This past weekend, Wacken Open Air festival took place in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The annual event, billed as the largest heavy metal festival in Europe, brings in tens of thousands of fans young and old from around Germany and beyond each year. However, this year, two particular attendees have captured the attention of the media on a global scale.
According to a report from German public international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, on Saturday, police in the area were alerted that two elderly residents of a local nursing home had gone missing. Later that night, around 3:00 a.m. local time, police found the two escapees on the grounds of Wacken Open Air enjoying the festivities along with the gathered masses. According to police, the two men were “disoriented and dazed” when they were found at the festival, but were nonetheless reluctant to leave and head back to the home. As police spokeswoman Merle Neufeld told German broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk, “They obviously liked the metal festival.” Authorities had to escort them back with the help of a taxi and a patrol car.
In the hours since the nursing home escaper caper, the story has spread through the global media, with die-hard music fans around the world tipping their metaphorical hats to the ballsy senior citizens for their determination to get in on the party. Sure, their plan was foiled and they were returned to the home, but in the meantime, they got to rage Wacken Open Air into the wee hours. If you’ve ever had to go to great lengths to get to a concert, you’re surely well acquainted with the feelings of elation and “worth it”-ness you experience once you’ve finally made it to the show. You can be sure that these well-aged metalheads were feeling pretty fantastic on Saturday night.
Here’s hoping you guys had the time of your lives on Saturday night. We can only hope we’re as cool as you when we grow up.
[H/T NY Post]