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GIG GALLERY Photos by Lee Millward

SCORPIONS
Manchester Apollo, 15 October 2008

This was the third gig in the Scorpions latest UK tour, consisting of just six gigs and promoting their latest studio offering "Humanity-Hour 1", with the promised appearance of Michael Schenker to guest on several tracks was a much anticipated bonus, the set list was voted on by the public, so everyone had their chance to get their favourite tracks played.

First up was support act, Uli Jon Roth, who played with the scorp's on their first four studio albums and on the famous Live double album "Tokyo Tapes" in 1978.

Playing material from his latest album "Under a Dark Sky", the band offered two lead singers, Mark Boals and Liz Vandalls who swapped roles and harmonized perfectly on the intricately crafted tracks.

Uli as always the consummate guitar maestro, demonstrated his virtuosity on the massive 18 minute opus "Tanz in die Dammerung" off the new album and finished off the set with the superb "We'll Burn the Sky" and "The sail of Charon" from the Scorpions 1977 album"Taken by Force", all in all a great set with great playing and great songs!

The crowd were ready for the appearance of the main act and as the lights went down the anticipation in the crowd was electric, first onstage was Rudolph Schenker, blasting into "Coming Home", as the rest of the band ran onstage, the huge screen behind the band lighting up with the band's name and the lights under the drum riser lighting up the crowd.

The Scorpions have such stage presence after so many years on the rock scene, they whipped the crowd into action throughout the entire set, with singer Klaus Meine throwing drum sticks into the outstretched arms of the crowd, Rudolph Schenker and Matthias Jabbs getting the crowds excitement up with brilliant lead and rhythm playing.

The set consisted of a wide range of old and new material, the title track from the latest album "Hour 1", was incredibly powerful and had the crowd going wild; as promised half-way through the set the appearance of Rock Guitar Supremo "Michael Schenker", raised the crowd to new highs, playing "The Zoo, Lovedrive, Holiday and Another Piece of meat", from the "Animal Magnetism" and "Lovedrive" albums, Schenker as ever the guitar hero played brilliantly and it was a rare treat to see him beside Rudolph Schenker and fellow guitarist Matthias Jabbs, the crowd loved it and seemed disappointed when he left the stage.

Another highlight was a brilliant drum solo by James Kottak, with the rest of the band joining him on other percussion instruments to yet again work the crowd who by now were being fed water by security staff.

The rest of the set consisted of a variety of tracks from the huge catalogue of songs they have, remember that the band has been around since their first album in 1972 with Michael Schenker and was founded by Rudolph Schenker in, believe it or not, 1965, this gives them an enormous amount of material to draw from.

As the band exited the stage the words "DO YOU WANT MORE?" lit up the huge screen, to the delight of the crowd, who immediately responded.

Uli Jon Roth joined them for the encore playing "In Trance" and "Fly to the Rainbow", the final treat was in store for the exhausted crowd in the form of Michael Schenker joining the band again and along with Matthias Jabbs and Uli Roth on guitar, burst into an unexpectedly brilliant rendition of classic UFO track "Doctor Doctor", Schenker yet again raising the roof with his playing.

All in all it was a brilliant gig, with Uli Roth appearing at the back of the hall to sign autographs and meet the fans, if you've got tickets then you're in for a brilliant night, if not listening to the latest album should help!!!


Review by Michael Dalziel

Photos by Lee Millward

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