... and the road to hell is a road to triumph concerning this absolute sold out Fairwell Tour. He ain't very well, as we all know, but still well enough to pull through this last tour. Probably it was his own biggest wish, who gave him the strength for this. And the fans thank him with a warm welcome and lots applause. You'd call this standing ovations. But we stand anyway. Even this concert is rather ment for a seated audiance. It's the blues, he is devoted to, this dark sonor voice, which causes a cold shiver downside your neck, or is it that brilliant guitar playing impressing us so much ?  Or is it the slight flowing sadness, which is so typical for Chris Rea's music. No, it's not a dowhill rockin' race. It's rather those soft tunes, which crawl up into our brains and get stuck there. Only now and then, the old rocker energy is exploding and his guitar develops it's own life. And that's the moment, when the audiance is getting high. I can't really spot it from the back, but I'm pretty sure, that he's got some teardrops in his eyes right at this moment. Chris ain't no man ob many words, he's never been. He rather let the music do the talking. 'julia', 'Auberge' and, yep of course 'The Road To Hell' and tons of Blues. 'On The Beach' crowns the final of this nostalgic trip. 

But there is one weak point at this gig here indeed. The place is too crowded, too many people, too hot. There is no chance of getting through to the front, no movement possible, and I stop counting the mostly female fans fainting. Thanks to the early start of the gig without support act at 8 p.m. I miss my photographic presence for the first 3 songs. 

But at least we have seen Chris Rea playing live once more here tonight. He has become quite skinny and very pale. But he gives everything. Probably because it's his last tour, a last fair well for the fans, who hopefully remember this here for another while. But most of all, that we all remember these beautiful songs of the artist, who certainly contributed a lot to the music history. Chris Rea has sold 22 Mill. records. And last november his monumental product came out named: "Blue Guitars" including 11 albums full of blues. 
Because of health reasons, he's saying good bye now to the stage, but it doesn't mean, this is the end. He's currently writing a book and want to build his own studio, and he takes part on a new band project. Only on a solo path, - the road to hell -  we won't get to see the 54year old english musician again. That's why say thank you for everything, good bye, it was wonderful and please take care about you. Life is going on! 

So, if you wanna know, what real energy feels like, then you better go to a gig of Clawfinger. Holy shit, this here going on on stage, is almost as wild  and crazy as a performance of the Exploited. Though it's not really punk, what this band is playing here, but rather a weard mixture of Heavy Metal, paired with sort of rap tunes, which are perfectly connected with each other and again are more heavy lasting  than anything else. So what? - some of you might ask. To describe it more simple: Clawfinger have found their individual style,  they have built up over the past 13 years. Frank Zappa is the idol of singer and frontman Zak Tell. Though and again, Clawfingers music has nothing in common with Zappa. It's like comparing Andrea Boccelli with Rammstein. The only thing which might be in the slightest sense related is this weard mood within these tunes here. 

Please remember, this band has managed to play all the other acts on to the wall at last year's Deep Impact festival here in munich, even they didn't fit in this line up of mainly melodic rock artists. But they were certainly the best on the spot. Now it's time to convince ourselves again, whether Clawfinger can manage the same level of full energy within this small club atmosphere. The deep impression from last year is still sticking in our heads, and I bet a lot, that there are quite a few fans here tonight, who have already seen 'em at the Deep Impact. I'd guess, there are aprox. 600 people there. 

It's showtime boys, and you don't need to mention that twice. Jes... the gorilla is doing a breakdance, and taking pictures inmidst of all these mad psychos in the audiane is a dance on the vulcano. And once again, it's one of these moments, where I wish myself into a photo pit, to do my job in peace. But we hardly ever have this comfort at the Backstage Club. However, only the strong survive, and so there is a lot of pushing and pulling, swearing and tearing. And the only goal is to stand as much in the front as possible and maybe even catch one of those many bottles of mineralwater, Tell gives  away to the audiance. In the meantime I'd give a lot, just  get away here. But this is the fate of us photo-journalists. A torture in the ancient middle age century is nothing compared to this here, and all that for selling maybe one pic to the local newspaper Fortunately there is this website here as well, where all these other shots find a home. Anyway, Clawfinger let their full energy flow with all the power they've got with a certainly longlasting impression. The question Tell asks the people is always the same: do you want new shit, - do you want old shit? But i presume, the fans don't care about that really. It really rocks. And that's the most important fact. The swedes are offering us a brilliant bonfire including iroquas haircuts and a bassist, who takes his hardcore behaving like others sing twinkle twinkle little star. Unfortunately there is no suitable amp for him here tonight in this venue, to jump down from a height of at least 15 feet.

  But nevermind. Therefore the youngsters in the audiance practice even more stage diving . It's a success in sparkling colours, and the crowd is finally exhausted but happy and surely very soon ready for more. All this is dedicated to Frank Zappa's heirs with much holy shit, mineralwater and the generel vibe. And for my part,  I certainly do 'luv' you with style.
                                                                                 
 
 

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