KARLA TALLAS - SHARED TREASURES HARD ROCKER | Page 2

HARD ROCKER
BREAKING SEASON
It’s December 15, 2007 and I’m enjoying a day
off during the ongoing tour for the American
band W.A.S.P., where I’m working at several
shows as the tour manager for the Czech
support band KREYSON. At that time W.A.S.P.
had the same booking agent as DORO, who
also served as her manager. We had already
been working together for a few years and our
relationships were in friendly spirits, so that’s
why I had a chance to book KREYSON for some
gigs abroad. I’m on my way to the northern
part of Germany, to Düsseldorf’s Philipshalle,
where the Metal Christmas meeting is taking
place with the headliners W.A.S.P., SAXON
and DORO later that night. I’m sharing some
deep emotions connected with my inner
dissatisfaction about the situation of my life
with a friend of mine on the way there. I feel
unfulfilled because of my underused potential.
Even though I’m collaborating with some
bands, promoters, and festivals, I strongly feel
I need a change. There are not so many rock
magazines on the Czech market, which is a very
small market. It seems like I had already used
up all the possibilities there. I start thinking
about writing a review of the Christmas event
and offering it to the Polish HARD ROCKER
magazine. I had already known Bart Gabriel, the
editor-in-chief, from various music events. So I
send him a message with my offer to become
an editor for his magazine. He immediately
answers back with some nice compliments –
that I’m experienced and good enough, and
whether it would be better for me to start
thinking about having my own magazine. He
offers me the license for the Czech version of
HARD ROCKER. After reading those words, I felt
like a light bulb flashed in front of my eyes right
away. Since that moment, I couldn’t think about
anything else. When we arrived to the venue, I
ran straight to Doro and eagerly presented the
news to her. She supported me and said: “Go
for it, this is what you have always wanted to
do anyway.” It was that moment that I decided
my life’s new journey.
A few days later, all the necessary steps for
bringing my much dreamed-of magazine to
life were already in process. I accepted the
collaboration license because I could decide
about the materials myself, use original work
and create articles and columns with my own
team. Also, the name HARD ROCKER already
had a good reputation and was internationally
known by several promoters and recording
companies. Another version could make it
even stronger. I wasn’t afraid about lacking
any material, because I had a lot of good
connections in the music business myself.
Deep down I was more worried about the Czech
mentality and trying not to be overwhelmed
by it. The situation around me wasn’t very
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