Wacken Open Air

Wacken Open Air

The logo of the Wacken Open Air festival is a bull head Skull
Genre Metal, Hard Rock
Dates July, August
Location(s) Wacken, Germany
Years active 1990–present
Founded by Thomas Jensen and Holger Hübner[1]
Website
wacken.com
We Are the Metalheads (2009)
The official Wacken Hymn, performed by Doro and Skyline.

Problems playing this file? See media help.
Wacken Open Air 2014 Main Stages

Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) is a summer open-air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany. With 80,000 festival visitors, and including personnel a total of roughly 86,000 attendees in 2011,[2] it attracts various kinds of metal and hard rock music fans.

The festival was first held in 1990 as a small event for local German bands. W:O:A is usually held at the beginning of August and lasts four days. It is currently considered the biggest heavy metal festival in the world.[3]

The festival ends traditionally on the first Sunday of August, and at midnight the following Monday ticket sales open for the next year. Remarkably, all 75,000 tickets were sold out within 43 hours for 2014, 12 hours for 2015 and 23 hours for 2016, despite the fact that the lineup (with the exception of rumors or headliners) had not been announced. The non-optional basic ticket price for all four days including camping was €180 in 2016. In 2015, 158 bands were playing on six stages. The international festival has a unique rate of foreigners by over 30% of the crowd, with up to 10% non-Europeans, from about 30-40 different countries all around the world in last years. Many metal fans travel around half the globe just to stand on cow meadows before stages of Wacken in the middle of nowhere 80 km northwest from Hamburg.

Dozens of bands have recorded their live act at W:O:A on video and sell it on DVD and/or Blu-ray, and of course audio CDs, such as Scorpions, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, Saxon, Motörhead, Dream Theater, Deep Purple, Heaven & Hell, Nightwish, Rose Tattoo, Ministry, Savatage, Tygers of Pan Tang, Airbourne, Sabaton, Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Emperor, Running Wild, Circle II Circle, At the Gates, Sacred Reich, Grave Digger, Rage, Danko Jones, Avantasia, Hypocrisy, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Bloodbath, Atheist, Exodus, Megaherz, Gorgoroth, God Seed, Atrocity, Degradead and Arch Enemy. These and international crowds had made the W:O:A famous in global metal community. A lot of metalheads, metal and hard rock bands worldwide are keen make a journey to "The Mekka of Heavy Metal Culture" (Sam Dunn / Metal: A Headbanger's Journey ), "The Holy Land" (Wacken 3D - cinema movie 2014 in GER, CH, AUT and IT), "The Cathedral of Heavy Medal" (Paul O'Neill / Trans-Siberian Orchestra) or "The Summit of Heavy Metal" (Thomas Gabriel Fischer / Celtic Frost) at least once in their lifetime just for the experience.

--"That shows you how connected people are in the metal world, because it is a really deep, deep, deep emotional thing for our fans as music is.The great thing about metal is it doesn't matter what generation you in, it doesn't matter what kind of life-level you at,it doesn't matter how much money you got. This comradely, this metal spirit, that really unite us together with that sound and particulary with these festivals. This is a great celebration. This Wacken is one of the most important festvals in the world. And this not only for the bands, but for all these metalheads. All these metalheads see each other once a year at Wacken. And these keep us a home, a special vipe, strong and powerful."--(Rob Halford / Judas Priest)[4]

Village people of Wacken during W:O:A

The entire village of Wacken (~1,800 citizens) gets free entrance, which makes W:O:A to a kind of public holiday due to the fact that the village joins in the fun. Everywhere private Biergartens are sized up, bands are playing on the street and nearly every citizen offers support. Starting offering shelter in barns and transportation by farmers, over kids increasing pocket money by helping transporting beer and food, to offering already familiar metalheads toilet visits or showers. Besides, it's great business as well. About an additional €20,000,000 are spent every year during festival by visitors in the Wacken area. The friendly north-Germans offer a warm welcome to all whom are socializing with "the scary looking, devil worshipers" from different cultures all over the world and make them easy, which transports to the festival as well. Aggression is normally just shown in the pits before stages by Headbanging, Wall of death or screaming as meant to be. Therefore, the festival is considered quite peaceful and safe, separated from crazy, self-expressing, scary appearances and reputation of metalheads in other countries. The awards winning documentary Full Metal Village by Korean Sung-Hyung Cho dealt with relations between village people and the festival and had made the village internationally well known beyond the music scene. The amazing village people are one reason why W:O:A sells out immediately without lineup. Meanwhile, the village itself gets a sightseeing attraction for people who have no tickets or stick in metal and hard rock at all; just watching metalheads from the sideline.

Festival crowds

The W:O:A audience, from bands, artists or by each other short addressed as "Wacken", is a legend itself and maybe the biggest headliner at all. Another reason why the festival sells out without billing.

--"Wacken is not about the bands, isn't it?! It is about the people who come to Wacken. That what is about."-- (Biff Byford / Saxon (band))

Vipe

German crowds in general tend to be quite interactively, outgoing or partitioning during shows, which raise by metal genre, musical comradeship who enjoy especially this kind, emotional boundary, crowdsurfing, moshing and mainly little beer intoxication by ten.

To quote some band members from 25 Years Louder Than Hell - The W:O:A documentary :

-- "It is one of the best crowds in the world, actually!" -- (Mikkey Dee / Motörhead)

-- "People have just fun. They celebrate every note. Sometimes I think it doesn't matter who is on stage. They just into it and that's unique worldwide." -- (Tom Angelripper / Sodom)

It is consensus among the bands, that the most impressive sight and experience is standing in front of the sea of 70,000 - 80,000 metalheads on stage, who are showing national flags from literally every inch in the world, are going completely nuts during their shows and developing a one of a kind energy, which translates to stage and inspire the bands giving everything and let them performing their all-time shows. Naturally, some bands get much more demanding as usual to the crowd. Memorable was the moment during the show by Rock Meets Classic in 2015, when Wacken got a normal audience due to a classical orchestra and "chief animator" Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) was complaining openly on stage, that the audience didn't sing loud enough and that the hell they are the famous Wacken crowd and owe their part. Then, after some dry exercises with We're Not Gonna Take It (Twisted Sister song) and I Wanna Rock he adjusted them to 120 Decibel and finished them up with Highway to Hell (song) that the show in Kiel 70 km away got noticed.

Looks, clothing, styles and self-expressions

They are also famous for crazy appearances and self-expressing behaviors. The well known photo session by Pep Bonet in his collection book "we the republic of wacken" dealt about Wacken crowds in 180 pages and 2 CDs.[5] Shortly before, during and after festival most German nationalwide newspapers and magazines, such as Der Spiegel or Süddeutsche Zeitung, compete for the most funny pictures of the annual W:O:A event that the entire country has something to laugh about.[6][7][8][9][10] Therefore, Wacken is often compared with Burning Man festival in Nevada or Fusion Festival in Lärz, but just for Hard 'n Heavy fans.

According metal subculture the crowd is dressed in certain ways (Heavy metal fashion). Of course, officially there is no dress code. Black is color of first choice, mostly as T-shirt featuring the favorite bands or a W:O:A T-shirt of current or an attended year. Kutte with patches of favorite bands, leather, spikes and chains are also popular. A special Wacken fashion are Viking, day-after (e.g. Mad Max) or medieval looks. Rest is crazy free style reminding a little on Carnival and even a most non-conforming white tuxedo would be an attraction. Some visitors didn't care about dressing at all; in both senses.

In the early years the visitors were well known for high rate with long hair, piercings and tattoos, but it is properly not worth mentioning in these days:

--"If you want to be someone special, don't get a tattoo!"-- (Ozzy Osbourne / Black Sabbath)

Family and community feeling

Most of them are regular visitors. Many of them kept score by W:O:A tattoo with stars for every year they had attended or by collection of their entrance bandages. A few couples had married at W:O:A on stage in front of hundreds of metalheads who cried with same emotional boundary for metal "their f--king eyes out" during ceremony.[11][12] Others made honeymoon at festival or had been engaged.[13] For some visitors the festival is their highlight of the year. Not just concerning music, but more for their entire life and their spot to be of desire all the time. That's the nickname "The Holy Land" came from.

--"I think that is something very special to Wacken that is a all-day thing and people are here all-day. Hangover!? What ever. It's time to get up. It's time to rock. It's fucking raining?! We don't care. We are covered with mud?! We don't care. That is their time in a year. This their time to go. Just let it all loose. Forget all the problems and raid."-- (Chris Jericho / Fozzy)

--"Even it sounds properly wicked for some people (ER: by up to 90,000 people), it is like a huge family party."-- (Thomas Jensen - festival founder and host) [14]

--"They are all sorts of awful things going on in the world you look at the moment. Newspapers, you see it on the TV. All this bullshit, people going around killing people, murdering people in the name of religion or what ever the fucking is.I give a shit, quite frankly. Because the one thing we stand for; this is family! This is not one nation. This is not one race. This is not one religion. These are all religions. Every race. Every color. Every person. Every gender, it use to be two or a few more. - You know what?! - We are all family in this together and everybody is welcome. And the answer to the bullshit is going on out there at the moment; is not to be full of hated, it is to be full of love and light and music and a lot of beer!"-- (Bruce Dickinson / Iron Maiden)

This particular show at Wacken 2016 by Iron Maiden had been watched by about 550,000 people worldwide live online and had broken a new German festival streaming record additional to worldwide broadcast by ARTE TV.

Demography

Due to a survey in 2015 from 808 visitors [15] the crowd was assembled as following:

Age: <16 years 0,2 %, 16-17 years 2.5 %, 18-25 years 17.5 %, 26-29 years 29.8 %, >30 years 29.7 % and 0.9 % N/A. Average 27.2 years.

School leaving degree: High school or similar 40.3 %, advanced technical college entrance qualification 19.9 %, secondary school level 30.8 %, without degree 0.6 % and 6 % N/A.

Money spend during W.O:A: >€400 13.1%, €301-400 12%, €201-300 24.3 %, €101-200 32.4 %, €51-100 12.1 %, €26-50 2.5 %, €11-25 0.4%, <= €10 0.5 % and 2.7 % N/A. Average €250.80.

Travel distance to W:O:A: >700 km 25.4 %, 601-700 km 11.6 %, 501-600 km 8.5 %, 301-500 km 18.8 %, 201-300 km 9.7 %, 101-200 km 6.9 %, 51-100 km 7.7 %, 25-50 km 4.7 %, <25 km 5.7 % and 1 % N/A.

Most astonishing, a home of elderly of Itzehoe takes frequently field trips to the festival to celebrate their over-70 parties, because Wacken seems to be the perfect spot to find out one is still alive. Hosts grant them free passes. The metalheads show their admiration and respect to the seniors by hailing them accordingly with "Waaacken" battle cries and showing the Sign of the horns. The elderly up to 99 years old admire most the peaceful, huge gathering for music; those were unknown in their youth times.[16]

To explain this fountain of youth by Deep Purple at Wacken 2014:

-- "As you get older the world changes on you and the world becomes a more serios place and lot people do tend to forget what they like when they were kids; and when they do come to a Rock'n'Roll show and they are few kids in the audience. The kids actually remind them what is like being 18 again. And then those guys or those women they forget that they are 55 or 60 and they become 15 years old kids again. And it is an amazing thing to see happen." - Ian Paice - "I see that all around here. The music has a great power to move people." Roger Glover -- [17]

Numbers

Since 2011, the target number of attendees set by the hosts is 84,500 people. 75,000 tickets are sold freely, a third of those for foreign visitors. 5,000 tickets are reserved for special guest list of the hosts, mostly with backstage passes. Free passes also went to the about 1,800 villagers of Wacken and the up to 158 bands and their crews as well. 2,600 are organizational staff, a number that could increase drastically in some years. A couple of hundred of officials and emergency personel, such as police officers, customs officers (searching for drugs), regulatory authorities, fire fighters and paramedics, are also needed.

The hosts had decided to not let the festival grow any further in 2011, despite the huge demand for extra tickets. There were several reasons for this decision: First, logistical problems. Wacken is a small village and the entire festival infrastructure must build up from scratch a week before each festival - stages, fresh waterand sevage, camping grounds, toilets, showers, power, food and beverage supplies etc. With further growth these demands reached their limits. Second, safety. Local authorities got very sensitive regarding security after the Love Parade disaster in 2010 where 21 people died from suffocation and 500 more were injured. Therefore every festival has to fulfill the highest safety standards, which are strictly and permanently controlled by regulatory authorities nowadays and would be hard to fulfill for W:O:A with a further increase in visitors. Third, to not jeopardize the acceptance of the festival by the village due to even higher visitor numbers. And last, a concentration of the festival grounds, which would otherwise have to expand even further.

Camping ground

In 2015, W:O:A offered 2.2 km² camping ground for the visitors, which are directly connected to the festival core area.

Lineups 1990 - current

1990

Wacken Open Air 1990, the first incarnation of the festival, was held on Friday, 24 August and Saturday, 25 August.

Lineup
Friday Saturday

Skyline

5th Avenue
Ax'n Sex
Motoslug
Sacret Season
Wizzard

1991

Wacken Open Air 1991 was held on Friday, 23 August and Saturday, 24 August.

Lineup

Bon Scott (AC/DC Tribute Band)
Gypsy Kyss
Kilgore
Life Artist

Ruby Red
Shanghai'd Guts
Skyline

1992

Wacken Open Air 1992 was held on Friday, 21 August and Saturday, 22 August.

Lineup

5th Avenue
Asmodis
Ax'n Sex
Bad Sister
Bai Bang
Blind Guardian
De La Cruz
Doc Eisenhauer
Dr. Hörp
Eddie E.
Highlander
Ides of March
Incubator

Jolly Hangman
Mama's Boys
Morbid Mind
Motoslug
Pagan Spell
Paradise
Play'n'Bleed
Saitensprünge
Saxon
Störspatzen of Des
STS 8 Mission
The Waltons
Vivian

1993

Wacken Open Air 1993 was held from Friday, 20 August to Sunday, 22 August, and was headlined by Doro and Fates Warning.

Main Stage
Friday Saturday Sunday

Piracee
Railway
Gorefest
Skew Siskin
Riverdogs
Doro
Bon Scott

Heavenward
Restless Blondes
Saintcatee
Warpath
Plan B
Jingo de Lunch
Trespass
Holocaust
Fates Warning
Highlander

Abi Wallenstein
Toy
RAX
Bad Sister
Châlice
Vivian
Ax'n Sex

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Fast Lover
Blue Velvet
Bai Bang
Samael
Gary Hughes
Sahara
Ballroom Bones
Stoney Rudolph

Torment
Grinning Sinner
Häwi Mädels
Jack's Hammer
Noisy Act of Protest
Michael Dickes
(acoustic)
Riverdogs
(acoustic)
Buddy Lackey
Sahara
5th Avenue

1994

Wacken Open Air 1994 was held on Friday, 19 August and Saturday, 20 August, and was headlined by Paul Di'Anno's Killers.

Main Stage
Friday Saturday

Suiciety
Pagandom
Skyclad
The Tea Party

Saintcatee
Chemical Breath
Decision D
U.K. Subs
Gamma Ray
Rausch
Paul Di'Anno's Killers

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Moray
Many Acts of Maniacs
Deceased
Stoney Rudolph & The Happy McCardies
Hannes Bauer & Orchestra
The Waltons
Tears for Beers

Roan
Riff Raff
Easy Livin'
(Uriah Heep feat. Markus Grosskopf)
Torment
Ace Öf Spades
Ken Tamplin
Prollhead
Atrocity
Dixie Gunworks

1995

Wacken Open Air 1995 was held on Friday, 19 May and Saturday, 20 May, and was headlined by D:A:D and Tiamat.

Lineup

5th Avenue
Amentia
Angra
Bad Sister
Châlice
Creep
D:A:D
Dark at Dawn
Das Auge Gottes
Depressive Age
Dixie Gunworks

Ghosts of Dawn
Graue Zellen
Hate Squad
Laberinto
More About Dogs
Morgoth
Paragon
Phantoms of Future
Pothead
Power of Expression
Pretty Maids

Prime
Rape
Revelation
Schweisser
Solitude Aeturnus
Temple of the Absurd
Tiamat
Trauma
Trieb
Vanden Plas
Vocation

1996

Wacken Open Air 1996 was held on Friday, 9 August and Saturday, 10 August, and was headlined by Böhse Onkelz.

Double Main Stage
Friday Saturday

Grind Machine
Big Nothing
Desert Storm
Bad Sister
Dice
Grave Digger
Pyogenesis

Gorefest
The Gathering
The Exploited
Crematory
Kreator
Tom Angelripper
Asylum

Gorn
Ricochet
Whils
Sieges Even
Dritte Wahl
Temple of the Absurd
Manos
Secret Discovery
Vicki Vomit

Atrocity
Randalica
Schweisser
Oomph!
Kingdom Come
Dimple Minds
Böhse Onkelz
Tom Angelripper
Ramones Mania

1997

Wacken Open Air 1997 was held on Friday, 8 August and Saturday, 9 August, and was headlined by Motörhead.

Double Main Stage
Friday Saturday

Aion
Undish
Lake of Tears
Dissection
Virgin Steele
Dimmu Borgir
Saviour Machine

Sodom
Theatre Of Tragedy
Samael
Therion
Rage & Lingua Mortis Orchestra
Love Gun

Scanner
Hassmütz
Zed Yago
Raven
Tank
Sinner
U.D.O.
Iron Savior
Overkill

Birth Control
HammerFall
Waltari
Grave Digger
Amorphis
Motörhead
Rock Bitch
Subway to Sally
Tom Angelripper

W.E.T. Stage
Friday Saturday

Don Bosco
Steiger
Paunch
Sceptic Acceptance
Mummlox
In Flames
Dismember
Late September Dogs

Entrust
Gainsay
Headcase
Fox Force Five
The Automanic
Totenmond
Torment
Umbra et Imago
Grinning Sinner
Soilent Green

1998

Wacken Open Air 1998 was held on Friday, 7 August and Saturday, 8 August. The festival was headlined by Savatage, JBO, Blind Guardian, and Doro.

Double Main Stage
Friday Saturday

Metal Worx
Angel Dust
Unrest
Fair Warning
Arch Enemy
Iron Savior
Sweet Savage
Stratovarius

Blitzkrieg
Cradle of Filth
Anvil
Doro
Warrior
JBO
Goddess Of Desire
Haggard

Sweet Noise
Lacuna Coil
Hollow
Rough Silk
Stahlhammer
Holy Mother
Primordial
Sentenced
Sacred Steel
Bonfire
Pegazus
Gamma Ray

Virgin Steele
Primal Fear
Iced Earth
Exciter
Blind Guardian
Riot
Savatage
Tom Angelripper
In Extremo

W.E.T./Black Stages
Friday Saturday

Third Teeth
Incubator
Telltalehard
Custard
God Dethroned
Soulburn
Stigmata IV
Dew-Scented
Darkseed

Krabathor
Manos
Children of Bodom
Am I Blood
Benediction
Tankard
Crematory
Skyclad
Temple of the Absurd

Murder One
Lost Resistance
Night in Gales
Silent Scream
Suidakra
Borknagar
Postmortem
Old Man's Child
Crack Up
Raise Hell
Disbelief
Sadist

Heavenwood
Agathodaimon
Skyclad
Hades Almighty
Dritte Wahl
Gorgoroth
Vader
Covenant
Hypocrisy
Grober Spass

1999

Wacken Open Air 1999 was held from Thursday, 5 August to Saturday, 7 August.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Death SS
Fates Warning
Spock's Beard

Edguy
Witchery
Leatherwolf
Blind Passengers
Dokken
Crematory
U.D.O.
Destruction
HammerFall
Mayhem
Rage
Mercyful Fate
Saxon
In Extremo
Tygers of Pan Tang

Dr. Death
Marshall Law
Amon Amarth
Wardog
Tristania
Metalium
In Flames
The Bullheadz
The Gathering
Primal Fear
Subway to Sally
Axel Rudi Pell
Six Feet Under
Pretty Maids
Cannibal Corpse
Metal Church
Atrocity
D:A:D (substitute for Dee Snider)
Dimmu Borgir
Therion & Orchestra
Onkel Tom

History Stage Party Stage
Friday Saturday

In Aeternum
Graveworm
House of Spirits
Eisregen
Sinister
Temple of the Absurd
Pariah
Freedom Call
Warhammer
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
Enslaved
The Waltons
Vicki Vomit

Powergod
Totenmond
Richthofen
Roland Grapow & Band
Sinner
Girlschool
Napalm Death
Eläkeläiset
Reverend Jürgen & Igor

The Crown
Memory Garden
Threshold
Dark Tranquillity
Marduk
Angra
Axxis
Jaguar
Nevermore
Warrant
Umbra et Imago

W.E.T. Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Tankwart
Skyclad

Paragon
Bewitched
The Sygnet
Brainstorm
Mystic Circle
Killers (French metal band)
Immortal
God Dethroned
Jag Panzer

Mindfeed
Paradox
Lefay
Labyrinth
Steel Prophet
Agent Steel
Destiny's End
Razor
Torment
Solitude Aeturnus
Whiplash

2000

Wacken Open Air 2000 was held from Thursday, 3 August to Saturday, 5 August.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Krokus
Molly Hatchet
The Company of Snakes

Vader
Samson
Dark Funeral
Royal Hunt
Umbra et Imago
Angel Witch
Dee Snider
Marduk
Rhapsody
Immortal
Stratovarius
Overkill
Iced Earth
Hypocrisy
Gamma Ray
Six Feet Under

Dark Age
Freedom Call
Agro
Labyrinth
Ancient
Blaze
Sentenced
Lizzy Borden
Entombed
Nightwish
Morbid Angel
Doro
Rose Tattoo
Thin Lizzy
Venom
Zakk Wylde
Chantal Chevalier
Onkel Tom

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Dark at Dawn
Gaskin
October 31
Desperados
Pink Cream 69
Artillery
Liege Lord

SHARD
Late Nite Romeo
Agathodaimon
Pain
Solstice
Demon
Spiritual Beggars
Heir Apparent
Raise Hell
Engine

W.E.T. Stage
Friday Saturday

Deranged
Savage
Lock Up
Grim Reaper
Praying Mantis
Black Sweden
Breaker

Mob Rules
Nightmare
Steel Attack
Squealer
Vanishing Point
Hades
Jacobs Dream
Skew Siskin
Knorkator
Twisted Tower Dire

2001

Wacken Open Air 2001 was held from Thursday, 2 August to Saturday, 4 August.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Knight Errant
Finntroll
Crematory
W.A.S.P.

Deceased
Stygma IV
Carnal Forge
Lacuna Coil
Holy Moses
Napalm Death
Exciter
Primal Fear
Paul Di'Anno
Nevermore
Overkill
Therion
(with choir)
Helloween
Saxon
Dimmu Borgir

Warhammer
Cryptopsy
Brainstorm
Dark Tranquillity
Metalium
Culprit
Annihilator
Rage
Subway to Sally
Grave Digger
In Flames
Nightwish
HammerFall
Motörhead
Sodom

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Nostradameus
Nightfall
Soilwork
Blackshine
Cage
Kamelot
Nasum
Exhumed
Sonata Arctica
Mortician
Desaster
The Haunted
Exumer
Rawhead Rexx

Trail of Tears
Deströyer 666
Vintersorg
Krisiun
Soul Doctor
Tad Morose
Artch
Tankard
Jag Panzer
Naglfar
Opeth
Death SS
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
Mägo de Oz

W.E.T. Stage
Friday Saturday

Bionix
Crystal Shark
16 Hell Ventiler
Smoke Blow
Sacraphyx
Circle of Grief
Wizard (canceled)
Behemoth
Silent Force

Kju
The Traceelords
Chinchilla
The Centre of Gravity
Paragon
Lost Horizon
Arch Enemy
Night in Gales

2002

Wacken Open Air 2002 was held from Thursday, 1 August to Saturday, 3 August.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Messiah Kiss
Kotipelto
Blaze
Doro
Rose Tattoo

Stormwarrior
Vomitory
Domine
Necrophobic
Iron Savior
Debris Inc.
Angra
Dying Fetus
Pretty Maids
Borknagar
Savatage
Destruction
Bruce Dickinson
Children of Bodom
JBO
In Extremo
Warlord

Stormwitch
Criminal
Wizard
Amon Amarth
Vicious Rumors
Macabre
Nuclear Assault
Immortal
Exodus
Hypocrisy
Edguy
Cannibal Corpse
Blind Guardian
Kreator
U.D.O.
Onkel Tom

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Avalanch
Dornenreich
Wolf
Rebellion
Metalucifer
Nocturnal Rites
Lock Up
Dimple Minds
Megaherz
Dragonlord
Pungent Stench
Torfrock
My Dying Bride
Candlemass
Red Aim

Rottweiler
Evergrey
Mezarkabul
Thunderstone
Angel Dust
Shakra
Falconer
Vanden Plas
Sinergy
Sabbat
Heathen
Unleashed
Blitzkrieg
Green Carnation
Haggard

W.E.T. Stage
Friday Saturday

Antagonist
Justice
Withering Surface
Fleshcrawl
Alabama Thunderpussy
Heavenly
Mob Rules
Primordial

Eisregen

Victims of Madness
Centre of Gravity
Kalmah
Hollenthon
Vision Divine
Dream Evil
Suidakra
Mörk Gryning
Nightmare

2003

Wacken Open Air 2003 was held from Thursday, 31 July to Saturday, 2 August.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Circle II Circle
Annihilator
Victory
Saxon (Surprise show)
Running Wild

Dew-Scented
Extreme Noise Terror
The Crown
Diamond Head
Dismember
Freedom Call
Sentenced
Primal Fear
Testament
Gamma Ray
In Flames
Twisted Sister
Subway to Sally

Sinister
Thyrfing
Malevolent Creation
Metalium
Carpathian Forest
Masterplan
Soilwork
Rage
Dark Funeral
Stratovarius
Nile
Slayer
Vader
Onkel Tom

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

The Quill
Seventh One
Dark Age
Lotto King Karl
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
Assassin
Lordi

Raunchy
Twisted Tower Dire
Evidence One
Eidolon
Kataklysm
Sinner
Sonata Arctica

W.E.T. Stage
Friday Saturday

Obscenity
V8 Wankers
Psychopunch
Oratory
Raise Hell
Symphorce
Rotting Christ

Human Fortress
Graveworm
Callenish Circle
Cryptic Wintermoon
Bai Bang
Ancient Rites
Heaven Shall Burn
Darkane
Breed 77

2004

Wacken Open Air 2004 was held from Thursday, 5 August to Saturday, 7 August.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Zodiac Mindwarp
Motörhead
Böhse Onkelz

Orphanage
Paragon
Cathedral
Weinhold
Arch Enemy
Brainstorm
Mayhem
Grave Digger
Feinstein / The Rods
Dio
Destruction
Doro
(with The Metal Classic Night Orchestra)
Warlock
Amon Amarth

Bal-Sagoth
Death Angel
Unleashed
Anthrax
Cannibal Corpse
Nevermore
Hypocrisy
Helloween
Children of Bodom
Saxon
Satyricon & Nocturno Culto
JBO

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Mnemic
Raunchy
Dionysus
Satan
Kotipelto
Eläkeläiset
Quireboys

Mystic Prophecy
Ektomorf
After Forever
Thunderstone
Knorkator
Schandmaul

W.E.T. Stage
Friday Saturday

Methedras
Vanguard
Artefact
Engine of Pain
Gutbucket
Astral Doors
Hobbs' Angel of Death
Misery Index
Suffrage

Dr. Rock
Everfest
Thora
Voodoma
Supersoma
Reckless Tide
Gun Barrel
Disbelief
Griffin

2005

Wacken Open Air 2005 was held from Wednesday, 3 August to Saturday, 6 August.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Tristania
Candlemass
Oomph!
Nightwish

Naglfar
Morgana Lefay
Illdisposed
Sonata Arctica
Bloodbath
Metal Church
Obituary
Edguy
Within Temptation
Machine Head
Apocalyptica
Corvus Corax
Samael

Zyklon
DragonForce
Suffocation
Overkill
Dissection
Axel Rudi Pell
Marduk
HammerFall
Kreator
Accept
Sentenced
Stratovarius
(surprise act)
Sputniks
Onkel Tom

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Mercenary
Marky Ramone
Ensiferum
Hanoi Rocks (canceled)
Eisregen
Gorefest
Turisas

Mob Rules
Count Raven
Holy Moses
Finntroll
Equilibrium
Torfrock
emKay
(Surprise act)

W.E.T. Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Doomfoxx
Hatesphere

Victims of Madness
Snake Eye
Gorilla Monsoon
Sinners Bleed
Hatedrive
Vanguard
Saeko
Suidakra
Reckless Tide
Mucc
Cataract
Metalium
Potentia Animi
Teräsbetoni
Contradiction

Stigma
Unleash the Fury
Manifest
Agonizer
Tuatha de Danann
Machine Men
Hard Time
Panic Cell
Noise Forest
Regicide
Endhammer
Primordial
Endstille
Goddess of Desire

Jim Beam Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Mambo Kurt

Doomfoxx
Los Los

Doomfoxx

2006

Carnivore performing live at W:O:A 2006

Wacken Open Air 2006 was held from Wednesday, 2 August to Saturday, 5 August.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Faster Inferno
(feat. Tyson Schenker)
Victory
Michael Schenker Group
Scorpions
(with special guests)

Mystic Circle
Wintersun
Legion of the Damned
Danko Jones
Six Feet Under
Nevermore
Opeth
In Extremo
Carnivore
Children of Bodom
Celtic Frost
Ministry
Amon Amarth

Aborted
Caliban
Arch Enemy
Fear Factory
Morbid Angel
Gamma Ray
Soulfly
Whitesnake
Emperor
Motörhead
Finntroll
Subway to Sally

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

End of Green
Born From Pain
Ektomorf
Soilwork
Vaxination
Korpiklaani
D'espairsRay
Primal Fear

Metal Church
Bloodthorn
Orphaned Land
Atheist
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
Rose Tattoo

W.E.T. Stage
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Mambo Kurt

Gutlock
Malefactor
Transilvanian Beat Club
Mortal Sin
C.O.R.
Mambo Kurt

Monster Joe
Würm
Cadaveric Crematorium
Kottak
Nikki Puppet
Gorilla Monsoon
Fleshgore
Vreid
Krypteria
Dezperadoz
Hellfueled
Metal Inquisitor
Battlelore

Morbus Gravis
Drone
InfiNight
The Dogma
Suidakra
Tourettes
We
Lake of Tears
Krieger
Obscenity
Delirious
Forever Slave

2007

Wacken Open Air 2007 was held from Wednesday, 1 August to Saturday, 4 August. The festival was headlined by Blind Guardian, Saxon, Iced Earth, Immortal.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Blitzkrieg
Rose Tattoo
Sodom
(with guests)
Saxon

Suidakra
Amorphis
Napalm Death
Therion
Possessed
Grave Digger
Turbonegro
JBO
Lacuna Coil
Blind Guardian
Dimmu Borgir
Iced Earth
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter

Sonic Syndicate
Sacred Reich
Moonspell
Stratovarius
Dir en grey
Rage
(with Lingua Mortis Orchestra)
Destruction
(with guests)
Type O Negative
Immortal
In Flames
Cannibal Corpse
Subway to Sally

Party Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

The Sorrow
Narziss
Neaera
Animal Alpha
All That Remains
Hatesphere
Overkill

The Black Dahlia Murder
Communic
Volbeat
Falconer
Enslaved
Schandmaul
Samael

Disillusion
Heaven Shall Burn
Dimension Zero
Norther
Stormwarrior
(featuring Kai Hansen)
Haggard

W.E.T. Stage
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Mambo Kurt

Krossbreed
Wargasm
Roots of Death
Gutbucket
Týr
Letzte Instanz
Electric Eel Shock
Maroon

Red Ink
Corruption
Ecliptica
Crystal Blaze
Torture Squad
Mennen
Drone
Pharao
Sabbat
Chthonic
Black Majesty
The Answer
Belphegor
Sahg
Fastway
Kampfar

Sheephead
Fracture
Abstract Rapture
Mythlorian
Fair to Midland
Secrets of the Moon
The Vision Bleak
Swallow the Sun
Turisas
Benedictum
Moonsorrow
Municipal Waste
Unheilig
1349
Vital Remains

2008

Wacken Open Air 2008 was held from Wednesday, 30 July to Saturday, 2 August. The festival was headlined by Iron Maiden, Children of Bodom, Avantasia, and Nightwish.

Exodus' set was filmed for their 2010 live DVD Shovel Headed Tour Machine: Live At Wacken & Other Assorted Atrocities

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Girlschool
Lauren Harris
Airbourne
Avenged Sevenfold
Iron Maiden

Grave
Mortal Sin
Job for a Cowboy
Unearth
Ensiferum
Kamelot
Soilwork
Sonata Arctica
Opeth
Children of Bodom
Corvus Corax
Avantasia
Gaahl and King ov Hell
(as Gorgoroth)

3 Inches of Blood
Sweet Savage
Holy Moses
Exodus
Hatebreed
As I Lay Dying
Carcass
Killswitch Engage
At the Gates
Nightwish
Kreator
Lordi

Party Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Mustasch
Nashville Pussy
Sturm und Drang
Leaves' Eyes

Primordial
Cynic
Headhunter
Sabaton
Massacre
The Haunted
Crematory

Machine Men
Mercenary
Obituary
Krypteria
girugämesh
Axxis

W.E.T. Stage
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Threat
Metakilla
Sweet Savage
Mambo Kurt

Concept Insomnia
Negură Bunget
Alestorm

The Fading
The Rotted
Destructor
Autumn
Stam1na
Psychopunch
Nifelheim
van Canto
Saltatio Mortis
Excrementory Grindfuckers

Ripsaw
Evocation
Before the Dawn
Enemy of the Sun
Powerwolf
Warbringer
Torture Squad
Dream of an Opium Eater
Watain
Lord Belial
The Bones

2009

Wacken Open Air 2009 was held from Wednesday, 29 July to Saturday, 1 August, and marked the festival's 20th year.

Kampfar were originally scheduled to perform on the Party Stage on Saturday, but were forced to cancel their appearance due to personal reasons. Their slot was filled by Onkel Tom.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Skyline
Schandmaul
Der W
Running Wild
Heaven & Hell

Vreid
UFO
Endstille
Gamma Ray
Walls of Jericho
Nevermore
Airbourne
HammerFall
Bullet for my Valentine
Motörhead
In Flames
Doro
Amon Amarth

Einherjer
Rage
Cathedral
Testament
Heaven Shall Burn
Axel Rudi Pell
In Extremo
Volbeat
Machine Head
Saxon
GWAR
Subway to Sally

Party Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

D-A-D
JBO
BossHoss
Lacuna Coil

Napalm Death
Retrospect
Tristania
DragonForce
Coheed and Cambria
Epica
ASP

Suidakra
Onkel Tom
Borknagar
Pain
Enslaved
Korpiklaani

W.E.T. Stage
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Victims of Madness
Bai Bang
Bon Scott
Onkel Tom
Mambo Kurt

X-Plod
Furion
5th Avenue
The Waltons
Drone
Bloodwork
Grand Magus

Leave Scars
Reason to Kill
Ade
Insidead
Scarred
Kielwater
Irr
Beneath
Silence Means Death
Callejón
Bring Me the Horizon
Whiplash
Nervecell
Insidious Disease
Eths
Sarke
Pentagram (Chile)

None
Cadaver Race
A Fine Day to Exit
Crisix (Crysys)
T.A.N.K (Think of A New Kind)
Trinitys Blood
Ferium
Split Heaven
The Fading
Trouble
U.K. Subs
Engel
Turisas
Tracedawn
Torment

Medieval Stage
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Fejd
Ragnaröek

Reincarnatus
Cumulo Nimbus

Swashbuckle
Ingrimm

Adorned Brood
Rabenschrey
Feuerschwanz

2010

Alice Cooper performing live at W:O:A 2010
Grave Digger featuring Doro on W:O:A main stage

Wacken Open Air 2010 was held from Wednesday, 4 August to Saturday, 7 August. The festival was headlined by Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Mötley Crüe, and Slayer.

Several bands played special sets at the festival. Corvus Corax played a show entitled "Wacken Burns" to close out the main stage performances on Friday.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Skyline
(with special guests)
Alice Cooper
Mötley Crüe
Iron Maiden

Dew-Scented
Amorphis
Orphaned Land
Ill Niño
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
BossHoss
Endstille
Kamelot
Arch Enemy
Grave Digger
Slayer
Anvil
Corvus Corax

Ektomorf
Caliban
Unleashed
Overkill
Lock Up
W.A.S.P.
Immortal
Edguy
Cannibal Corpse
Soulfly
Fear Factory
U.D.O.

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Suicidal Angels
Job for a Cowboy
Frei.Wild
Voivod
Tarja Turunen
1349
Atrocity

Smoke Blow
Kampfar
Delain
Stratovarius
Candlemass
Tiamat

W.E.T. Stage
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Victims of Madness
Void Creation
No Dawn
Snakebite
Raging Mob
Dymytry
By the Patient
Forever Storm
Battle Beast†‡
Frontal
Vice
Total Riot
Wistaria
Missing in Action
Penthagon
Soul Stealer
Mambo Kurt

Orcus O Dis
Seven Ends
Demolished
The Sixpounder
Prayers of Sanity
Altar
Vita Imana
Katana
Hathors
Cangaço
Black Out Beauty
Ghost Brigade
MacBeth
Crisix (Crysys)
Gojira

Brutus
Dead Means Nothing
Skanners
Astral Doors
Hackneyed
Mad Max
The Other
Eternal Legacy
Evile
Lizzy Borden
Broilers
Holy Grail
Secrets of the Moon
Ihsahn
Imperium Dekadenz
Raven

Nightmare
The New Black
Degradead
Crucified Barbara
End of Green
Die Kassierer
Metsatöll
Varg
Debauchery
Solstafir
Lake of Tears
Rotting Christ
Despised Icon
Killing Machine
The Devil's Blood

† - Metal Battle 2010 finalists
‡ - Metal Battle 2010 winner
Wackinger Stage
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Lord of the Lost
Fiddler's Green
Red Hot Chilli Pipers

Svartsot
Sevron
Vaxination

Torfrock
Hanggai

Letzte Instanz
Schelmish
DJ Cool
Equilibrium

The Keltics
Týr
Orden Ogan

Red Bull Bus Bullhead City Tent
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

9mm

Apocalyptica
(surprise show)

Spit Like This

The Circus of Horrors

2011

Wacken Open Air 2011 was held from Thursday, 4 August to Saturday, 6 August. The festival was headlined by Blind Guardian, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Motörhead, Airbourne and Sepultura.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Skyline (plus guests)
Bülent Ceylan
Frei.Wild
Helloween
Blind Guardian
Ozzy Osbourne

Ensiferum
Suicidal Tendencies
Morbid Angel
Sodom
As I Lay Dying
Trivium
Heaven Shall Burn
Judas Priest
Triptykon
Airbourne
Apocalyptica

Moonsorrow
Crashdïet
Kataklysm
Dir en Grey
Mayhem
Iced Earth
Sepultura
Avantasia
Kreator
Motörhead
Children of Bodom
Subway to Sally

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Primal Fear
Van Canto
Rhapsody of Fire
Morgoth
Kyuss Lives!
Saltatio Mortis

Visions of Atlantis
The Haunted
Knorkator
Vreid
Danko Jones
Eläkeläiset

W.E.T. Stage
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Mother of God
Leash Eye
Dust Bolt
Hammercult†‡
Virginia Clemm
Death Clocks
Mortal Strike
Aphyxion
Noein
Atrum
Voltax
Paralytic
Eccentric Pendulum
Nekrost
Powerstroke
Mambo Kurt

Tanker
Sacramental
Seven Stitches
Achren
Exquisite Pus
Golem
Rude Revelation
X-Tinxion
Coldwar
Bucovina
Aeon Throne
Omnicide
Battle Beast
Pneuma

Pharao
Volcano
Pussy Sister
Skálmöld
The Prophecy 23
Khold
Negator
Deadlock
Blowsight
Suidakra
Sirenia
Tsujder
Accuser
Skindred
Slime
Shraphead

The Murder of My Sweet
Triosphere
Hellsaw
Torture Squad
Stormzone
Hämatom
Shining
Skeletonwitch
In Solitude
Warrant
Blowsight
Hail of Bullets
Tokyo Blade
Venomin James
Ghost
Tauthr

† - Metal Battle 2011 finalists
‡ - Metal Battle 2011 winner

2012

Wacken Open Air 2012 was held from Thursday, 2 August to Saturday, 4 August.

Rain Shatter Band from Guadalajara, México. In the Bullhead City Circus Stage W:O:A 2012
Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Skyline†
Jim Breuer
Sepultura & Les Tambours du Bronx
U.D.O.
Saxon
Volbeat

Endstille
Sacred Reich
Sanctuary
Kamelot
Overkill
The BossHoss
Opeth
HammerFall
Dimmu Borgir & Orchestra
In Flames
In Extremo
D-A-D

Delain
Gamma Ray
Napalm Death
Axel Rudi Pell
Six Feet Under
Testament
Cradle of Filth
Amon Amarth
Scorpions
Machine Head
Ministry
Edguy
(surprise act)

† - With guests
Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Betontod
Oomph!
Broilers
Coroner
Leaves' Eyes
Athonite

Suffocated
Paradise Lost
Sick Of It All
Dark Funeral
Schandmaul
Watain

Bullhead City Circus
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Inquisitor
Victims of Madness
Rust2Dust
Fateful Finality
RavenBlood
Gothic
Midnight Priest
Electric Hellride
Lord Shades
Ease of Disgust
Cold Snap
Gone Postal
Helmut
Devil's Note
MindthreaT
Shredhead
Hamferð†‡
Rain Shatter
Zygnema
Epsilon
Opifex
Frantic Amber
Disquiet
Corpse Garden
Warpath
Mambo Kurt

Russkaja
Faanefjell
Dead by April
Exuviated
Wölli & Die Band Des Jahres
Hone Your Sense
Kellermensch
The Falling
Winterstorm
Amaranthe
Hammercult
Keule
Chthonic
Channel Zero
Unearth
Circle II Circle
Mono Inc.

FDJ
Yaksa
Warbringer
Liquid Meat
Crimes of Passion
Darkest Hour
The Black Dahlia Murder
Graveyard
Decapitated
Red Fang
D.R.I.
We Butter the Bread with Butter
Jim Breuer
Gehenna
Aura Noir
Kobra and the Lotus
Insomnium
Ghost Brigade

Agro
Eschenbach
Manticora
Manimals
Massacre
WETO
Kylesa
Megaherz
Moonspell
(acoustic show)
Sylosis
Nasum
Djerv
Warrior Soul
Suicide Silence
Dio Disciples
Riotgod
Winterfylleth
Leningrad Cowboys

† - Metal Battle 2012 finalists
‡ - Metal Battle 2012 Winner
Wackinger Stage
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Russkaja
Saor Patrol
Vogelfrey
Santiano

Santiano
Saor Patrol
Vogelfrey
Panteón Rococó
Torfrock

Saor Patrol
Vogelfrey
Eisenherz
Russkaja

Santiano
Ingrimm
Vogelfrey
Russkaja
Diablo Swing Orchestra

2013

Wacken Open Air 2013 was held from Thursday, 1 August to Saturday, 3 August.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Skyline
Annihilator
Thunder
Deep Purple
Rammstein

Neaera
Tristania
Gojira
Powerwolf
Ihsahn
Pretty Maids
Agnostic Front
Sabaton
Motörhead
Doro
ASP
Grave Digger

Callejon
Fear Factory
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
Lamb of God
Anthrax
Danzig
Trivium
Alice Cooper
Nightwish
Lingua Mortis Orchestra & Rage
Subway to Sally

† - Set was cut short due to frontman Lemmy Kilmister's poor health.

‡ - Set was filmed and released as Showtime, Storytime.

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Russkaja
Eisbrecher
Ugly Kid Joe
Soilwork
Corvus Corax
Amorphis

Alestorm
Sonata Arctica
DevilDriver
Candlemass
Meshuggah

Bullhead City Circus
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Harpyie
Victims of Madness
Spring and Autumn
Chronosphere
J.T. Ripper
SIC
An Apple a Day
Infanteria
Nine Treasures
BackJumper
Overoth
Asthma
Vengha
Rotten State
Crimson Shadows
Ophidian I
Kill With Hate
Midnight Scream
Count to Six
Trallery
Devoid
Utopium
GOD: The Barbarian Horde
Karma Zero
Mambo Kurt

Russkaja
La Chudra
Behold the Grave
Rotten Souls
Gnida
Mysterious Priestess
Industrial City
Cancelled
Eskimo Callboy
9mm
Haggard
Soulless
Alpha Tiger
Die Kassierer
Ragnarok
Dezperadoz

Benighted
Eat the Gun
Stahlmann
Nachtblut
Naglfar
Dr. Living Dead!
Kamikaze Kings
Black Messiah
Mustasch
Heaven's Basement
Legion of the Damned
Whitechapel
Leprous
Anvil
Uli Jon Roth
Bullet

Hate Squad
Chrome Molly
Run Liberty Run
Null DB
Spitfire
Dew-Scented
Secret Sphere
Serum 114
Rebattered
Emergency Gate
Fozzy
Dunderbeist
Kärbholz
Kryptos
Hardcore Superstar
Suidakra

Wackinger Stage
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Impius Mundi
Pampatut
Coppelius
Fejd
Feuerschwanz
Russkaja
Santiano

Pampatut
Feuerschwanz
Rabenschrey
Versengold
Faun

Harpyie
Impius Mundi
Mr. Hurley & Die Pulveraffen
Pampatut
Ignis Fatuu
Feuerschwanz

Harpyie
Pampatut
Mr. Hurley & Die Pulveraffen
Impius Mundi
Feuerschwanz
Finsterforst

2014

Wacken Open Air 2014 was held from Thursday, 31 July to Saturday, 2 August.
The confirmed bands Death Angel and Iced Earth canceled their summer shows including Wacken Open Air.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Skyline
Bülent Ceylan
Hammerfall
Steel Panther
Saxon
Accept

Chthonic (band)
Skid Row
Endstille
Five Finger Death Punch
Bring Me the Horizon
Heaven Shall Burn
Children of Bodom
Apocalyptica & Orchestra
Motörhead
Slayer
King Diamond
W.A.S.P.

Arch Enemy
Sodom
Behemoth
Devin Townsend Project
Emperor
Amon Amarth
Megadeth
Avantasia
Kreator
Schandmaul

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Russkaja
Knorkator
Hellyeah
Santiano
Carcass
Saltatio Mortis

Prong
August Burns Red
Hatebreed
JBO
Van Canto & Special Guests†

† - Performance included following Special Guests:
Tarja Turunen, Victor Smolski, Chris Boltendahl, Andre Matos and Jörg Michael

2015

Wacken Open Air 2015 was held from Thursday, 30 July to Saturday, 1 August.

Double Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday

Skyline
U.D.O. with Bundeswehr Musikkorps
In Extremo
Rob Zombie
Savatage
Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Epica
Ensiferum
Sepultura
Kvelertak
At The Gates
Queensrÿche
Opeth
Dream Theater
Black Label Society
In Flames
Running Wild
The BossHoss

Khold
Powerwolf
Amorphis
Danko Jones
Rock meets Classic
Bloodbath
Sabaton
Judas Priest
Cradle of Filth
Subway to Sally

Party Stage
Friday Saturday

Angra
Falconer
Stratovarius
Annihilator
Oomph!
Within Temptation

Kataklysm
Skindred
Biohazard
Cannibal Corpse
Santiano

Bullhead City Circus
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Sycorax
Scratch the Floor
Legacy ID
Nik Kai feat. Mikkey Dee - Motörhead Label Launch
Nuclear Chaos
Blaakyum
The Loudest Silence
Summoned Tide
Vesperia
Itcom
Renaissense
Vesperia
Deadiron
John Diva
Grailknights
Mambo Kurt
New Model Army
Uli Jon Roth
Europe

Ethereal Sin
Silius
Impureza
Savage Machine
Dark Fusion
For I Am King
Don Gatto
Shiraz Lane
Dream Spirit
Dash the Effort
Troldskugge
Walkways
Libertad O Muerte
Stortregn
Deathless Legacy
Metaprism
Arana
Noctiferia
Dark Tranquillity
Combichrist
The Quireboys
The Answer
Mantar
Architects of Chaoz

Zodiac
Ancient Bards
The Quireboys
Crossplane
The Poodles
Truckfighters
Stoneman
Kaerbholz
Anaal Nathrakh
Thyrfing
Death Angel
Armored Saint
Samael
Nuclear Assault
Ill Niño
My Dying Bride
Burgerkill

Victims of Madness
Breakdown of Sanity
The Black Spiders
Avatar
Godsized
Kommando
Beyond The Black
Walking Dead On Broadway
Cryptopsy
No Words (Nik Kai)
Morgoth
Exumer
Suicide Silence
Obituary
Blood Red Throne
Shining
Waltari

Wackinger Stage
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Vroudenspil
Comes Vagantes
Mr. Hurley und die Pulveraffen
Ye Banished Privateers
Pampatut
The Gentle Storm
Knasterbart
Feuerschwanz

Pampatut
Knasterbart
Ye Banished Privateers
Mr. Hurley und die Pulveraffen
Feuerschwanz
Baltic Sea Child
Tears For Beers
Eric Fish & Friends

Vroudenspil
Comes Vagantes
Knasterbart
Pampatut
Ye Banished Privateers
Mr. Hurley und die Pulveraffen
Harpyie
Cultus Ferox

Cultus Ferox
Impius Mundi
Pampataut
Skiltron
Harpyie
Vroudenspil
Celtica
Lord Of The Lost

2016

Wacken 2016 was held from Thursday 4 August- Saturday 6 August.

Acts included:

Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian, Twisted Sister, Saxon, Ministry, Steel Panther, Eluveitie, DragonForce, Callejon, Axel Rudi Pell, Orden Ogan, Orphaned Land, Borknagar, Eskimo Callboy, Henry Rollins (spoken word), Therion, Symphony X, Unisonic, The Goddamn Gallows and Pyogenesis.[18]

There was also a tribute to the late Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead, who died 28 December 2015. The tribute was filmed by Franco-German TV Network Arte and released as a 24-minute music video documentary "Born To Lose, Lived To Win - A Farewell To Lemmy Kilmister."[19]

2017

Wacken 2017 will be held from Thursday August 3 to Saturday August 5.

First bands announced:

Amon Amarth, Apocalyptica, ASP, Aura Noir, Avantasia, Candlemass, Emperor, Fates Warning, Grand Magus, Hämatom, Heaven Shall Burn, Kreator, Lacuna Coil, Mayhem (performing De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas), Napalm Death, Orange Goblin, Paradise Lost , Powerwolf, Rage, Saltatio Mortis, Soilwork, Sonata Arctica, Tankard, Trivium, Turbonegro, [20]

Wacken Rocks

2009

Wacken Rocks South

27–29 August 2009: 9mm, Agathodaimon, Age of Evil, Alestorm, AM/FM, Axxis, Bai Bang, Chrome Molly, Cripper, Debauchery, Der W, Dezperados, Doro, Drone, Edguy, Eisbrecher, Fatal Smile, Feuerschwanz, Five and the Ted One, Flotsam & Jetsam, Frei.Wild, Girlschool, Grave Digger, Hämatom, Hank III & Assjack, Heaven Shall Burn, Herman Frank Band, In Extremo, Krypteria, The New Black, Parity Boot, SAHG, Secrets of the Moon, Slayer, Stainless Steel, Stratovarius, Suidakra, Tribe, U.D.O., Volbeat, Warpath

Wacken Rocks Seaside

28–30 August 2009: Age of Evil, Agathodaimon, Alestorm, Axxis, Bai Bang, Cripper, Debauchery, Der W, Dezperadoz, Dirty Deeds, Doro, Edguy, Eisbrecher, Fatal Smile, Five and the Red One, Flotsam & Jetsam, Frei.Wild, Girlschool, Hank III, Herman Frank Band, Heaven Shall Burn, In Extremo, J.B.O, Kneipenterroristen, Krypteria, Mob Rules, Ohrenfeindt, Parity Boot, SAHG, Secrets of the Moon, Slayer, Stratovarius, Suidakra, sexy Glitter, Torfrock, Tribe, U.D.O, Victims of Madness, Volbeat, Warpath ollelelerer

See also

References

  1. Wacken-Gründer Thomas Jensen im Interview (german)
  2. announcement on official page
  3. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6649673/wacken-open-air-heavy-metal-festival-founder-interview
  4. A tribute to Judas Priest - Wacken 2015 - arte.concert TV documentation - 20:10-21:15 min
  5. http://noorimages.com/feature/we-the-republic-of-wacken-3/
  6. http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/wacken-open-air-2014-fotos-fotostrecke-117516.html
  7. http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/wacken-open-air-fotostrecke-108846.html
  8. http://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/wacken-open-air-hoelle-hoelle-hoelle-1.984340
  9. http://www.mopo.de/hamburg/--16993014
  10. http://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/gallery.tickets-trinkfestigkeit-terrorgefahr-alles-was-sie-ueber-wacken-open-air-2016-wissen-muessen.68f340e4-8c61-46b9-853d-4afaa50dc44f.html/id/e3b58150-fade-44fe-b288-4d87e7fce9cb
  11. http://www.shz.de/media/435306--2696/2012_03_Aug_Wacken.pdf page 3 in German
  12. http://www.shz.de/media/7294351--3401/01_August_2014_Wacken_Open_Air.pdf - page 19 in German.
  13. The W:O:A documentary DVD/Blu-Ray Eps. 3 7:55 - 8:07 min
  14. WDR German public broadcast - Rockpalast Wacken Open Air 2006 documentary - https://www1.wdr.de/fernsehen/rockpalast/events/wacken-sieben-uebersicht-100.html 8:32-8:40 min in German
  15. http://www.e-pages.dk/shzsonderbeilagen/174/ page 24 in German
  16. http://www.shz.de/media/7294351--3401/01_August_2014_Wacken_Open_Air.pdf - page 10 in German
  17. The W:O:A documentary DVD/Blu-Ray Eps. 3 20:28 - 21:04 min
  18. "W:O:A 2016 The first bands of the festival".
  19. "Born To Lose, Lived To Win - A Farewell To Lemmy Kilmister".
  20. "Announcement of the first bands for 2017!".
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wacken Open Air.

Coordinates: 54°01′42″N 9°21′22″E / 54.02833°N 9.35611°E / 54.02833; 9.35611

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.