19/11/2017

It was 14 years ago that ICP came to Europe. In march 2017 they announced a new tour in the UK. This was a once in a life time chance to see them close to home. So yeah a bought a ticket. I could not make it 14 years ago, but now I went no matter what.

My trip started on Saturday november 18, 2017. I took the train to Brussel Midi and then the Eurostar to London St. Pancras. From there it was a 30 minute walk to the hotel in Camden. I stayed at the Holliday Inn. Nice hotel, clean, decent, friendly crew, nice room. If you could spent some money, then this is the place to be. Because the concert was on Sunday, I had some time to view Camden. Nice part of Londen with a lot of small shops (souveniers, vintage, etc). I was amazed how many people were out there. The sidewalks were full of people. Crazy.

Sunday november 19, 2017. This was the day I was looking forward to my whole life. Together with another belgian homie we took off around 17h00. The doors of the venue opened at 18h00. First we went to The Worlds End. A hardrock pub were we should meet some homies. Man, I need a pub like that here in Belgium. The pub was full of juggalos, some painted, some not. Unfortunately we could not find the homie we were supposed to meet. So we decided to go to the queue before the venue.

Like all juggalos do, there was a lot of whoop whoop and family yells. We stand in line and the
atmosphere was fenominal. Singing, dancing, talking, etc, all family. Everybody spoke to each other like one big family. People who were passing the line, looked like "what the hell is this". Some guy came to me and asked what this was all about. I told him it was a concert of Insane Clown Posse. He said "Who??? ". I said it again "Insane Clown Posse". He replied "Who???". I told him if he's not a juggalo he would not know it. We met some homies from Ireland. Great guys.

It was cold outside and finally at 18h15 they let us in. We had a VIP-ticket so we had to go the the merchandising but almost everybody was at the merchandising at that time. The guy at the merchandising told us we had to go to the box-office for our VIP-pass. Back to the entrance and searching for the box-office. A lot of people were there waiting to get in, so not a good idea. A guy from the venue told us we had to wait in the corner in the back and someone was coming to meet us for our VIP-pass. We made some jokes about pushing the VIP's in the corner. Finally after 15 minutes or so, we got our VIP-pass.

At 19h00 we had to be at the stairs near the mercandising. We were early and I asked a steward where we had to be for the VIP and he said we had to be upstairs. We went upstairs, it was a balcony with some rooms. There were no other people we saw with a VIP-pass. We ordered something to drink and looked at the set of Ouija Macc. There was another steward walking around and again I asked where we had to be for the meet&greet. He showed as a room where it was going to happen. But something wasn't right....no other VIP-members showed up. We were looking at the set of Death Blooms and from the balcony I saw downstairs VIP-members escorted out. We rushed downstairs. We almost missed it. We were escorted outside and there we had to wait in the freaking cold for at least a hour. They let small groups of 12 people inside. But the atmosphere was good. Nice chat with some guys, people singing and chanting Family.

I haven't checked the time but it must be around 20h00 when we getting passed the steward. With 12 people we had to wait in front of the door in the freaking cold until the other group came outside. They let the VIP's standing in the freaking cold...nice threat for a VIP...but what the hell...we got to see Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. The other group came outside after 20 minutes and then they let us in. On the way in we met Big Hoodoo and Lyte standing at the door smoking a cigarette. Some of us tryed to speak to Hoodoo but we were pushed inside, we had to move along. My homie who came with me made a short chat with Lyte.

Inside we met Jumpsteady and a guy who gave us the info of what was going to happen. We were escorted upstairs to a room where Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope were sitting at a table. Ready to autograph and a little chat. After like 5 minutes or so it was my turn. I shaked hands with Shaggy 2 Dope and gave him my card to sign. It was a flyer from the site and I wanted them to sign it at the back. He said what is this, a blank card? I showed him the other side with the logo from the site and the webadress. I gave them some info about the site and they were truely amazed and interessed. I continued chatting with Violent J and I told him that me and my homie were the only 2 juggalos from Belgium. What? He said. That is not possible. After a little chat of where Belgium lies...yes I know it is a small country...he said to me that he could not believe we were the only belgium juggalos. He asked me if I followed them on Twitter. I said yes and he told me to check it out later. Violent J also asked my phonenumber. What? He's going to phone me? No I don't think so...but what the hell... the thought alone was enough for me. You know what the fun part of it was? I almost forgot what my
own phonenumber was. Damned it was weird.

I gave them some flyers of the site and told them to check it out. They said they would. We had to finish our conversation because other people were waiting to. It was an amazing feeling with the other homies around and a chat with the 2 guys that changed my life forever!

We were escorted back downstairs. There we got some information of Jumpsteady about the part where we could be on stage. Because the stage was too small, we had to be divided in groups. Before we got more info about it, we needed to get our cameras ready to go upstairs for the second time to get our photograph. While we were waiting on the stairs, Sugar Slam passed us by. I finally got back to the room and Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope were waiting for the picture. A guy took my phone to take the picture and I could stand with the 2 people that changed my life. Again a great moment.

After taking the picture and shaking hands and a short goodbye, we needed to go back downstairs. There we got the rest of the information about the stage act. We got our card with the info on during which song we could be on stage. Our song was "Birthday Bitches". The card was our ticket. The card contained the setlist and the info when we needed to get ready to get on stage.

Our time for the meet&greet was over and we were escorted back outside and back into the
audience. When we stepped outside, I saw Sugar Slam standing at the side. I thought what the hell, I got to say hi to her. So I did. We had a little chat but the steward said I had to move along. Sugar Slam gave me a hug and I had to go. Man, this little chat and the hug were amazing. I love her!

Back into the audience me and my homie got split up. He went back into the crowd and I went to the balcony to realize what just happened to me. I still could not believe it that I met Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. On the balcony I met a couple from the UK. Nice people and we had a little chat. There was another guy sitting there, great homie but he had a beer to much I think.

The concert of Big Hoodoo started and I went downstairs to watch the set of Big Hoodoo. He did only 2 songs but I liked it. I love to see him and I like his music. After the set of Big Hoodoo it was time for ICP. Kevin Gill announced the set but made an announcement first. They were looking for someone who had the digital version of the audiobook of Behind The Paint with him. I don't know why they needed it but the person who had it with him would not regret it.

We had to wait at least 15 minutes before the set of ICP started. The crowd was singing
ICP ICP ICP... Everybody was waiting for it, 14 years was a long time. And then finally the intro started. All the smartphones in the air for filming. Man...the room was lit by the light of the phones. Put those phones away and enjoy the concert. Put this unique experience into your mind and cherish it the rest of your life. But that's my opinion.

Everybody sang along and the crowd was enjoying the set every second. After a few songs, the song Explosions began. The card for the stage act said that if I heard that song, I'll had to meet up at the merchandising where somebody escorted us out backstage to go on stage. We got a short briefing of what we could do on stage to keep it safe (bottles must be empty before throwing into the audience etc). Birthday Bitches came on and we rushed on stage. On the way to the stage, Sugar Slam encouraged us and give us a fist bump.

On stage I had the change to spray 2 bottles of diet coke into the audience. It was an amazing feeling to stand on stage with Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. As soon as the song was over, we were pushed of the stage by the stageclowns. Sugar Slam was waiting for us and we had to give our card/ticket to her. Now we could go again into the audience and enjoy the rest of the concert.

The concert was amazing. Everybody sang the songs, danced, jumped, etc. I've never been to a concert where there was so much vibe in the room. I enjoyed it to the very last song.
Once the final song was over, the audiance chanted ICP ICP ICP... An amazing feeling rushed
through the venue. Then the lights were turned on and the stewards made everybody leave. I made a quick stop by the merchandising and bought a milenko flag. A token of a amazing concert. I quickly handed out some flyers of the website to everybody that was trying to leave. And suddenly somebody I gave a flyer to said "dot BE, you're from Belgium" I said yeah and you too. I found 2 other homies from Belgium. So now we are with 4 juggalos in Belgium, lol.

Then we had to stand in line for the cloakroom to get our jackets. In the mean while I hand out the last flyers from the website. In the queue I chatted with my homie about the concert and with some homies who were standing like us in line for the cloackroom. We got our jackets and went outside and went to the hotel to take a shower and put on some dry clothes.

It was an amazing evening and I met a lot of nice homies. This wil stay in my memory forever.

The wicked clowns will never die.....never....

Whoop Whoop...