times. WE stopped for dinner and again I was amazed at the amount of flies in the restaurant. Hunter Biff took out about 30. The customers were amused. When we arrived in Budapest our hotel was very nice. But it was in the middle of frickin nowhere Eh. We sent Taz and Damond to McDonald's. Everything else was closed. I found my robe and slippers in the closet and proceeded to the pool and warm tub. I say warm cuz it was not too hot. So, it was midnight on a Sunday in Budapest. We sat around eating McDonald's and sipping Cognac in a warm tub. Lifestyles of the rich and shameless!!! I retired once again to the sights and sounds of the Naked Canadian and his musical intestines. You envy this life Eh?

August 6th - Budapest

Since no one knew where this festival was they sent a guide to get the bus and lead us there. We all figured it was smarter to check out and ride to the gig then. It took us about an hour to get to the site. Very nice old city Eh. Too bad we were not in it on our day off!!! The last time we played here it was on the Magellan tour. We played the E-Club here. Not the hugest gig, so we did not know what to expect headlining this Metal Hammer Stage at the Festival. The festival was on a big Island. Not tropical by any means. I guess there was at least a hundred thousand people there from all over Europe. It lasted 6 days I think. I lost my program. There were 40 stages with all kinds of music. An old friend of mine Agnes was assisting the promoter. She showed us around the festival. I ate lunch and watched some of the Gathering on the Pepsi stage. I hadn't seen them in a while. Jeff Plate got to say hello. I had too many interviews to do with Jon. As I was walking I saw a lot of Savatage/Metal t-shirts. I had a good feeling about the show. Apparently there was no more than 2,000 people watching the metal stage all festival. I kinda suspected we would have a lot more. I had kids from all over stopping my to say hello. There were lots from Romania. Some were in tears when they met me and I did not even owe them any money. ;) There were so many different types of people at the festival. Which also had power and showers for the festival goers. Pretty cool. There was even an ATM. You know festivals have come a long way!!! Everyone was worried because there was no more than a few hundred people in the Stage area all day. It was a huge tent that held 7,000 people. I was not worried at all. Johnny told Taz not to videotape - DUH!!! We walked on stage to start the show and the whole tent was packed with about a thousand people looking in. This crowd was incredible. It was right up there with the best audiences I have ever seen. Greece is always the best. Followed by Brazil This was a very close third if not tied with Brazil for second. I was so happy to see the number of fans we have in Eastern Europe. Not matter how much we tour, it is always great to see your audiences grow. Especially after 20 years. Greece, Brazil, Spain, Hungary…we just keep gathering more to the Legion. I love this band and it's fans. It is a privilege to be a part of this mess Eh. By now everyone knew the Spackler was in the band and there was a lot of Annihilator fans there supporting him too. Great combo. Biff and the Spackler. A demented children's story. This crowd was so crazy from the first note til the last. Even when the PA blew out for part of Power of the Night! I must add, Oliva had his worst Gutter Ballet yet!!! Another extremely hot stage. But, with a show like this it could be a million degrees and I would not mind. We had a signing session after the show, the line went on forever. They played "Wake of Magellan" the CD. I still can't figure out what that CD is about Eh. We packed up and headed for Serbia.

August 8th and 9th - Airport Hell Hungary/Paris/JFK

I woke up early to check where we were, we were running on time to get our flights. I went into a bathroom in a rest area in Hungary and immediately left. Wow was that disgusting!!! We arrived at the airport at 10. Our flight was supposed to leave at 1. Oliva went to the terminal and broke us the news. The flight was late. We had a connecting flight in Paris with a 40 minute layover. The people of Air France said get ready for a night in Paris. Our flight left 2 hours late and we indeed had a night in France ahead of us. We landed in Paris, I guess they only had one runway open. So, we saw that we definitely missed our flight to the U.S. and headed for the ticket counter. Imagine the look on the girl's face when an irate Oliva and Muchmore showed up to ask what we were supposed to do. She told them to calm down and re-booked us on the morning flight to JFK. We also got our own rooms for the night so I was happy. A night to rest before going home!!! The hotel was an airport hotel. It was ok, not amazing. The dinner was a stranded passenger buffet. We were 40 minutes out of the city so we decided to stay in the hotel. Chuckie entertained everyone at the bar. I crashed at around 11. We checked out at 8:30 and left for the airport. We were already checked into our flight so we just had to go to the gate. The girl at Air France suggested we do things this way. Big mistake!!! You will see why. The flight was very full and really smelled. Not to stereotype or anything…BUT the Delta flight to NY originated in Bombay, India. I don't think de-odorant has made it there yet. Johnny and Jeff Plate were surrounded. It was Curry fest 2002. The longest flight of our lives. I was lucky enough to have a Romanian exchange student next to me, she did not smell. I once again knocked myself out and woke up about an hour away from JFK. We landed, the plane applauded Eh. We were home. I had Drac and Waters with me for the next 2 nights, their flights home were screwed up. The other guys were flying to Florida or lived in NY. We got thru customs to baggage claim and here is why you should always be nice to people at the airport. The plane was overweight and conveniently at least one bag from each of us never left Paris. Not saying it is the reason, but we probably could have gotten priority on the baggage if we were nicer….Hint Oliva and Muchmore!!! We waited on-line at baggage services, I again blamed Canada Eh. We made it to Queens and saw that Oliva was there too. He decided to spend the night and wait for his luggage. We were home, tired, luggageless….but we kicked Europe's ass and that is what matters! Thanks to you the fans. Thanks to the Spackler. I believe we will work together again!!! As I finish this it is a week later. It took 3 days for me to get my luggage, Waters left me with the flu, I am almost rid of that. I love my job Eh!!!! Oh Canada…. 'Til Next Adventure…

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