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25. 8. 2004 Munich
 Velvet Revolver

eh, eh, eh....i didn't know it better,- then i'd get lost in halucinations, that Freddy Mercury has returned from eternity and Nirvana. But first of all, there ain't any return tickets from Nirvana, and our good old Freddy is not  immortal, except maye his spirit in "We Are The Champions" and "We Will Rock You". Now, perhaps this crazy village People policeman up there is the long time lost twinbrother or the recarnation of the Queen singer, who knows. Okay, okay, seriously, I don't believe in esoteric rubbish or neither in parapsychological irreallities. And acutally nintynine percent of the fans are here tonight, because of only one reason, to play with the illusion Guns'n'Roses are back again to celebrate another Welcome to the Jungle. No, don't worry.... Of course we all know, that this band up there is Velvet Revolver. And this here is not Axl Rose, but a certain Scott Weiland, who used to be in Stone Temple Pilots. But fact is, that three of the roses from the past cultband are with him as well, and let us drown in within this imagination, the lost children have found their way back home. The only problem occuring is , that Velvet Revolver have as much in common with Guns'n'Roses as Elvis with Freddy Star.And the frontman is a crotesque copy of Freddy Mercury. At least, what's up to the appearance and the unequivocal movements. Help me! - A beanpole is a fat dumbling compared to this individual up there, who plays his part dressed in  silver glitterpants and showing his physical conditions by almost breaking into two pieces. But he's got aura, I have to give him that, - much more than all three ex-Guns'n'Roses Brothers together.

And so the euphoria in the beginning what's up to Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum is changing into total surrender to this starving asparagus Gary Glitter, who is encouraged to hide the local dreadful sound conditions with selfpromotion. He has already celebrated one victory at the start of this european tour, in form of the postboning of his drugs rehab 'till after the tour. Yes, we call it victory of the authorithies. And Scott's celebrating another victory here and now over these fans here - alone. It seems, that the three Gunners and one more guitarist who actually doesn't seem to be here, are only neccessary utensils. This shouting for Slash has silenced almost immidiately. And you won't find Guns'n'Roses flair. You rather feel an alternative espirit, which is only interrupted by somehow known guitar riffs. "And if there will be one more beerbeaker thrown on stage, we stop the show", our wanna-be-Freddy is yelling . With only one album so far, which has reached platin status already, this band is pushing themselves in a sort of superstar status, which the actually don't have. Got me?! Blown up from the business and the media and the Guns'n'Roses pasttime bonus Velvet Revolver enjoys the celebration. The motto is: never mind, what they are doing up there on stage, most important is, the hat of Slash is sitting straight on his head. But apart from all these aspects, it is not clear, if the huge amount of audiance is actually able to follow the show conciously. Squashed like oilsardinas, and thanx to the fast, that the venue, which is made for 1.100 units, fits in 1.800 people tonight, the concentration of the fans is fighting between selfdefence and enjoying the gig inclusively an almost unbearable saune effect. But never mind, up there are three glorified cultfigures and one ofendend  bird of paradise, who is actually taking the shit outta us. Because as some of us know, Mr. Weiland is happily married to a partner who is actually female. Anyway, if one day, he doesn't wanna e a singer anymore, he could easily work as travesty artist. - 

Deliberately the band avoids Guns'n'Roses material and plays mainly the songs of their CD "Contraband", exept one peculiar soundmix version, where we just about recognize some cords of "Welcome To The Jungle". But again - never mind.... We have never been so close to Slash, Duff and Matt, at least what's up to the room distance and Scotty is beaming us up with his irresistable in this steaming pot, unable to get outta there. 
The show is over and much too short with 75 minutes playing time, but the attitude says, - be glad, that you actually saw us playing here. And the pseudo superstars or should I say, one day flies, are vanishing in their limousines into an unknown future. And what's up to the immortal status, - so I guess, Freddy has got a little advantage in this case and is smiling from cloud 9. But who knows, maybe one day, Axl Rose and the others smoke the peacepipe again and Velvet Revolver rename themselves into Guns'n'Roses again.... sorry, - that was only a mindshot of mine.....

                                                                                                                        more pictures  h e r e
Oh, before I forget...there was of course a support act as well...and their name was Backyard Babies. In the shade of the pseudoculties, the four swedes are struggeling their souls out of their bodies to get at least a little recognition. They do partly, but the magic of a normal performance by the Backyard Babies gets lost tonight within magnetic aura of Velvet Revolver. Although the chances for survival are 150 to1 for the swedish rockband, I presume. Please come back soon boys, but as headliner, It suits you better. Today the sinking of the Titanic has repeated and the swedish vikingship unfortunately has been destroyed somehow by the iceberg Velvet Revolver due to the high expectation of the audiance to the headliner. And this is simply not fair....a great rockband not receiving the well deserved respect..... it just can't be right..... So, what? -


                                                                                               


9. 8. 2004 Munich
 Tito & Tarantula

Arriva!!! And there we are again, back from the deepest Mexico....okay, okay, at least spiritually... because exept Tito himself, none of the other bandmembers have mexican blood in their veins. It's quite a few years ago now, since Tito & Tarantula shot to fame with their appearance in the vampire shock movie "'From Dust 'Till Dawn". And time left it's toll what's up to popularity, which has lost it's sparkle over the past months and years. Since "After Dark" and "Angry Cockroaches", the -now American - could never manage to catch a big fish like this again. And not even his friend Quentin Tarantino were able to help out. It's a pity, because Tito is still very temperamtental, and truly good. Don't give a damn about the sometimes painful feedback of the amps, and we don't give a damn about Tito's voice, which reminded us more on a coughing crow than mexican life pleasure. Speedy Gonzales is finished, totally exhausted in the end. The energy is spillt, maybe due to the fact, that Tito's weight has dropped down at least 25 pounds since we saw him last time. However it suits him. Andalusia is the topic, and english lyrics varies with mexican life philosophie. Nobody catches the last one anyway, but who cares.

  Tito is fighting with himself, with his voice and he gets himself some help out of the audiance to assist him when singing. Within this venue, hell couldn't be more mad, hot and crazy than in the Titty Twister Club in the movie. The earth is shacking and quacking, and everybody not moving yet, gets pulled in in the mad crowd. The highpoint is reached with "Angry Cockroaches", Tito's biggest hit, and it probably will stay that. - Tito is finished, the fans are finished in ecstasy, although the desire for more is stronger, and Tito is asking a very last time - "Should I Stay, Or Should I go". I belive, no matter what the answer would be, if he had stayed or is gonne, - he would not have sung one more tune. And you know what? - On the whole it was really overwhelming, exhilarating, chilling and absolutely great. The abolute 150% satisfaction of a truly well done concert evening has left some aftermath on me in form of a bloody hoarseness of mine... wonder where I caught that from....?


                                                                                                       


2. 8. 2004 Wörgl / Austria
 DIO









Some say, when you're 66. life is starting. At least it's said in a german popsong. Now, Ronnie James Dio has still got four years time to go before starting his - at least nineth life. And this tenor of Heavy Metal still doesn't  seem tired, even his face rather reminds us on a... okay forget it.... But he's one of the nicest people in this biz. That's for sure. What's up to the physical condition, he's still up to date. Ronnie, - have you ever thought about to take part at the marathon at the Olympic Games in Athens? The chances wouldn't be bad, would it?! A new album is on the way as well.... But even one or the other new tune finds it's way into the setlist, it is still the old Hits, which gets our tyrolean hardrock specialist from behind the oven.  "Don't Talk To Strangers", (my personal fave as well by the way) as well as "The Last in Line", which are milestones 20 years old but still fashionable. And Ronnie ain't egoistic. 

He lets Rainbow rise up with "Man On The Silver Mountain and "Long Live Rock'n'Roll", and one diamond leads to another. With guitarist Greg Goldie and bassist Rudi Sarzo in the back, mini troubadour (physically) leaves no requests open, all in the style of Eightees Sentimentality. The only negative aspect is the almost unbearable heat, which exchanges the venue into a highspeed oven just like - hotter than hell. - And all this by a sold out performance. And at the finale encore "Holy Diver" - the question is, - who has lost more calories, the Hardrock magician or the lot of us down there in the audiance. However, we're happy, we're pleased and thank the Master of The Moon once more of many times before, for a brilliant performance and hope, he will be back several times again, before he gets 66.