Friday (June, 16, 2000):
Afternoon at the autobahn (A9) – in the direction to Berlin...
That´s like – or...at least similar - my report about the FC-meeting 1998 in Berlin began, but... don´t worry! I´ll spare the „jam-story“ this time. After all I don´t appreciate repeats myself – but it didn´t save me from the experience of that special kind of déjà vú ?

Together with me, Andrea (FC GF) had to wait about 7 hours for the great moment to meet familiar and (still) unfamiliar AV-fans. In my car we were listening music... Alphaville... of course!...but also other groups. When we had almost arrived Thale, I put another AV-tape (as “preparation”) into the tape deck...
“I´ve been searching, I´ve been searching for so long...”
So true! All the time we weren´t got lost, but in Thale the search had to begin...

Anyway... anytime ... very late... we arrived to the venue. A very lovely (even if short) “Hello” – then I went to the hotel where I should meet Ilwa, Uwe and Yvonne...
Such a long time since we met last times – but no distance between us at all. That´s just wonderful!
Yvonne and I returned to the venue (where some of the fans also spent the night). Finally I was able to meet some people that I “only” knew from chats or from one of the mailing lists before.

Saturday (June, 17, 2000) 
Even though I enjoyed the morning and the afternoon so much – I´d like to tell you only about the evening – the GREAT night.

Manuel Richter´s soundcheck promised an impressing live-performance. I was really looking forward to his show.
After dinner there was something like a little “dead point”, but I didn´t worry about it. I think that´s just normal for events like that.

Slender Flame´s performance was planned for 10 p.m. ... and then the celebration-mood returned. This voice ... I just love it!
Their Gig was great from the beginning till the end! Well, for us AV-fans the cover of “Seeds” was something special ?
Slender Flame songs are different, their OWN songs ... also very special!

After Slender Flame´s show, Manual Richter was demonstrating (very impressively!) the possible result of being an AV-Fan (if only, if one is as talented as Manuel!). I was very touched by his interpretations of several AV-songs. After “Forever Young” - when all the (more ore less beautiful) fans-voices built a multi-voice-choire - Manuel suddenly left the stage and another keyboard was put there...
The door opened and ... Marian and Martin went in!
Hi! Wow! Geil! Wahnsinn!” – That´s what you could hear all around...
Marian and Martin started at once and ... this little concert was exacly was I imagine as “stark naked and absolutely live”. I sat at the floor – right in front of their feet... Lassie (from Holland) , who sang each song as delighted as me - on my side...

They played “Say it ain´t so, Joe” – which was a special pleasure for me.
You know, one week before I began listening to this song again and again (repeat-repeat-repeat-....). Now I knew, WHY I´ve been that caught (addicted!) by “Joe”. Must have been an omen! Today I heard Marian´s version of that wunderful Murray-Head- song first times LIVE! I´ve also heard the world-premiere of two new songs – “goose flesh-music”, which will be included on the next studio album (just can´t wait for autumn/fall)

After Martin´s and Marian´s performance, Slender Flame played “Seeds” once again and then Manuel Richter sang AV and some of his own songs. Marian really seemed to be impressed...

No idea, what time it was (late or early???), when the party was over and Yvonne and I went back to the Hotel - absolutely “high”...
We just had to sleep few hours before we had to leave Thale...

The next morning (about 3-4 hours after felling asleep), we were awaked by Ilwa and Uwe. A lovely “Good bye – get home well!” and ... the weekend was almost past...
Yvonne and I went to the venue for a last time. We said “bye bye” to everybody ... big hugs!... and I met Andrea for our trip back home.

Btw... we needed only 5 hours for our return to Regensburg. At the station in my hometown Andrea and I had to leave. She continued her trip by train,  while I had only 2 km´s to arrive home.

Resume: For me it was ABSOLUTELY worth going so far to meet other fans. The meeting was organized very well and so it was running very well ?

Thanks, Alex(andra)! What you were managing was just incredible!

For the next fan meeting I´d suggest “back to BERLIN” though.
Thale is a nice little town, the location was just perfect for the meeting (the “Jugendgästehaus” in Berlin 1998 wasn´t that comfortable),but... Berlin is Berlin... Alphaville-City...
 

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