14

28. 01. 2004 Munich
AXXIS

Every year now and then our little town with heart, as Munich is called over here,  appears on the tour schedule of German Rockers Axxis. Okay, maybe, every second year. This time only in an acoustic version. Let's get it straight: - they feel sorry for us, because this time we are not on their normal tour plan together with Pink Cream 69 and Chrystal Ball. But better that way now, than nothing at all. The Saturn Record Shop in Munich, - not in Berlin - Berny, is packed, thanx to our superstars from the north. And these 20 or 30 bavarian provincial rockfans, inclusively the usual shoppers, who are present anyway, are listening to the acoustic versions of "Touch The Rainbow", "Fire And Ice" and "Lost In The Darkness". The whole set is spiced with lots of funny comments of Berny the singer. Why haven't you become a talkmaster yet? We have had a good laugh. 

3 hours later - the second stint at the temple of Munichs Hardrock Heaven  "The Garage" (there's not much more here in this direction).Beeing half empty the scenery ,  all the Axxis Fans listen to the rather poor sound of the venue, but great music. What a shame! The throats are dry like the dessert Gobi in summer,  and the beer is running slowly. Their stomaches are making a noise in a slow fox step. Apart from that, - bavarian accent is difficult, and for our collegues from the north it's like chinese from the Yangtse Ciang valley. However, - the connection is there, and that's most important. Cheers and prost and a jodeling....
Last but not least, I wanna mention the perfect timing, thanx to the rediculous distance of about 50 miles between venue and hotel. Who the hell had this great idea? Sightseeing included. 


Result: an excellent impression of bavarian life style went probably down the drain. Or is it the Spaghetti and the Pizza? Whatsoever, we did like their gig, whether it was the acoustic performance of the visual aspect ( am I right, Girls?) or was it Berny's witty Rock'n'Roll philosophy? One thing's for sure. The magic was there and the new CD "Time Machine" went on sale. And that's really, what's all about it, ain't it?!! Urbi at Orbi, you've got our blessings, but only if you come back soon, despite of the lack of nightlife and the Rockclub conditions. Thanx for the Coke and the real nice final of the night.... The arctic sends a big hello.... Got me?!!!!

                                                                                          

24. 01. 2004 Munich
Hardcore Superstar

Yep, the dolls are dancing... Glamrock is celebrating a reunion- and Back To The Future is becoming the glittering truth. Gemini 5 come on first and shoot their Apollo starship to strawberry heaven first. Similarities remind us on Poison and Guns'n'Roses, shout for Whiskey drunken LSD steam and dream of the sunset strip from 1988. Only difference is the fact, that the new generation has their roots in sweden, - called: "the new wave of swedish glamrock" - Those Gemini Make-up artists go for the glitter style of the glory Eighties, like their music does. To make this vision complete, you find at least five glam girlies standing in the first row with their "All Access To Heaven" - laminets round their neck hangingdown  in front of their big boobs. The motto is: my god, am I important... (as if you need such a thing in this club anyway!!!). But I guess, these bands need image care and christmas juwellery for status symbols...

Hardcore Superstar belong certainly to the most underrated rockbands on this planet. Always standing in the shadow of the Backyard Babys, and still waiting for the big hit. HS practice Sex & Drugs & Rock'n'Roll - at least on stage! Ian Dury looks down from above and gives surely his blessing. Apart from that, HS are a Hurricane, which doesn't leave anybody's eye dry and blow our brain off. Inspired by supergroup Steely Dan - "Bad Sneakers And A Pina Colada" (big hit from SD in the Seventies from their album "Brezllogic) - and christened by Sleazerock, these scandinavians defend their reputation to carry the heritage of T-Rex, Alice Cooper and Steely Dan. 
The Guiness Book of Records is just a question of time. Never ever has a singer and frontman  been so energetic, and not standing still for one second, than this Trent Razner look a like of HS. The miracle to spread the volume of his lungs in an equal amount to his voice and to his body is an artistic highlight. Even to me, who's in this biz for more than 20 years now, - every other band seems slow and tired compared to one  performance of HS. At least for the next three months. 
HS are underground with cult status. HS are a dance on a vulcano. The sunset says hello and these sons of Guns'n'Roses snip wodka from a tea cup, not before mentioning the actual stuff. They don't wanna be called tea enthusiasts, do they?! Tweety, Sylvester and Duffy Duck complete the impression and visual view. It's    show time guys, - hard but with heart, lots of power and Glam beat. And over all, there is Steely Dan. Sorry Boys, those guys are the only ones, who are better than you. But otherwise, let's go for it and save the planet from a salto mortale.....    

                                                                                         

18. 01. 2004 Munich
Gravedigger

No, they don't look like Gravedigger's, do they?! - Those sunnyboys from the Rheinland. Bombast meets Richard Wagner in a second sense and plays poker with Heavy Metal. Whereby they Metal's got an advantage. Nothing against Hero stories, which we really read with interest in all these booklets of the CD's. But Heavy Metal rules the Live Show. Result: The show is the party, and the party is pure Rock'n'Roll. And let's be honest, who is thinking about magical swords and Walhalla, when the rhythm bites your leg and your hair is dancing a waltz. Our Manni, grining like Balu the bear (second from the right) trying to be comfortable. He doesn't do hard, that's for sure. Jimi Hendrix' son is kissing his instrument and tries desperately to defend his status as a hardrocking guitar king.. And even for this, he's able to, despite of his little belly and this cheek smile on his face. The Ring of the Nibelungen is closing round within the Scotish Highlands, sorry, the munich backstage of course, and our Meistersinger from cologne, Chris the Great, is singing this Walhalla with all the strenght he's able to, - just to complete King Arthur's tableround. Okay, we got everything a little bit mixed up here with this symphonic old german/english philosophy. But even that is Rock'n'Roll. As long as Wotan looks down from above and rules the thunderstorm. it's alright. We don't live in ancient times, do we?! We only wanna rock and roll and the Meistersinger looks like sandman (selfdescription of Chris) and this ain't definately no disadvantage.  The big drum beat is underlining the fact. Stephan is completing the circle and looks like Young Siegried because of his big blonde hair and his height. We conquered the dragon and the Rheingold is save. We close the ring and let the Nibelungen rest in their land, and we rock like Elvis with lots of pepper in our a....
Great stuff, boys. Anyway forget the Rheingold, forget the Scotish Highlands inclusively Nessy and it's Loch, the Lorelei and whatsoever. And let sandman do the duty. Yeah this is Rock and Roll. 

PS.: What about Egypts mummy soldiers next time... Chris plays Ramses II, Manni goes for Cleapatra and the rest..... okay okay, it was only a suggestion. 
Anyway, your'e great boys, so or so or just so..... Brunhilde would probably do everything for you.... okay, almost....

                                                                                          

12. 12. 2003 Munich
Nokia Nights Of The Proms


EN VOGUE


JOHN MILES


HUEY LEWIS



TOTO


FINALE