Kapitel 71: Chapter 71: Return to PANTERA part 2
The live performance of Pantera in Ohio created a significant impact. Right after the Lynn concert, a portion of Dimebag Darrell's video and one song were released on social media, causing a buzz. Pantera's social media followers easily surpassed ten million after the tour, and the numbers continued to grow. This was because the video could only be viewed on social media, not YouTube.
Sitting in the dressing room, Philip wiped the sweat off his face with a white towel, expressing satisfaction.
"The first tour was a success."
Vinnie, taking off his sweaty shirt, replied, "Indeed. Hey, I almost cried when our brother's video came out earlier. Even though we rehearsed, tears came out."
Rex, still not putting down his bass guitar, sitting on the couch, commented, "The glamorous businessman did one thing right. I really liked the direction!"
Pointing his finger at the gun, Rex smiled brightly and said, "Right? It was really cool."
Philip also raised his thumb. "Yeah, even I think it was a fantastic performance."
"Alright, next tour is in Asia?" Vinnie, twirling drumsticks in the air, asked while sitting on the couch.
"Yeah, we'll go around Asia and then straight to Europe," Rex asked, grinning.
"Is the U.S. tour over, for real?" Gun raised his head and said.
"Rex, explain it together, why are you like that?" Vinnie said, looking at Gun.
"Europe tour is over, then come back to the U.S., and three more tours. According to Mr. Lynn, they're strongly requesting us to come to Russia after that," Vinnie nodded, stroking his beard.
"Oh, around Moscow in Russia back in '91, wasn't it? Anyway, around that time, there was a tour called 'Monsters of Rock.' It was our prime time, and it was also our last visit. Fans were requesting it back then, probably."
As Gun nodded, Philip threw beers from the fridge to Rex and Vinnie. Philip, after giving a quick look at Gun, took out a cola from the fridge and handed it to him.
"K, have this. The first tour in Asia is in Korea, right?"
Vinnie nodded, and Gun, looking at him, said, "Yeah, oh! Isn't that K's country?"
Gun nodded, saying, "Right, it's back after a year, haha."
Philip approached the schedule on the wall, frowned, and said, "What's this? Only one concert in Korea, and the schedule is two days? In and out from the U.S. in just a morning, performing the next day, and heading straight to China at night?"
Looking at Gun for a moment, Philip smiled and said, "What are you saying? Of course, we accept! Just make sure not to make fools of the audience who came and paid."
When Lynn suddenly entered the room, the band members turned their heads towards the door. Lynn closed the door and came into the waiting room. Philip, quickly covering Rex's mouth to prevent him from saying something, asked, "What's this about service?"
Lynn held up his phone, showing the time, and shrugged his shoulders. "Exactly as it says. A free live performance. Of course, it's only for one day."
Vinnie grinned and said, "Well, a free live show might make the people who paid to come see us look like fools, right?"
Lynn flicked his finger, replying, "Leave that to me."
Three days later, in Seoul, South Korea.
The news of Pantera's arrival created a stir in the country. The scenes of Pantera's airport arrival were broadcasted through various media, but for some reason, only the reporters looking at the back of Pantera, who rushed out without any interviews or photo time, were shown on the news.
As the opinion that the band, known for their success, was rude started to form, an odd post appeared on Pantera's SNS.
'In front of Haeundae Chosun Beach Hotel at 01:59:59'
What was interesting was that the recorded time was decreasing backward. Many fans debated the meaning in the comments. Various speculations, such as seeing Pantera touring around Busan, similar to Metallica shopping in a dog meat market during their previous visit, filled the comments. Fans curious about what would happen in Haeundae two hours later gradually increased.
Fans who couldn't make it to the Seoul concert but wanted to see Pantera's face even from afar headed to Haeundae. Since there were more fans who thought, "What's so great about seeing their faces from a distance?" and didn't come, only about three hundred fans were wandering around, eagerly looking for Pantera.
A woman in a leather jacket, holding a smartphone, shouted, "What's this? 30 seconds left, and they're not here. Did we get tricked?"
Her companions, also looking into her phone, were watching the rapidly decreasing time together. When the time was up, the group looked around restlessly.
"Thump, thump, thump."
A loud noise from the sky made the people raise their heads, and someone shouted, "It's a helicopter!"
"What? Where?"
"Land on top of the Chosun Beach Hotel! Let's go see!"
In front of the hotel, fans crowded together, looking up at the hotel rooftop. The sound of a helicopter descending and its propellers gradually stopping echoed as they raised their heads. Shortly after, fans shouted as they spotted someone leaning over the hotel rooftop.
"It's Phil Anselmo!"
"Vinnie Paul!"
"It's Geon Kim! Rex Brown!"
Whether cheering or checking below, the sight of band members disappeared as the guitar sound echoed through the fans' ears.
"Jing-jing-ling-jing! Jing-jing-ling-jing!"
"What's that? Where's the music coming from?"
"Maybe it's playing a song because Pantera is here. That's the intro to 'Cowboys from Hell.'"
As fans looked up, they saw Geon playing the White Falcon with one foot on the rooftop's edge.
"Wow! Is he performing live here?"
"It's the White Falcon! It's really Geon Kim!"
"Hey, take pictures! Quickly!"
After a while, a stage rose behind the rooftop. Vinnie Paul sat smiling at the drums on the stage below. Rex Brown climbed the stairs installed beneath the stage, followed by Geon. Looking down from the rooftop, Geon raised his hand, pointing his finger in the opposite direction, and the fans turned their heads.
A small stage rose on the rooftop, and Philip Anselmo appeared, shouting into the microphone.
"Under the lights where we stand tall,"
(Nobody touches us at all)
"Showdown, shootout, spread fear within, without,"
(We're gonna take what's ours to have)
As Philip started singing, the three hundred fans in front of the hotel began to jump with excitement. The surroundings turned chaotic as many people rushed in, and what began as a small concert with three hundred people quickly filled up with over a thousand before the first song ended.
After the first song, fans cheered, looking up at the rooftop. Philip, waving and smiling, spoke into the microphone.
"Welcome to the land of K, South Korea!"
While fans shouted, they were also experiencing goosebumps on their forearms. Pantera played their second song, "Walk," and as they disappeared inside the rooftop, fans who couldn't leave due to their lingering disappointment continued to record videos on their phones. Soon, the helicopter rose again into the sky, prompting the fans to start yelling.
"They were performing! Wow, what manners!"
"Yeah, they came down because they couldn't go to Seoul."
"It's because there's a Korean member, right? It's amazing that a Korean is a Pantera member."
At that moment, a man looking at his phone shouted loudly.
"They're up again!"
People quickly took out their phones and accessed Pantera's social media.
'Daegu Dalseo-gu Duryu Park 01:59:59'
Fans who saw the post on social media shouted.
"It's Daegu! This time it's Daegu!"
"Hey, quickly get the car! If we leave for Daegu now, we might be able to see them again!"
"Hey, how do we get there in two hours?"
"I don't know, let's go for now!"
Fans posted certification photos of Pantera's performance on social media, and it quickly trended. Many people realized the reason for the abrupt disappearance at the airport and witnessed a surge in new followers in Korea. Teenagers and young adults, oblivious to who Pantera was, followed the footsteps guided by social media.
On the 9 PM news that night.
A neatly dressed female anchor greeted the viewers with a slightly excited voice.
"Hello, everyone. This is Lee Ji-yeon on the 9 PM news."
"Today, South Korea has been buzzing all day, all thanks to the American rock group 'Pantera,' who visited Korea."
"They conducted guerrilla concerts by revealing the next concert location on social media two hours before each performance."
"Exactly every two hours, from 11 AM to 9 PM, they performed in a total of five cities. Currently, they are holding a concert at Daejeon Baseball Stadium. Let's meet our reporter, Kim Dae-gi, who is on-site. Reporter Kim Dae-gi."
As the screen switched, the background revealed an excited crowd at the baseball stadium, and the male reporter with a contemplative expression took over the microphone.
"Yes! This is Daejeon Baseball Stadium. The atmosphere here is festive due to the enthusiastic fans. Although Pantera only performed two songs and disappeared, approximately ten thousand fans have gathered here to catch a glimpse of them. The recent performance in Daejeon just ended, and according to their social media, the next concert is scheduled for Incheon Juan Station at 11 PM, causing a large-scale movement of fans in the Incheon area!"
That night, South Korea suffered from a nationwide fever caused by the guerrilla concert that continued until 1 AM. Many people paid attention to them, watching the news that extended into the early morning.
Inside the airplane heading to China.
Watching Vinnie and Rex playing around in first class, Phillip, who was sitting next to Geon, reading a book, spoke.
"Don't you feel a bit sad leaving Korea? Not being able to see your family for a while."
Geon closed the book he was reading and smiled.
"Well, it was still enjoyable. Having Pantera come to our house for lunch, when will I ever experience something like that again?"
Phillip, regaining his appetite, replied, "What was that dish your mother made, the slightly spicy meat? Can you find that in the U.S.?"
Geon nodded, saying, "Bulgogi? Yes, you can find it in almost any Korean restaurant in the U.S."
Phillip swallowed and said, "I could have eaten like crazy if only I knew how to use chopsticks. Do they give forks in American restaurants?"
Geon laughed, "Probably. Haha."
Geon noticed Phillip searching for a Korean restaurant in the U.S. on his smartphone.
"How was the Korean audience, Phillip?"
Phillip put away his smartphone and replied, "Surprising. The sing-along? I didn't know what that was, but I found out properly this time. Seeing 60,000 people singing along to our songs, I was amazed. Rex even missed a note because he was so shocked."
Rex, who was listening nearby, interjected, "You're not surprised? You were surprised too! It's not even a title track, but everyone keeps singing along from start to finish. Knowing all the songs! I've never seen that in the U.S., our main stage."
Vinnie, sipping on cola, added, "Yeah, definitely a country worth visiting again, Korea. Did you see the girls crying when Daryl's video came out? It seems like a country with sensitive emotions. In contrast, the performances in Japan were too quiet. It was awkward, a rock concert but shaking balloons silently without screams."
Phillip, looking at Rex and Vinnie, turned to Geon and said, "But aren't you regretful? We received a bigger cheer than you, K. In your own country."
Geon, seemingly indifferent, smiled and replied, "No, not at all. It's an honor to be with such a great band like Pantera, even for a short while. The guerrilla tour was fun too."
Phillip slapped his knee, laughing. "Right! And that Lin Isa person, really smart. How did he even think of announcing the location just two hours before on SNS? Without any explanation, too."
Geon, looking at Lin sitting at the front, commented, "Yeah. He thought people might not understand the meaning at first, but after the Busan performance, everyone caught on without me having to explain. It became a more powerful message than writing a detailed explanation."
Rex, with an excited expression, interjected, "It was really fun! But did you do a guerrilla tour in China too?"
Vinnie, elbowing Rex, said, "Hey! Korea is small, so it was possible. To do that in China, you'd have to travel by private jet."
Phillip chimed in, "Even with a private jet, it's impossible. Maybe in some regions, but doing it in only certain areas would lead to the resentment of fans in other regions. It's better not to do it."
While the band members continued their conversation, Lin approached them. Seeing Lin's figure walking towards them, Rex swallowed hard, and Vinnie elbowed Rex again.
"Ugh! Why?"
"Shh, hey, you might get hit by that girl, not an ordinary girl."
Lin, standing between the seats, looked around at the group.
"We will arrive at 'Beijing Capital International Airport' in about 20 minutes. I received a message in advance that fans seem to be gathering at the airport, so please be especially careful for safety. The first performance will be held at 'Beijing National Stadium,' and the capacity is about 80,000. We've arranged the stage in the center so that everyone can watch from every seat."
"The second performance will take place at 'Guangdong Olympic Stadium' in Guangzhou. The capacity is similar, and right after the Beijing performance, we'll move by plane. The destination is 'Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.'"
Phillip raised his hand slightly, and Lin signaled him to speak.
"Are there fans gathering at the airport because of us? Why? Because of us?"
Lin smiled and looked at Geon, sitting next to Phillip.
"More for K's popularity than Pantera itself, I suppose?"
Rex raised his eyebrows and said, "K? Is K popular in China?"
Lin, looking at Geon, widened her eyes in surprise.
"Didn't I tell you?"
Geon, silently smiling, shrugged as he replied, "No, not really. It's just as much an honor to be with Pantera as it is to be popular. Guerrilla tours were fun too."
Phillip, Vinnie, and Rex exchanged curious glances, and Geon continued to talk, unfazed.
"Back in high school, I once sang an OST for a drama that became a hit in China. Thanks to that, I had the chance to attend an event there. That's about it. It happened only once."
Philip raised his index finger, expressing disbelief as he spoke.
"Just once? You only went there once, and it wasn't even for activities in China? Yet you're considered one of the most popular Korean stars?"
Geon chuckled, tilting his head.
"Director Lee is just exaggerating. I did gain some popularity, but that's it."
After Lin applauded and got everyone's attention, he spoke.
"You'll understand when you get down. Anyway, please be cautious about safety. We've arranged for Chinese police escort in advance, so it should be fine, but still, be careful, everyone."
As Lin received instructions to return to their seats through the in-flight announcement, their plane descended at Beijing Capital International Airport. After a brief immigration check, Lin turned to the group at the exit of the departure hall.
"Kay has experience, so she knows, but for the rest of you, it's your first time in China. When you go out to the departure hall, fans will gather. The police will maintain a safety line, so just walk through the middle. The car will be waiting right at the end of the line; just get in immediately. It's okay to interact with fans, but don't overly excite them."
Philip, with an expectant expression, nodded as Lin began asking questions in Chinese through the radio.
"Chief, 一名警?. ?准?好了 ? ? ?在退出. (Security team, are you ready? We're exiting now.)"
" 是的, 我准?好了. (Yes, we're ready.)"
As the departure gate opened, Philip, standing at the front of the group, wore a bewildered expression.
"Wha...aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
" 我?? Kay!!!(Love you, Kay!)"
"Uaaahhh!!!! Wowww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Feeling the ground shake from the tremendous cheers, Vinnie and Rex were startled and peeked out.
"What's, what's happening?"
"How many are these? Wow, this country is truly amazing."
Lin looked at the group and said, "Inside the airport, there are twenty thousand, and outside, there are thirty thousand fans. We need to get out as quickly as possible."
After Lin gave instructions to the waiting security guards, they rushed out, and there were security lines set up by the police. While Lin's team ran towards them, guards were stationed in between, and Lin shouted to the group.
"Let's go! We need to run."
Philip and Rex were the first to dash out. With only enough space for three people, Philip and Rex extended their hands, pushing away fans trying to grab them. When Vinnie followed with his large body, Lin, seeing the remaining members, said to the security guards,
"Four guards! Stick close to Kay and escort her out! Now!"
Four guards surrounded Geon, one in front, one on each side, and one at the back, advancing. As they reached the entrance, Philip, Rex, and Vinnie had just managed to secure some space, and they quickly ran out of the airport.
Sighing, Vinnie looked at the overly excited fans outside. Lin turned to the group and said, "There are about twenty thousand inside the airport and an additional thirty thousand outside. We need to get out as quickly as possible."
After Lin issued instructions to the security team, they rushed out, and the police and security guards formed a line, pushing fans away. As Lin saw that the guards had taken their positions, he shouted to the group,
"Let's go! We need to run."
Philip and Rex were the first to dash out. With only enough space for three people, Philip and Rex extended their hands, pushing away fans trying to grab them. When Vinnie followed with his large body, Lin, seeing the remaining members, said to the security guards,
"Four guards! Stick close to Kay and escort her out! Now!"
Four guards surrounded Geon, one in front, one on each side, and one at the back, advancing. As they reached the entrance, Philip, Rex, and Vinnie had just managed to secure some space, and they quickly ran out of the airport.
Sighing, Vinnie looked at the overly excited fans outside. Lin turned to the group and said, "There are about twenty thousand inside the airport and an additional thirty thousand outside. We need to get out as quickly as possible."
Philip and Rex were the first to dash out. With only enough space for three people, Philip and Rex extended their hands, pushing away fans trying to grab them. When Vinnie followed with his large body, Lin, seeing the remaining members, said to the security guards,
"Four guards! Stick close to Kay and escort her out! Now!"
Four guards surrounded Geon, one in front, one on each side, and one at the back, advancing. As they reached the entrance, Philip, Rex, and Vinnie had just managed to secure some space, and they quickly ran out of the airport.
Sighing, Vinnie looked at the overly excited fans outside. Lin turned to the group and said, "There are about twenty thousand inside the airport and an additional thirty thousand outside. We need to get out as quickly as possible."
Philip and Rex were the first to dash out. With only enough space for three people, Philip and Rex extended their hands, pushing away fans trying to grab them. When Vinnie followed with his large body, Lin, seeing the remaining members, said to the security guards,
"Four guards! Stick close to Kay and escort her out! Now!"
Four guards surrounded Geon, one in front, one on each side, and one at the back, advancing. As they reached the entrance, Philip, Rex, and Vinnie had just managed to secure some space, and they quickly ran out of the airport.
Sighing, Vinnie looked at the overly excited fans outside. Lin turned to the group and said, "There are about twenty thousand inside the airport and an additional thirty thousand outside. We need to get out as quickly as possible."
As Philip and Rex expressed their agreement, Lin, looking worried, said, "I hope we can safely reach the hotel, without any trouble."
At that moment, Lin, seated in the front, raised his head and exclaimed,
"Big problem! Fans are blocking the way in front of the hotel!"
Philip stood up in alarm and said, "What? How many are there?"
Lin, massaging his forehead as if in pain, replied, "Fans from inside the airport are also moving. It's hard to estimate, but it might be tens of thousands."
Rex and Vinnie exchanged glances, both looking uneasy.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein