Catch Scorpions on their current US tour in support of their latest release Humanity Hour 1 and you will find they certainly still have their sting!
Led by Klaus Meine (vocals), Rudolf Schenker (guitars) and Matthias Jabs (lead guitar, voice box, vocals) -- who have been together since 1980’s Animal Magnetism -- they are strongly supported by very talented drummer / backing vocalist James Kottak (who has his own band, Kottak) and Pawel Maciwoda on bass. They really are on top of their game!
Aging Gracefully
Scorpions last played Detroit four years ago, with two very strong opening acts (Whitesnake and Dokken) in a much smaller venue. This night they had little known act Arlen opening, which may have explained why the venue was only just over half full. But that might also be because unemployment in Michigan is pretty high right now, and concert tickets aren't one of life's necessities.
Think about it. Scorpions' first album was released back in 1972. It's incredible to me that Klaus' voice has survived these many years on the road. He is one of the longest serving rock vocalists still touring today.
They open with their latest album's opener, "Hour 1," a seriously dark, metallic track, but the crowd is right behind them and these guys seriously rock, and the sound is good to support it.
Classic "Bad Boys Running Wild" follows. Hey, don’t waste anytime guys! Rock it out!
They stop for a few minutes to say 'Hi' to the crowd. Both the band and the crowd are obviously in great spirits!
Next we get "Love 'Em Or Leave 'Em" from 2004's Unbreakable, which leads right into the fans' favorite, "The Zoo," sounding as good and tight as ever!
"Deep and Dark" -- also from Unbreakable is up next, before their great instrumental, "Coast To Coast" from 1979's Lovedrive album. This is so good!
Time to slow things down a little here, as the acoustic guitars come out and they start the opening strains of "Send Me An Angel." The crowd is singing along so well that Klaus hands it over to us to help out on the chorus!
Serious Tail is Kicked
Next is "Holiday," about halfway through which Klaus teases with the crowd as the rest of the band is putting down the acoustic guitars and launching into the second part of the song that rocks out. And they are seriously kicking butt tonight!
It's time for another new song -- "Humanity" -- which starts kind of slow and Queen-like but really gets into the rock groove before too long. It's a very strong track off the new album.
A real favorite of mine, "Make It Real" is up next and it sounds as fresh as ever.
"Tease Me, Please Me" (from Crazy World) really has the crowd fired up. Then new track "3-2-1" follows. This is a real catchy rocker that could make a good single, but then I could say that about most of the tracks on the new album.
Next, the three veterans hand the stage over to the newer boys, as we get a bass solo, supported by James Kottak giving some backbeat, then James fools around some on the drums too. These guys are no slackers! Have to say, it’s kind of a shame that they did this, though. They could've played a few more well-known tracks that we didn't realize until the end, weren't going to be played.
That said, there was no mistaking the next classic with the title track of 1982's Blackout. Killer!
No holds barred now as they rip through two more classics, "Big City Nights" and "Dynamite" to close the main set. It was a humid night already, and with this much classic hard rocking stuff, it got really hot!
There was no way they wouldn't come back out and, sure enough, they do so with the beautiful "Still Lovin’ You."
Out Like a Hurricane
OK, they're out to finish with a bang, with "No One Like You" and encore closer, "Rock You Like A Hurricane." This was a great night and they're taking their bows at the end and are starting to walk off when they decide to come back for a second encore.
They mess around a little with some punchy power chords and we're looking at each other thinking, 'What’s this? Not familiar stuff.' Then they start playing something a little laid back. I can't quite nail down, then it hits me -- "When The Smoke Is Going Down." Awesome!
It was about a two-hour set and I don't believe anyone was disappointed. I certainly didn't see many folks leaving early. But we didn't get some real classics that they've played every time I've seen them before. No "Lovedrive" -- that's unreal! No "Loving You Sunday Morning" and no "Coming Home" either. Other people said they were surprised they didn't play "Wind Of Change" or "Don't Stop At The Top." But you know these guys must get tired of playing the same songs night after night, week after week, month after month, year after year. So I can't blame them really, and if they put on an awesome two-hour show like this anywhere that I get to see them, I can't complain.
Scorpions are a great live band that is still really cookin’. All I can tell you is, miss them at your peril! A great live show and even without other classics, these guys are totally worth 5 out of 5 this night. They did, indeed, rock us like a hurricane!
