PRESS-INFORMATIONS

Dear Metalheadz!

"Wacken here we come!" - that's the scream of more and more headbangers all over the world for the biggest Heavy Metal - Row of the year!

W:O:A - a festival that wears the subtitle "Cult-Festival" not without good reason. If you ask metalfans in complete Germany and after the last five years also all over the world which event is their favourite you mostly get the same answer = Wacken Open Air.

This has become in its genre the biggest and most important Heavy Metal Festival all over the world.

Here are the cuurent news......

NIGHT TO REMEMBER on Thuersday, August 1st:

+ KOTIPELTO (Frontman of Stratovarius) + BLAZE + DORO +

+ CHURCH OF FREAKS (World premiere!) + ROSE TATTOO +

HERE IS THE CONFIRMED BILLING (in alphabetical order):

* ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY * AMON AMARTH * ANGEL DUST * ANGRA * AVANLANCH * BLAZE *

* BLIND GUARDIAN * BLITZKRIEG * BORKNAGAR * BRUCE DICKINSON *

* CANDLEMASS (REUNION) * CANNIBAL CORPSE * CHILDREN OF BODOM * CRIMINAL *

* DEBRIS INC (MEMBERS OF TROUBLE) * DESTRUCTION * DIMPLE MINDS * DOMINE *

* DORNENREICH * DORO * DREAM EVIL * DYING FETUS * EDGUY * EISREGEN * EVERGREY *

* EXODUS * FALCONER * FLESHCRAWL * GREEN CARNATION * HAGGARD *

* HEATHEN (REUNION) * HEAVENLY * HOLLENTHON * HYPOCRISY * IMMORTAL *

* IN EXTREMO * IRON SAVIOR * J B O * JUSTICE * KALMAH * KOTIPELTO * KREATOR *

* LOCK UP * MACABRE * METALUCIFER * MEZARKABUL * MOB RULES * MÖRK GRYNING *

* MY DYING BRIDE * NECROPHOBIC * NIGHTMARE * NOCTURNAL RITES *

* NUCLEAR ASSAULT (REUNION) * ONKEL TOM * PRETTY MAIDS * PRIMORDIAL *

* PUNGENT STENCH * RAVEN * REBELLION * RED AIM * ROSE TATTOO * ROTTWEILLER *

* SABBAT * SAVATAGE * SHAKRA * SINERGY * STORMWARRIOR * STORMWITCH *

* SUIDAKRA * THUNDERSTONE * TORFROCK * U D O * UNLEASHED * VANDEN PLAS *

* VICIOUS RUMORS * VISION DIVINE * VOMITORY * WARLORD (REUNION) * WIZARD * WOLF

VIP SOCCEr GAME:

THE LEGENDARY SOCCER GAME WHICH TAKE PLACE ON THUERSDAY - NOT ON THE FESTIVAL GROUND BUT AT A PLACE AT THE CAMPING AREA: BECAUSE OF SUGGESTIONS FROM LOTS OF METALHEADZ THERE WILL BE THE METAL-SOCCER-CUP FROM WEDNESDAY ON. More info, number of players and persons to talk to, etc- will follow at www.wacken.com

This year the traditional VIP Soccer Game will be held between a Business Team and a W:OA Fan-Team which will be determind by RockHard.

W:O:A COMICS: W:O:A presents: "Fire&Steel"

Fire & Steel is the new Heavy Metal Comic magazine by Oidiom-Comics. The comics are inspired by images, lyrics and music from Heavy Metal Bands and metal relevant topics. The first edition will first of all being published exclusively at this years Wacken Open Air. The comic part includes two stories, nine pages each. The title story is inspired through W:O:A. Moreover there wille be a first extract from the planned Hammerfall comic and lost of other contributions. More info's about this project: www.oidium-comics.de .

W:O:A BEERGARDEN: First time ever we have the original Paulaner beer garden where also other bavarian specialities and the metal breakfast will be offered.

PRINCE BODY WASH: A revolution in the open air washing aspect. its a modern CAR-WASH station for humans. Tt will be opened from 01.08.-03.08. The Container consists of eight chambers , each divided by a lamellacurtain. In the first chamber you can take of your clothes which will be carried by a lil conveyor belt to the exit. Then it begins. In 7 steps the "passenger" will be soaped, washed ( if ya wish , also cold) and at the dried by a original-ferventblower. The prince body wash station is no danger to your health and also ideal for couples!

W:O:A INFOBOARD

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TICKETCOSTS: Ticketprice for all three days is EUR 55,- excl. Commission

+ Shpping, incl. Camping.

Tickets will also be available at the box office in Wacken, but at higher prices.

TICKETHOTLINE: ++ 49 (0) 4627-1838-38 / www.metaltix.de

CAMPING: Campingsite is open from Wedndesday, 31st of July 2002 on.

This time only on garss!

PARKING: The parking fee per car is EUR 20,-, per motorbike DM 5,-

SHUTTLES: Bus shuttles will be supplied from the trainstation in Itzehoe and from the airport in Hamburg (from airport unregularly)

HOTELS: If you don't want to camp at W:O:A please call Sven and ask for hotels,

Phone: +49 - 4627 - 1838-38 or sven@metaltix.de

HEADBANGERS BALLROOM TENT: This tent is wellknown for all heavy Fans who have been visiting the W:O:A the last years. From Wednesday, 31rd of July on, this tent is open and warm-up parties are guaranteed.

METAL KARAOKE: This year we have another funny event for you - the Metal Karaoke Party where the festival visitors can show us their talent in singing their favourite metal hits. The event will take place in the Headbangers Ballroom from Wednesday, 31st July on.

BREAKFAST-TENT: If you're ready to eat something in the morning, it is possible to take a breakfast at the breakfast-tent.

METAL MARKET: The market is open from Thuersday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm.

SIGNING HOURS: At the RockHard booth fans have the possibilty to get autographs and to meet a lot of bands.

NON-FOODMEILE: The biggest festival selling-mile for the heavy-metal fan!

SHOWERCAMP: Although the number of visitors will be less then last year - this is because of the limited tickets - there will be more shower camps including toilets built this year. Service comes first. There will also be diverse service points for optimal care for the festival visitor.

DOGS: Are not allowed on the festivalsite!

BUS TOURS WORLDWIDE: There are several organized bus tours to W:O:A. Have a look at the www.wacken-open-air.de and click bus torus worldwide. Here you find different coach companies from various countries.

WAY TO WACKEN BY CAR from Hamburg => A7 to Kiel (Elbtunnel) up to Dreieck HH-Nordwest (25) (22); A23 to Heide up to exit Schenefeld, Wacken (7) (first exit behind Itzehoe). Then please follow the signs. Caution: Just before Wacken the police will certainly control the cars and look for cannabis products or other eatable things!!

W:O:A FAN-CLUB: There´s a new Wacken Open Air fan club called Metalheadz, where members will receive a small starter package with fan items, regular newsletter, limited backstage visits and so on. Drop a line to Frank at info@woa-metalheadz.de for more info.

www.wacken.com : This is the official WACKEN OPEN AIR homepage. Here you´ll find all information regarding the festival. Band up-dates click Billing 2001), shuttleservice or hotel-list (click Info-Service)

and anything else you need to know. It is possible to have a chat with the festival promoters Holger and Thomas in the section Question & Answers.

www.metaltix.de : Beside an online ticketservice the W:O:A promoters offer merchandise articles not only for W:O:A but also for a lot of other

heavy bands.

W:O:A Warm up Partys: take place all over the world - take a look at www.wacken.com

Metal & W:O:A rulez

See you in wacken - rain or shine

Yours W:O:A Team