We arrived half way through the MAN RAZE set, which featured Phil Colleen from DEF LEPPARD and Paul Cook formerly of the SEX PISTOLS. The music is extremely well played and professionally executed, but to my ears is rather uninspired hard rock. Yes it hits all the right buttons, the songs are well crafted but seems a bit passionless and staid.

So onto the main act of the night, at this point the anticipation in the crowd is very high and it is clear that the band definitely has a friendly audience. The stage is shrouded with a curtain emblazed with Alice’s face and the title of the tour ‘Theatre of Death’, this is torn down and they open with ‘School’s Out’, an obvious opener and the band most of whom are quite young do initially come across as anonymous session musicians, Alice of course is the seasoned entertainer and plays to the crowd as you would expect him to. They blasted their way through ‘I’m 18′ (I guess he has been 18 for many years then!), ‘Welcome to My Nightmare’ and ‘Poison’ all of which were slickly executed if somewhat different from their album versions, in particular ‘Poison’. I felt the set kicked up a gear when ‘Dirty Diamonds’ was played, at this point the backing band seemed to have settled and are genuinely enjoying the performance. ‘Billion Dollar Babies’ follows along with ‘Killer’ and three excellent renditions of ‘I Love the Dead’, ‘No More Mr Nice Guy’ and ‘Got You under My Wheels’, the latter being particularly spot on.

Of course no review of Alice Cooper can ignore the stage show of which never seems to change – fake blood, guillotines, nubile ladies in nurse’s uniforms, and Alice in a rather “fetching” spider costume. To me this is the problem in a way, Alice Cooper is an anachronism, and it’s no longer in anyway shocking or challenging and comes across a bit fey and quaint. Sure its good fun and I suppose that’s all you can expect but I did find at times the stage show got in the way of the music. Overall however I did find the show pretty enjoyable and to be honest that came as quite a surprise. In my opinon they still should have played ‘Freedom’ though.

Rating: 3.5/5

Photography by Alex Shaw(Alice Cooper Photos)

Nobody is enjoying SAXON’s recent resurgence more than frontman Biff Byford, who remains an awesome showman, leading his troops into battle, storming through metal anthems like ‘Never Surrender’ and ‘Heavy Metal Thunder’. The bone-crunching ‘Wichfinder General’ gave a taster of what SAXON have been up to in recent years, and the excellent ‘Hellcats’ was one of two preview tracks played from the forthcoming ‘Into The Labyrinth’ album, due for release in January. ’747 (Strangers in the Night)’ was preferred to ‘Wheels of Steel’ as the set closer, and in 50 minutes, SAXON had delivered a firm reminder of their tremendous metal credentials.

Without fail, every year MOTÖRHEAD tour the UK, and every year, hoardes of fans go and see them for the umpteenth time. Why? Well, Lemmy just never fails to deliver. MOTÖRHEAD are a well oiled live machine, and their raw, heavy brand of rock’n’ roll, just does the business. From the opening bass riff of ‘Iron Fist’, to the frenetic thrashfest ‘Overkill’ - MOTÖRHEAD were fantastic. Despite all the years of rock excesses, and Jack Daniels on cornflakes every morning, Lemmy manages to plod on regardless. His vocals seem to be slightly rougher as each year goes by, but who the hell listens to MOTÖRHEAD to hear great singing? This is a band you listen to in order to lose control and forget about your stresses…just bang your head and rock!

New song ‘Rock Out’ was a real standout, as was ‘Metropolis’ and a typical cynical delivery of ‘Just ‘Cos You Got The Power’. There’s not a lot you can say about MOTÖRHEAD, but they are certainly just as loud and raucous as they ever have been, and while that remains the case, people like me will just keep on going to see them, even if it does mean a good dose of tinnitus for the next week. Long live rock’n'roll!

SAXON Rating: 4.5/5.0

Photography by Alexander Shaw (click here)

'Big City Nights', 'The Zoo', 'Bad Boys Running Wild', 'No One Like You'… the classic arena anthems just kept coming, with the monstrously vocal crowd lapping it up like a desert dog that's just found water. Newie's included the ferocious '321' and impressive set opener 'Hour 1', although given this is the Humanity tour and the track of the tour's very name didn't feature, this was the low point of the night.

With the greatest of respect, SCORPIONS have great songs but the factor that has probably gained them a new wave of fans is not only the Desmond Child penned 'Humanity', but the guest appearance of ex Scorps guitarists Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth. Both virtouso guitar legends in their own right, Roth is the relaxed, hippie type rocker whose adolescent playing bellies his calm persona, while the sleek, rip roaring Schenker, almost surprised by the sheer reception he gets – just does what he does best. Supreme playing and with smile on face, there's no mad axeman antics and no need to be beware of scorpions tonight…and a cover of UFO's 'Doctor, Doctor' acts as the ultimate Schenker homage.    

    
Of course, this is the sign of any great band. Anyone can make an acoustic album or write a killer ballad (maybe even a couple in this case) but coming back with a big time producer/songwriter and bringing in legendary special guests is just the ticket for a box office killing. Indeed, with the added layers of Schneker and Roth respectively, the German rockers show off their reflective side beautifully,
the likes of 'Fly To The Rainbow' & 'Still Loving You' in particular done compelling justice.

Of course, A bit like an overwhipped fairy cake, SCORPIONS stage presence is to be taken, in good old fashioned German tradition, lightly. Whether its the whole band nicking their drummers kit and playing
along on an insanely energetic drum solo or a the enormous computer backdrop displaying the encore message of DO YOU WANT MORE? its all jolly good fun. In spite of the 7,000 drumsticks (or so it seemed) they threw into the crowd, my butterfingers never managed to get one – nearly as criminal a crime as not pocketing a plectrum at a YNGWIE MALMSTEEN gig… 

SCORPIONS Setlist: Hour 1 / Coming Home / Bad Boys Running Wild / The Zoo / No Pain No Game / Coast to Coast / Holiday / Lovedrive / Another Piece of Meat / In Trance / Fly To The Rainbow / Loving You Sunday Morning / 321 / Dynamite / Blackout / Big City Nights / Still Loving You / No One Like You / Doctor, Doctor / Rock You Like a Hurricane

           
      
Ratings:

SCORPIONS: 4.7/5.0

ULI JON ROTH: 4.3/5.0

Review by Andy Law

Photography by Alexander Shaw

ULI JON ROTH

SCORPIONS

From the opening track 'Cradle of Love' working through classic after classic including 'Flesh for fantasy', 'Dancing with Myself' and of course 'White Wedding' the Manchester crowd were lapping this one up. The new track 'John Wayne' went down just as well as the classics, at which point after another classic, the brooding 'Sweet Sixteen' Steve Stevens showed just why he is regarded as one of the greatest guitar players ever with a 10 minute solo spot, guitar heaven!

'Eyes Without a Face' slowed the tempo and allowed for a quick wardrobe change for Billy then on with the show. By 'Blue highway' Billy was dripping sweat – none of the women seemed to mind him showing off his chest, just like the 80's hey day!

Steve Stevens was at ease playing his guitar behind his head, which he did on nearly every solo, of which there were plenty for him to show off his considerable talent.

The legendary Doors song 'LA Woman' was next up, a longtime classic cover by Billy who sings this song like he owns it, and you can certainly hear just how close Billy's style is to that of the late great Jim Morrison. This song was dedicated to the women of Manchester and became 'Manchester Women'.

Billy Idols voice was spot on throughout the show, he looks and sounds as he did 20 years ago and has aged far more gracefully than many of the stars from his era. The encore sent the crowd crazy once more with the classics 'Hot in the city' (Hot in Manchester and never have truer words been spoken!) 'Speed' and 'Mony Mony' finished off the 2 hour set – a set that really was up to the standards that we have come to expect from Billy, and reflected in the track listing of his latest compilation 'The Very Best Of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself'.

A hot night in the city, and from the reaction of the women in the crowd a few wet seats left behind in the Manchester Apollo tonight!

Setlist: Cradle of Love / Dance with Myself / Flesh for Fantasy / White Wedding / John Wayne / New Future Weapon / To Be a Lover / Sweet Sixteen / World Comin' Down / Eyes without a Face / Blue Highway / L.A. Women / Ready, Steady, Go / Rebel Yell / Hot in the City / Speed / Mony, Mony

Rating: 4.3/5.0

Review and Photography by Alexander Shaw