Agreed. That's why seeing Blind Guardian more than once in a tour is worth doing. And I can imagine it's more fun for the musicians to do. But I have to say, Hammerfall comes across way more commercial than Blind Guardian, while the latter has better record sales I guess...

Well, I didn't have the patience to write so much, but I guess it's time to let you know how was it on the show in Belgrade...

:') I just LOVE these guys...
To make a long story short... Along all of the support bands I fought for the place just in front, on the fence, in front of Joacim himself. Now because of that fighting I've got several pretty bad bruises all over me, and I had to hit some people around me pretty hard to get there. But it was all worth it. In the end, when HammerFall came out, I was standing here: http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 1531_n.jpg (I'm the red haired idiot that looks like a child, just in the middle)
Well, as the show began... Well, I just hope that none of the band members read this. Anyway, as the show began, Joacim came out (it was my great wish as a child, to meet them), I think that he was able to recognize me. Because I wrote to him so many times and blah blah, so much, and he just HAD TO remember.
I'll skip pretty much none important stuff. The guys played great, I don't see what to talk about that. So, since I know all the HF lyrics (of course), I sang all along... Joacim made a mistake once, in B.Y.H. and I'm not sure if anyone noticed except me. Well, it was i think Blood Bound (I think, I'm not sure if I remember well), when he knelt down in front of the audience (me, because I was in the middle), as it usually happens, he sometimes stretches out his hand to the fans... This time it was only to me. I don't know if he did it to someone on the sides, but (it's a rather small room and stage, they're all in front of you all the time, basically, no matter where they stand) that time, when everyone else around me put their hands in front of him, I was the only one he high fived. Later on, when I took my camera to make some photos, once he saw what I was doing and looked at the camera... This is how that photo turned out to be: http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 8941_n.jpg
I have some more photos, here for example: http://www.myspace.com/templars_in_srps ... um/3236401
Well, in the end, I wasn't able to catch anything: a guitar pick or drumstick. (Weird thing, the device you use for playing drums and the fried chicken's leg has the same word). My leg got stuck between the bars on the fence, and I barely managed to pull it out without breaking it, because everyone behind me was fighting and pushing each other, and me too, aside, but I couldn't get my leg out. That's where the bruises mostly come from. So, I couldn't get any of it.

Knowing from the previous experience that I'll have to wait for a long time before they get out of that building and before I get autographs and photos with the guys (most important was Joacim, honestly), after I took my jacket, I went to the hotel, which was about 100 meters away from SKC, where the show was. I went there, and I didn't start getting my clothes off, when my friend sent me a message "they're in the hall, come here, quick!".
I rushed as if the bunch of zombies was after me and came there, but it took me some time anyway, and I was afraid that I was late. I saw no more than 20 people standing there as I was climbing the staircase, but I didn't see anyone immediately (Joacim, who I was looking for, actually). I panicked, and that's when it began, I don't remember very clearly what happened then. xD I saw Joacim through these people. The interesting fact was that he recognized me then and smiled. I just gave the camera to my friend and prepared to get a picture with him, as he did too, but that's when the security guy showed up and started forcing the people to leave the room. Joacim saw that and told him "just one more, it's okay", but the guy didn't hear him. My friend was standing by me, watching what will happen, but I didn't move. Than, the security guy started to push me towards the stairs, but I pushed in the opposite way, begging him, almost crying, to let me go. Joacim told him to let me go once again and probably once again afterwards, when the guy, nervous as they all usually are, let go and left the room. I couldn't believe what happened to me, Joacim saved me from being very very sad once again, because I couldn't get a photo with him. I can imagine my face back then, I was lost, I just froze and all I could speak at the time was, in a unusually pitch voice, "thank you!!!". I got a photo with him: http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 4454_n.jpg and my friend left the room as soon as she gave the camera back to me. Then I gave Joacim my ticket to sign it for me and he did. I thanked him once again and turned around to leave, feeling slightly uncomfortable because the security guy was already there and wanted to throw me out. But then, after I stood still for a couple of seconds, I turned around myself the whole circle, realizing that there also stood Fredrik and Oscar. I asked them to sign my ticket too, and they did. I have no fucking idea why didn't I get a photo with them. But, the first thing: I was lost, I couldn't believe that this was really happening to me, finally, after so many years of hoping that once I'll get a chance for something like this, and the second thing: it was a weird feeling, because I realized I was practically standing alone in the whole hall with Joacim, Oscar and Fredrik. I felt like they were in a hurry and that I should leave soon. And there was no one to take that picture (except for example Joacim-I could ask him for that, I doubt that he would refuse, but it didn't come to my mind then). Well, I took their autographs too and turned towards the staircase to leave, when Fredrik and Oscar called me (I think that Fredrik caught my arm too, I can't remember), saying "just one more thing...". I turned around, when Fredrik took one guitar pick out of his pocket and giving it to me. He (and Oscar too, I think) said that they didn't have any to give me at the end of the show itself. http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 7976_n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 5841_n.jpg At that point, I really wasn't there, at that time, at that place. I thanked them and started leaving, and they went to the room behind the stage. I remembered that I didn't say "bye", and as I turned around, I've seen these three great guys all looking at me, waving and saying "bye".
And then I was left all alone at the hall. I thought that I was dreaming, literally. I was only afraid that I will wake up...
That night, I couldn't sleep. My adrenaline was so high, I was running enormously fast uphill towards the hotel, and then by staircase on the 4th floor, skipping one or two stairs at the time. I slept only 2 or 3 hours, waking up several times, and I couldn't wait for 8 am to get down to breakfast.
As for the spectacular end of the story, the next day when I came home to Banja Luka and entered facebook, I had one message in inbox. It was from Joacim, he said something like "Hope you had a great time at the show!"...

I know you might consider this as overreacting, but this was the best thing in my life. Really. I trust you guys here on forum, there are no many people and I know that there won't be many people who'll read this text written with so much (weird) excitement. And I trust you won't use this against me in any way...

Jelena, I will never use this against you. I took the liberty (and the time, I love it how you can make a long story short ) to read the whole story. I understand you completely, even though I don't get excited about musicians anymore. But it's great that people of a fairly famous band take some time for you. Or notice you, I can't say it isn't flattering to be honest.

Personally, when I saw HF the first time, I stood somewhere at the back with my sister and a friend, and at the end we were cheering and jumping, we were the only ones around that part of the audience, and Oskar gave us a thumbs up.
And when I saw HF in May last year, it occurred to my sister that Joacim was looking more than once at me because I could sing along alot from the new album already. Didn't occur to me, but it was fun to hear.
You'd say it's not that special, but somehow it's nice

So, I'm glad you had a wonderful time at their concert, I'd be a giant asshole if I would use your joy as a weapon against you.

I know it's nice! I know every song and I sand along with Joacim all the time, for many times he looked at me because I was probably the only one in the audience who knew every single word of all songs. But I remember my first HF show, two and a half years ago. I wasn't in the first row, I was smaller and weaker than I'm now, I was only 13, and I couldn't easily get through, and, unlike this time, I entered the room later, and there were already many people. But I was standing behind a girl who was in front row, trying hard to be noticed. I knew all lyrics at that time too, and I think Joacim saw that, and he looked at me several times, but nothing more than that... I wanted so much that he touches my hand, but he didn't, he did that to other people by me. This time.... it was quite different. But I know how much that single look meant to me at the time... I couldn't wait for them afterwards, no one wanted to wait with me and they came out hours later...

I know you wouldn't use this against me.

And my way of making a long story short... That's probably why Joacim didn't reply anything when I wrote a message to him after the show, I also said that I will make a long story short at the beginning..
Well, get used to it, I just LOVE to write.

I can only say WOW . I'm proud about u and i can understand everything u was feeling. I met them several times and that's been always a nice time, they're all nice people and always amenable to talk and sign with fans

I just terribly regret that I didn't get the VIP pass after all... It WAS hard to get there in time for meet&greet because I traveled pretty far, but I could simply come to show in Zagreb which is closer to Banja Luka than Belgrade, get there in time and go to meet&greet... I asked Joacim if they'll have these passes again and he said that they probably will, and I'M SURE that I'll get it next time!!! It was great anyway, you can probably see that, but I still just need to get to meet&greet, I'll feel like I missed something great until I get there...

Once again I missed a Hammerfall tour
But at least I can see them at Wacken Open Air!

Honestly, no offence, but I personally think that you missed a great thing. But perhaps I'm not the right person to judge, considering how it all went for me on their show... I'm not objective, I meant to say.

if i start describing, i'm never gonna stop. it was perfect i charmed them all and i was the only VIP in Croatia. however i wasn't alone cuz i am the member of HammerFall CroFan Club.... blah blah, better i don't start, it was perfect ^^

If I could do it, you can as well... But as you wish.