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- What is your name?
Christian Rademaker - Which part of the Netherlands are you from?
The city of Eindhoven about 50km from Baarlo  What do you do in your daily life?
I am the purchasing manager for a company called VDL Enabling Technologies Group. VDL ETG manufactures modules and systems for the high tech industry (ie semiconductor, healthcare and analytical microscopes). Basically every portable electronic device has chips which were manufactured by equipment to which we contributed our technology. In the past I worked for a company famous for light bulbs in Eindhoven and spent a lot of time in working in China and Mexico. Outside of work I am still obssessed with continuously discovering new music, I like watching the usual TV series like Game of Thrones, Californication and British humor/detectives, deep sea diving and I still like going to shows at my tender age of 43. - When did you first get involved with PP Europe?
I have been part of the organising committee since the 2004 edition. Back in in the late 90s I was writing for a magazine called Edge of Time. It was an underground metal magazine (printed and on the web) with a mission to cover original and experimental underground metal music. The magazine was founded in 1993 and the last printed issue came out in the autumn of 2001. Back in 1998 I think it was, I had been in contact with a Lithuanian who was studying in Denmark called Giedrius Slivinskas and he convinced me to start writing reviews and doing interviews after a long hiatus. We had actually met through the Perpetual Motion discussion board and that's where I also got in touch with Rene and Martijn. Giedrius and I went to the first PP back in Tilburg in 1999 and I have been a regular visitor the following years. After the 2003 edition Rene and Martijn asked me if I would like to be part of the organisation after Annemiek van Dijk left. So this is now my 10th year being partly responsible for choosing the bands and doing a lot of behind the scenes work during the festival itself. - What is your role in the PP organisation?
Firstly: cooking.... After each edition finishes we usually take a short break and then Rene and Martijn come to my place every few weeks to listen to CDs of bands who have submitted their material. These sessions are done at my place because it's right in the middle of Tilburg and Baarlo. Listening to music can not be done on an empty stomach so I cook for them. Secondly: making the line-up of bands "heavier". My musical taste has been a bit more extreme than Rene and Martijn so the general tone has changed a bit since the very early days. Thirdly, during the festival itself I do a lot of work behind the scenes: driving back and forth between Sjiwa and the Berckt bringing the bands and gear, showing the bands the dressing rooms, introducing them on stage and making sure they leave the dressing rooms on time for the next band etc. It gives me great satisfaction to help the bands out and its an opportunity to get to know them on a personal level as well. 
- What have been memorable performances from you in the past?
Spiral Architect in 2000 for near prog metal perfection combining influences of my all 3 time prog metal bands Sieges Even., Watchtower and Psychotic Waltz, Zero Hour in 2001 & 2008 because they're great guys and it was Troy's last show in Zero Hour, Heavens Cry in 2002 because it was their first European tour and I had met them back in 2000 when I visited Montreal, Devin Townsend and Alchemist in 2004 because of the sheer intensity, Textures in 2006, Sieges Even in 2007, Pagans Mind in 2008, Memento Waltz and Long Distance Calling 2011, Uneven Structure in 2012, As you will notice, I am not too fond of keyboards and usually more interested in the bands that play before or just after the dinner break. - Why should people visit PP Europe?
A gathering of the tribes.....To be part of a unique gathering of like-minded people who like their music progressive and adventurous. Furthermore if you collect exotic beer cans, want to taste the best Chinese food in the Netherlands, like heated discussions about prog metal during breakfast with people from New Zealand, England and Germany then Baarlo is the place to be in October! - Tell us in 1 sentence what PP Europe means to you?
What puts a smile on my face is when people come up to me and share their enthusiasm in just having seen an awesome live show from a band they've never heard of before, then to see them running off to buy the CD and later on seeing them talking to the band members in the parking lot. - The last words are yours....
We've been doing our best to put together a varied and aurally challenging line-up for our 15th anniversary so I hope it meets the expectations of our critical audience! 
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