Let me introduce myself, I’m Deki, webmaster and part of The Dead Daisies social media team. For the last eight years, I’ve been working with the band and the management team after an introduction through a mutual friend. After watching, listening to, and programming their music I not only dig it but. as a former musician appreciate each member that has been in the line-up. There’s been so much content over the years, that I feel like I know them, but until now I’ve never had the opportunity to meet them. Can you believe that!
I live in Macedonia, and although the band have played here before, I’ve never been able to go and see a live show. Fast forward to December 2023, it just had to happen. Even though it’s a long way from home, 14 hours on a bus to be exact, I was totally fixated on meeting everyone this time around!
On the Tuesday before the show at Cvetlicarna in Ljubljana, I headed off on my adventure! Arriving in the early AM, it was still pitch black, but loving the fact that the hotel was only 5 minutes away. I’ve never stayed at a ritzy hotel before like the luxurious Intercontinental so it was a total buzz. To say I was hyper and excited was an understatement. Full of energy, I couldn’t help grabbing my laptop and getting onto my daily TDD routine as there was no way I was getting any sleep!!
The band were arriving later that day, so I checked out the city but to be honest, my mind was elsewhere, all I wanted to do was get back to the hotel and wait for the band to arrive.
Back at the hotel, I saw a black tour bus parked in front. I thought I had missed the band! Then I saw Spike, who is hilarious. I introduced myself and then I met our Management assistant on the road, Shirley. It was so great to meet her, she’s a sweetheart but until now we’d only ever exchanged emails. Always good to put a face to the name….
With my stomach in knots finally, the band tour bus pulled up outside the hotel and the first to get off was their Manager, David Edwards. He greeted me saying: “Finally we meet the mystery person behind everything!” Our photographer David Pear followed closely and said “Deki, finally we meet brother!” Next up, Crabby, David introduced me to him right away saying “This is our guy for everything behind the scenes on the website and social media”. Before he could respond Doug was there and yelled out “DEKI! I recognized you right away! Finally, we meet! Thanks for coming to Slovenia.” I met Michael and Brian a bit later as I was swept up in the moment!
After a long drive, everyone was pretty shagged and went to their rooms to chill, with a plan to meet for dinner.
This was a totally new experience for me, I was a bit overwhelmed, however the icebreaker was a drink at the bar before dinner. We shared a few laughs, had some great food and GREAT company. We talked about everything; life, entertainment, everyday things, work stuff, it was a pleasure sitting there and chatting with the guys I work with every day. This was a next-level experience, Doug & I chatted a bit about our families and we agreed to meet in the lobby the next morning to have breakfast and head to the city where I would act as a ‘guide’, finding cool locations to film content and grab some festive Christmas vibes!
There is nothing like having a laugh the first thing in the morning, Crabby starts with a joke and says: “Whatever Deki says, we are not doing it!” And I was like: “But”, and he was like “NO! NO! NOOO!” and bursts out laughing. He freaked me out, but he is the biggest joker around ha-ha!
We headed out and there were some hilarious moments usually provided by Corabi. we met some fans and checked out the local markets which are a big thing here, especially at Christmas time. It was like a fridge freezer outside! We visited the three bridges in the city including the Love Bridge and the Dragon Bridge, which involved more walking. (Check out our wrap video for the fun we had with the statues all over the city, especially in John’s WTF episodes, they are so funny). It was hilarious listening to everyone’s pronunciation of Ljubljana, so I gave them a quick lesson on how to say it. It was really both fun and interesting working in real-time with the band and being there on location with them.
After thawing out I prepared for the show that night! Two vans took us to the venue. I chatted with Doug, and translated the venue name and its’ meaning … (Cvetlicarna means flower shop).
We arrived at the venue parking lot where the tour bus was waiting. The bus would be the band’s dressing room that night. I shared a couple of bottles of Rakia from Macedonia, which is a homemade brandy type of drink. I had one to get my system going, but the band tried it after the show. It was awesome chatting with everyone, having a drink and some laughs until it was time for the band to hit the stage.
I went in out a couple of times to see the crowd inside the venue and watch the support band, Jelusick before heading backstage with the rest of the band.
9 PM on the dot and it was time to ROCK! At long last, my first time seeing The Dead Daisies LIVE ON-STAGE! I was sitting just next to the stage alongside the crew including Lee who has been with the band for a long time too. It kicked off with “Resurrected” which sounded like it blew the speakers away! I can easily say that the whole venue was packed tightly, and they sang with Crabby “I’m back! Resurrected!” while they head banged along with the song.
The whole show was rock music with the biggest balls ever! Fat guitar sounds that knock you over and John’s voice… totally awesome! Michael was singing along with Crabby, he has a great voice too! It was like listening to a studio song on the radio. The show finished and we made our way back to the hotel! I can’t even explain how amazing it was to finally see the band play live, playing rock like there is no tomorrow!
I was a bit sad as it was the end of my time hanging out with the team and the band as they gathered all their stuff from the hotel, jumped on the bus and continued on their way to Germany. It was a great end to what has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life! It was time for the bus to leave, so we said our goodbyes. I was so happy to have finally met the guys!
Afterwards, I went to my room but couldn’t sleep till late. I was filled with joy, with energy and motivation. After 8 years of working and speaking on the phone every day, I finally met some of my team! A four-day trip that seemed a lot longer to me, filled with laughs, rock, head banging, enjoying Slovenia and the best of it – MEETING THE BAND!!!
Next time, I am definitely going to go on tour for a couple of days as it was really unique and a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Thank you for everything David Edwards and The Dead Daisies! Thanks (for bearing with me and my shenanigans) to David Pear, Cat, Mark, Mori, Ulf and Cosi. Thanks to Elena, Slobodan and Marija.