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For many fans, also for me, this is the first time here at the Jako Arena, which is situated right on the way from the freeway to the city of Bamberg. You can't miss it. 6.000 People are supposed to fit in inside this venue, I've been told. But compared to our Munich Olympiahall and even the Zenith, it still seems rather small. And over all it's not even crowded, but only fill half way. I guess, there are maybe about 2.500. And like I said before, aprox, half of it have come from Nuremberg or even from Munich. 
The event starts real early at about 7.30 p.m. when there is still wonderful light sunshine outside, but therefore even less light inside. In fact, the visuall circumstances are so poor, that they could have also put only 2 candles on stage right and left handside. Or have they hoped that solar power jumps through the walls. We won't get to know this, but some of the photographers here have surely sworn the hell out. And the interest of media seems extremely high here. Compared to here, the AC/DC photopit recently seemed like a dessert, which is great for photographers to move around without any handycap. And not like here at the Jaco Arena, where you get hit and pushed around every 5-10 seconds in an effort to catch at least a few decent shots. 
The local promoter is very concerned about rules and matters, but didn't get the idea, that we leave our stuff in the pit 'till the next photocall for the next band. However, my slight hint has been accepted gratefully.  

The opener of tonight is  Tim ‚Ripper’ Owens including a All Star Band.

All Stars in metal circles of course... And his majesty Mr. Owens himself is still taking advantage of his past with Judas Priest, Yngwie Malmsteen and Iced Earth. But his trys to swim himself free as a soloartist are still a rather laid back paddling and not yet a speed cruise. Nitingale I hear you twitter. That's what he does with full power. And yep, he's got to, as in this case it's the pure musical aspect, what counts. The eye does not get much to eat and is starving. So at least the above mentioned weak lights in here show one advantage, as we do not have to look at the given facts. On the other hand it doesn't make sense, when a colourful nitingale turns out to be cough infected nightowl. So let our ears speak for this first part of the night. By the way all these mentioned circumstances continue with the next act as well. 

But stop don't be so quick. We are still here with the opener and Timmy Boy is surrounded by names like Dave Ellefson (Ex-Megadeth) on git., Simon Wright (Ex-AC/DC) on drums and Chris Caffery (TWO, Savatage etc.) git. as well. And of course we got a bassist as well. Those are all names, the true metal head knows of course. If not, then you are not taken seriously by the metal society. But well, I assume it's not the case tonight, and everybody knows exactly who is up there on stage.  
Another fact I have to mention, one which is there for the rest of the night. And that one it the bombastic mood in the audiance, which almost compete with a funeral. Jesus wept!!! This anti enthusiasm is pretty impressing, and you can also hear the roots of the potatoes on the field next door growing, if there wasn't the music. 
The opener got 30 minutes like usua. And within this time, Ripper is playing all the aces he's got (check setlist, including a hommage to the glory Judas Priest era, not to forget some impressing guitar solos by Christopher Caffery, who should get a date with his hairdresser, shouldn't he?!

Well off we go again, and Timmy's grand opening is past tense again. No idea, whether this here takes him further up the leather of success. But well, most important fact is surely to have joined and move the globe round and round.... eh sorry, the potato roots I mean of course.....

http://www.timripperowens.com/




Meistro Pell  comes next also sunbathing underneath the pseudo candlelights....

Also the eyeapple of this party owns the immens talent, always to stand besides the weak limelight and not in the middle of it. No clue whether this is pure intention or unlucky coincident. Axel Rudi gives us like always the impression of high concentration and his spare movements in addition reminds me strongly on Mr. Blackmore. Yeah maybe the man in black is the big idol of Axel. But at least our sunnyboy here still owns his own hair and is of course some years younger as Ritch the Great. But therefore our german guitarist has to manage first to create such a simple century riff like the one of 'Smoke On The Water'. - Well so everything got it's advantage and disadvantages. And last but not least, - no rocklegends has fallen from the sky yet. And we got a good name already, don't we. The rest will develop or not.....

One more thing to mention is the eyeapple of Pell named Johnny Gioeli. Have I described Ripper Owens as a nitingale before, so this here is the Enrico Caruso of Heavy Metal. And despite his neat schoolboy look and image, he certainly leaves most metal choir boys behind him, what's up to the huge power of his lung. so actually the attention within this groups is swapping over between the guitar art of Axel Rudi and the excellent voice of Johnny. Also the rest of the pensioner... oh pardon... rocker gang is still the same with Ferdinand on keyboard, to his left the man with the unspeakable ID and image caring sunglasses (they are truly neccessary within this light conditions :-) and last but not least and not to ingore is Mike the animal on drums. In my opinion, our multiculti drummer is the only one on  his instrument, who could easily entertain a whole audiance with a one man show.  

However, the second strike on this evening gets 45 minutes, where they are doing many of Pell's diamonds. But despite all these points, aces and bonuspoints, also this band can't really manage to wake up all kiddies here from their wintersleep. Sandman I hear you praying - Halleluja...

http://www.axel-rudi-pell.de


But hang on, it's not finished yet. And the joker prepares for the final strike including Castus and Pollux the hellhounds to the right and left on stage. waiting to wake up this tired crowd...

I have to confess, that I personally have never felt a tight connection to the music of Black Sabbath without Ozzy. But don't get me wrong. I'm not a oversized fan of Mr.Osbourne. And I still think that Tony Iommi is brilliant guitarist and Ronnie James Dio one of the best voices rockmusic has  to offer. 
And I suppose, it's a pure personal matter of taste and has got nothing to do with the fact whether something is good or bad. Right now bad is only the sound condition, and the engineer seems not to be abel to handle the situation. If you watch the musicians up there on stage, you can see their irritation.
exspecially what's up to Tony Iommy the grey eminence, or should I rather say - the black one... who goes for posh understatement. But I know from past meetings that he is not that laid back and a rather friendly open guy. Well you gotta keep an image ahead of course. What's up to our little one - Ronnie James Dio - respect how well he keeps in shape. And you can't avoid the impression, that he makes  himself older than he is. I mean, normally people are making themselves younger than they are. But Dio and 68 years of age... no no no... we don't wanna believe this. But it's true. By the way - little one in the truest sense of the word. Because when my little doggy Sina jumps up on two legs, she's almost as tall as Ronnie. It happened a few years ago in Munich.

Well, that's not the point here. Fact is, as small as the physical vertical of Ronnie is, as big is individual aura, stage presence and most of all his voice. I think I don't over do it by saying, that Mr. Dio owns one of the best voices in rockmusic. 

Bassist Geezer Butler almost lynched me already before the show, because I got his favourite soccer club wrong, which is Aston Villa and not the Birmingham FC. But well I'm still alive. Last but not least Vinnie Appice on drums. I can asure you, he never forgets to wish a merry xmas. 

Anyway back to the Action here, which develops into a theatrical piece of art including the whole sense of classic metal philosophy with the highlight of the epos 'Heaven&Hell'. Although I can't avoid the impression that this here is a little to high for the kids here. And also the famous sparkle won't  catch fire a 100 percent. And even I have to confess, I do prefer the classic Black Sabbath line up with 'Warpigs' and 'Iron Man', or Dio with 'Holy Diver' and 'Don't Talk To Strangers', compared to this intellectual bombastic heaven and hell philosophy, we get presented here. Don't get me wrong again. I luv difficult fusion sound and intellectual progrock to a certain extend. But the generell mood has to be right. And this is not the case at this event here. And not even the short pyroshow in the end of the show can rescue the situation. Maybe that's the reason for so less enthusiasm here.  

Long talk, short sense, up there on stage are four brilliant musicians, who deliver a brillant musical performance. But I still do miss this special little something, the  sparkle and the kick. And I bet, that many people in the audiance also miss the ultimative recognition of some music, though not all of it. No question, this here is high quality entertainment, but I for my part can only say: 'Holy Diver' and 'Iron Man' bring me 100 times faster to the ultimate orgasm, than the project 'Heaven&Hell'. So please Dio come back soon... I promise, I bring Sina along again.....

http://www.heavenandhelllive.com/ 

Here you find some off stage snapshots