First Daze of Exit

Well, here I am, fresh from Sumadija but not back in Belgrade but in Novi Sad for Exit Fest.  This year, like the last couple, my wife and I manage the backstage of the main stage.  As in, make sure the artists, their management and crew are well taken care of, fed and drinked up!  The latter seeming to be the most important;)...  Actually, the food is the most important.  & i can say with a bit of pride, Exit backstage is known for some pretty foody fair.


My favourite story was the first Exit we did backstage in 2004.  That's when Iggy and the Stooges rocked the fortress.  On Iggy's Rider, the kinda contract thing that each band has for requests of catering, hosting, and so on, he was listed as a vegetarian (something he was playing with that year).  So, when his tour manager came up to me the morning of the show asking if I saw Iggy's new rider highlighting the point that Iggy the Vegger loves to have a nice medium rare t-bone steak when he gets off stage after the gig.  My response; "Um, OK!  Steak it is!"...  Though was a bit worried as it was Sunday morning & I'm on a European fortress in Northern Serbia...  Where the hell am I to find a nice t-bone steak for grilling?  Well, the key word is "Serbia"!  The first shop I walked into saw me walk out with two juicy and fresh t-bones.


Cutting to the chase, I grilled up a really nice juicy steak for Iggy and presented it to him after the gig.  His eyes lit up when he saw the steak and said; "Oh yeahhh..." and then grabbed the steak from the plate and began chewing on it Fred Flinstone style.  He asked for butter, which he took a handful...  I literally mean a hand full, and spread it over his steak...  Eating with hands is sooo Rock'n'Roll;).


Any way, when he was leaving backstage he came looking for me, shook my hand, it was a bit greasy to say the least, and said...  & I very much quote; "Good Food Man!".  OK, not "great" food but when Iggy Pop comes looking for you to compliment you on your culinary talents, I'll except "Good"!


So, this year has been fairly low key.  Lots of hype backstage about the difficulties of dealing with the Cult.  Once they appeared,  turned out to be real gentlemen.  Even brought their kids along.  & by the end of the night Ian was handing out his personal e-mail address (& no, I will not send it to anyone of you, sorry).  Franz Ferdinan guys we're really cool.  My comment to them is how a group of Scottish men can be so thin...  That was before I saw their set.  They totally got the crowd going.  Very excellent live.  The Cardigans, like the others, really good folk.  The band, I mean the guys not the signed, look like the Exit tech crew.  At one point I was going to tell them that they are not allowed to eat cause the food is for bands only but noticed their performers pass.  However, I'm sure if I told them they could not eat, they would listen to me...  Swedes are almost as nice as Canadians...


Which reminds me of a Canadian joke; How do you get 100 Canadians out of a pool?  Just say; "Ok, get out of the pool please".


Any way, back to Exit.  We're just getting ready for Morrissey.  As he's a very strict vagan and his rider points out that the smell of cooking meat WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, we've declared July 7th at Exit Fest backstage; Meat Free Day!


So, gotta get back to work and kill some vegetables.  Will update you kids as the festival progresses.


Ciao from Backstage Exit Festival