Scorpions - Humanity: Hour 1

"Like coming home...to Newcastle, Britannia!"
The Carling Academy, Newcastle, was packed to bursting point on Sunday the 12th of October; the room spilling over with energy. Having been around for over forty year, the band has established a large fan base; tonight the venue is more crowded than it has been in a while.

The set list had been voted for by the fans, and the last song, 'Rock You Like A Hurricane', was played with just as much enthusiasm as the first. The connection with the audience was unbelievable, while they squabbled over drum sticks, and an after show party was thrown upstairs with the band in the Academy 2 room.

Hailing from Hanover, Germany, the band have been together since 1965 (the line-up varying over the years) and their first album, Lonesome Crow, released in 1972. With a total of 21 albums released to date, they are most famed for their powerful anthems such as 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' (Love At First Sting, 1984), 'Still Loving You', 'Holiday' (Lovedrive, 1979) and 'Wind Of Change' (Crazy World, 1991). The lyrics of 'Wind Of Change' celebrate the fall of the Berlin wall and the political changes going on in Eastern Europe at the time. The world tour they are on at the moment is to promote their latest album, Humanity: Hour 1.

Songs played that normally involve front man, Klaus Meine, playing extra guitar parts saw Michael Schenker joining the band onstage to play the parts. Michael Schenker is guitarist of the support band MSG and younger brother of rhythm guitarist and Scorpions founder, Rudolf Schenker. MSG - Michael Schenker Group - often support Scorpions on tour.

Drummer, James Kottak, seemed particularly enthusiastic during the performance that night; launching into an explosive drum solo while the other members took a short break. He had even taken the trouble to sign drum skins and drum sticks, which were sold with other merchandise. Kottak seemed especially in tune with the crowd and knew exactly the right words and gestures that made the audience scream (Brown Ale anyone?)

For a band with over 40 years of experience, you would expect them to be loosing their edge a little. But no, (according to my Mum), they're just as powerful and passionate as they were fifteen, twenty years ago. Judging from the evening's performance it's going to be a long, long time before they're shuffling onstage with Zimmer frames and flat caps.