I WON A CREEM PRESS PASS

What would you do for your favorite band? Would you fly solo to a country you’ve never been to before, navigate bus transport, and camp out by yourself for the weekend while your parents worry themselves sick about you? Would you tattoo the band’s name on your shoulder—your first tattoo, at age 58? Would you come across the world from your home in Tokyo, wave your custom flag with their logo, and then turn around and head back for work? This weekend at Power Trip festival I met the people who would. The commitment to rock was everywhere!

Fleeting TikTok trends and passing allegiances are a reality for some, but the level of commitment people showed for their favorite hard rock and heavy metal bands was remarkable and refreshing—especially with triple-digit temperatures that were anything but.