The World Champions in 2008 are from England! No, I’m not talking about the soccer world cup (that was won in 1966) I’m talking about the Emergenza International Festival in Germany! GLORIA CYCLES walked away with the top price and were crowned world champions. They came all the way from Brighton, Sussex to take the stage by storm. When announced, these 3 boys and 1 girl, jumped like they had jet springs under their feet! But let’s go through it back to front… The fifth qualifying band was from Sydney: THE VANDOLLS. Fourth place went to THE NOVELESTILO from Japan. Third went to A MATCH FOR THE CURIOUS all the way from Canada. The second place went to Dutch band THE MAD TRIST and first… drum-roll please… IT’S GLORIA CYCLES! Ok, we told you that already but we wanted to let you know that all the bands were absolutely brilliant!!!!! “THE CYCLES”, still shocked from the announcement, rushed to the main stage, which is as big as a soccer stadium (I know, another soccer reference) where they kicked the Taubertal Festival punters in the face with their driven pop rock set that made thousands of people go nuts…When the giant screen flashed a 50 foot tall Gloria Cycles, we knew that this was the right band. The jury, which included Ronald Bood and Mr. Terry Marshall himself (yes, that Marshall… the Number 1 amplifier maker on the planet) voted for the English band without any second thoughts. The band was rushed off the main stage and quickly taken back stage to the press tent for an interview with a national radio…If Andy Warhol said everybody has 15 minutes of fame he was wrong in his case because this has been a mad week –end for this incredible band… And so another year has gone and many, many gallons of beer have been drank back stage…can we please do it again next year???? Compliments to all the musicians taking prizes and all bands that played………ROCK ON!!!!!