What better way to kick off the weekend, with a Friday night special, together with best friends, listening to Michael Schenker, one of my favorite guitar players of all times, with a playlist – and a tour of course – dedicated to his tenure with the great English band UFO, a band which influenced so many others, especially during his time with them. And it has been a long awaited evening, taking into consideration that UFO is a special band for me, having discovered them when I got a bit older and had the potential to fully realize what a great band has been!
I must admit that a weird thing happened, at least to m y humble knowledge: while planning for this gig, I was not aware that there would be 2 (!) support bands before Schenker. There was not an announcement from the official organizers, and the event page was never updated. That said, we arrived at Kägelbanan in Stockholm a bit after the doors were supposed to be open for the public and suddenly found ourselves towards the middle of the first support band. Unfortunately, I could not see them from the beginning to fully enjoy their sound, but I must say that the Norwegian band Invasion played very well. With their dynamic performance, loud sound and heavy rock melodies, they pleased the audience and warmed up the atmosphere. It is definitely a band with promising future within the melodic hard rock scene and it’s worth checking them out. (apologies for a missing picture)
The second support act continued the “Norwegian invasion”, the Stargazer delivered the goods, with their classic melodic hard rock and very heavy riffs, played a really nice show. Inspired from the classic 80s melodic rock scene, the distinctive vocals and heavy riffs is their trademark. Although their sound did not come through very clear, as there were some inconsistencies, I must admit that it was a very enjoyable show from their side. I am sure that I will catch them again somewhere in Scandinavia.
Anticipation for the highlight of the night was growing as more and more people gathered for a full house in Kägelbanan, a surprise to some, but I can’t say that I did not expect it. After all, any Michael Schenker gig is a major attraction, adding also to the fact that this tour is a special one, with a special playlist, etc. ‘Natural Thing’ kicked off the show and the crowd is already feeling majestic! The white Gibson flying V does magical things and the audience is getting frenzy. All the classic UFO tunes are here: ‘Hot N Ready’, ‘Doctor Doctor’, ‘This Kid’s’, you name it. The whole band is in great form, and, although this tour was coming to an end, they all played like there is no tomorrow, with huge energy, passion and leaving nobody unhappy.
Roberto Dimitri Liapakis (known as ‘Lia’) performed all classics really well, with a distinctive honor to be fronting the “My Years with UFO” tour, I haven’t seen him before, but I have to give him a lot of credit. Bodo Schopf on drums, Steve Mann on rhythm guitars, keyboards and backing vocals, and Barend Courbois on bass, all well-known artists from other bands/projects and also old friends of Schenker, did delivered the goods in a professional and joyful way.
Michael Schenker and UFO is a relationship that has gone through a lot of paradoxes, tensions, good and bad times throughout these years. I believe that nobody can deny that the albums they did with Schenker on lead guitar in the 70s are their best ever made and they are the fans favorites of course. The live album “Strangers in the Nights”, recorded in 1978 and released in 1979 was the final of a fantastic era, where the band reached their peak and unbelievable heights of stardom and fame in both continents. This live album is, to my humble opinion, one of the best live albums ever by a rock band. Therefore, contributing to such a major thing and building on the UFO legacy, we the fans are able now to enjoy him playing live the songs he co-wrote during those years. It was an emotional moment when he dedicated one of the songs (If I am not mistaken it was ‘Shoot Shoot’) to Pete Way and Paul Raymond (RIP both). Of course, ‘Rock Bottom’ has probably my favorite Michael Schenker guitar solo and it was the highlight of the night.
Feeling blessed to be able to have seen such a legend and a guitar idol for me, playing songs from one of my all time favorite bands, I mean, expectations were exceeded and surpassed way beyond. Definitely a night to remember! Till next time ‘Mad Axeman’!
Live Report, Videos and Pictures
by Antonis Mantzavinos
Playlist:
- Natural Thing
- Only You Can Rock Me
- Hot ‘n’ Ready
- Doctor Doctor
- Bass Solo
- Mother Mary
- I’m a Loser
- This Kid’s
- Lights Out
- Drum Solo
- Instrumental Medley
- Love to Love
- Let It Roll
- Can You Roll Her
- Reasons Love
- Rock Bottom
- Shoot Shoot
- Too Hot to Handle
