Product: Scorpions: Live at Wacken Open Air 2006 (2008)
Rating: 5.0
bad boys running wild . . .
One of the longest running acts in heavy metal, the Scorpions, celebrate both their long history, and some of their most beloved past members, in this 2006 performance at the famed Wacken outdoor arena in Hamburg, Germany. Billed as `A Night to Remember, A Journey Through Time', the 138 minute performance features guest appearances by past members Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker and Herman Rarebell. The set list was partially based on input from the fans, and features many of the classics, with a few surprise selections.The departure of Ulrich Roth in 1978, was a turning point in the band's history, and under the creative direction of singer Klaus Meine, and guitarist Rudolf Schenker, and with the contributions of Mathias Jabs on lead guitar, Scorpions found commercial success in the 80's. Given the past, the presence of Roth is one of the highlights of the evening. The Scorpions open the show alone, and then bring Roth onstage for `Pictured Life'. `Speedy's Coming' takes you back to Roth's earliest times, and he really cuts loose on `We'll Burn the Sky'. The sound of Roth's Sky guitar is at times rather thin, and isn't always well heard. The sound mix is good but not great. At times, the highs don't seem to cut through like they should, and Klaus's vocals are sometimes drowned out.Roth departs, and after a few more songs, Michael Schenker is brought on, doing a very slowed down version of Coast to Coast, where Klaus also joins in on guitar. Big brother Rudolf shows off his skills on an acoustic flying V, on a very resonant version of Holiday, where the guitars really are heard. The editing style that is characterized by cuts every few seconds, gets annoying after a while. Although the presentation includes a wide variety of views, the video is often not that sharp. Again good, but not great. Lovedrive, and Another Piece of Meat finishes Michael's featured portion of the show, during which, due to the editing, he really isn't seen very much. When the guitar player isn't given appropriate screen time when soloing, there's an issue.It's very cool to see Herman Rarebell join the band to play drums on Blackout and No One Like You. For Blackout, Rudolph dons a mask with forks in the eyes, like the Blackout album cover, and plays a guitar that emits smoke through exhaust pipes. Give the man some credit for showmanship, as the rest of the band is doesn't do too much to spice things up.Matthias Jabs, solid throughout the performance, with his signature screams, squeaks, and squeals, then takes the stage for a short guitar solo, before taking the band into `Big City Nights'. Rudolph's classic guitar solo is lost in the editing. `Still Loving You' is almost magical when performed live, with more emotion from Rudolph's guitar in the outro.Uli, Michael, and Herman all return for two more numbers. `In Trance', is an another journey way, way back, and features some impressive work by Roth and Jabs. Probably the most curious number is `Bolero', which not only features lots of Uli's guitar, but also Rudolf performing a headstand onstage. The performance winds up with the appearance on a mechanical scorpion on stage, followed by a rousing version of `Rock You Like a Hurricane'.The special guests, and songs from the 70's and 80's, are excellent reasons to check out this performance. The choppy editing detracts from the enjoyment, and the sound mix could have been better at times, but the performance is still well worth seeing, as the Scorpions are very much in synch, playing for over two hours. Klaus Meine's voice is still one of the finest, and the evening is a marvelous journey through the band's long history.