06.08.2011 Motörhead

Wacken Open Air XXII

Wacken (Germany)

(Pentax k-x with Tamron SP AF 17-50mm 2.8 XR Di II LD Asp IF and Sigma AF 50-150mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

Shortly after 23:00 it was the time: heavy metal old hand Lemmy Kilmister entered together wiht his band Motörhead the True Metal Stage. Without much hesitating they directly went for it. Meanwhile he is 66 years old but how did a great Austrian singer one's sing: to that point in life it is just really beginning.
Besides Lemmy on bass and microphone guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee were standing by his side. On stage it was more gently getting down to the nitty-gritty but in front of it even more severe. There were really many people to celebrate the doyen and permanently new waves of crowdsurfer arrived. The guys brought a new album with them, meanwhile number 21, and out of "The Wörld Is Yours" songs like "Get Back In The Line" could be heard. Just as it has to be on a proper concert there were not only new songs but also a lively cross section through more than 35 years of band history.
If it was "In The Name Of Tragedy" or "Just ‘Cos You Got The Power", permanently Lemmys rough voice roared forceful across the stage accompanied by his equally roaring bass. But also Phil Campbell could show his skills on strings several times just as drummer Dee who got his large scene during the previous named "In The Name Of Tragedy".
In proper style during "Bomber" there ws movement at the rooftop of the stage and a gigantic framework in form of a bomber skeleton completely covered with spotlights was slowly lowered. To the strains of the song it executed its flying manoeuvres and illuminated quite impressive the field in front of the stage. The set was rounded off with the two encores "Ace Of Spades" where the atmosphere really reached its boiling point as well as the final "Overkill". With them 90 minutes of concentrated heavy metal ended.
Up to that point I always wanted to watch once a Motörhead concert live which I was not yet able to. After this concert unfortunately I have to admit, that I won't do it once more for sure. Musically everything was presented very routined but I was missing the emotional moments. I had the feeling there were three old men on stage fiddling down their set and being happy when everything is finally over and they can go home. So basically a quite good concert but finally somehow strange connotation. I nearly felt remembered to the gig of Alice Cooper last year where I felt comparable. Actually a pitty. As Judas Priest or Ozzy showed how it could be done better.