**Written in collaboration with Tomer Darmon
Prologue
75,000 maniacal Metalheads stepped into the Mecca of Metal, Wacken Open Air, amid the summary coolness of Germany. This version in 2010 presented Wacken’s usual diverse taste of Metal subgenres, from Hard Rock to Black Metal, everything was there for all types of Metal fans. In this review, you’ll get a taste of what went on over there from MER’s perspective in hopes you’ll be able to at least slightly share in the experience.
August 5th – And So It Began…
Skyline – Black Stage
This once active band was a Heavy Metal outfit formed by the festival’s organizers and partners when those guys were young. In order to offer a good welcoming “Hello” to all the Metalheads, this band reunited to play live classic covers along with two special guests: Doro Pesch (Doro, Warlock) and Udo Dirkschneider (U.D.O., ex-Accept). With Doro, the band performed the festival’s newly written anthem called “We Are The Metalheads” and soon after played Doro’s 80’s hit “All We Are”. Up to that point, that opening seemed great and it really kickstarted the crowd, especially “All We Are”, which got a lot of sing-a-long participation.
After the sweet Doro left the stage, two of the backup vocalists took turns to sing some good Hard Rock / Metal classics such as “Breaking The Law” (Judas Priest), “Shot Down In Flames” (AC / DC), and for the memory of DIO, “Holy Diver”. Not that they didn’t do well, but it wasn’t that amazing. Some verses were left out of “Holy Diver” for example, but that wasn’t a biggy, although die-hard fans would have noticed it for sure.
Following “Holy Diver”, the band’s bass player announced Udo to the stage. With him the band promoted another newly written anthem to the fest called “W.O.A. Anthem”. A very nice song but the one with Doro was much better. Afterwards, Udo performed the Accept undying classic “Balls To The Wall”. This version with Skyline seemed somewhat dry and it cannot be compared with the quality of Accept or how it is being played by Udo’s band.
Alice Cooper – True Metal Stage
The king of horrors needs no introduction. Cooper, even at the age of 62, will ever remain an icon, a singer, and a performer on stage. Taking charge as the first official show of the fest after the welcoming act, he brought with him great musicians, one of them may have been drummer Jimmy Degrasso (ex-Megadeth) who would have taken the place of Eric Singer (Ex-Kiss), along with several stage helpers in order to greet the Theater Of Death.
Cooper sounded sort of rusty in his singing, but still got the crowd going with his regular self-executions in several ways, which would have probably made any of you laugh in a way (or be shocked). To see his head chopped off by a Guillotine, then hanged, poisoned, and tortured to death in a chamber was amazing. You have to see it in person to believe how much this man is insane … positively of course.
Aside from some of the hits and the act, the show was not that exciting because of Cooper’s rusty voice situation, but Alice Cooper showed that it is still possible to play the classics while forming a full show with all of his hits … and still die at least four times.Moreover, his picked musicians that were playing their roles with greatness. As for the crowd, how can you not love Alice Cooper? Even if it’s not your style, this guy is still a true artist. All who came to see him seemed to enjoy it.
Setlist
- “School’s Out” (Although played partially, a great sing-along with the fans)
- “No More Mr. Nice Guy” (Alice went on stage with a puppet as a mic)
- “I’m Eighteen” (Another sweeping sing-along with everybody)
- “Wicked Young Man”
- “Ballad Of Dwight Fry”
- “Go To Hell”
- “Guilty” (This time he gets hanged)
- “Cold Ethyl”
- “Poison” (Alice gets poisoned)
- “From The Inside” (The bass drum just killed with its volume)
- “Nurse Rosetta”
- “Be My Lover”
- “Only Women Bleed” (Great acoustic opening, a strong emotional tune with great vibes. Alice kills)
- “I Never Cry”
- “Black Widow Jam”
- “Vengeance Is Mine” (Alice stood on a ramp with spider hands, probably the best track on his show)
- “Dirty Diamonds”
- “Billion Dollar Babies” (A very big hit, Alice swept the crowd with that one)
- “Killer”
- “I Love The Dead” (Great sing-along)
- “Feed My Frankenstein” (Great guitars and bass, which held the song together)
- “Under My Wheels” (Another great hit, amazing voice just as it is on the album)
- “Elected”
- “School’s Out” (Last part)
Mötley Crüe – Black Stage
The legendary American Glam Metal band came to roll this fest upside down, and so they did. Seldom has such a violent reaction ensued from the people as a result of this Metal subgenre. Fans had to get back fast before getting their asses kicked.
Back to the show: In one word – EXPLOSIVE. The band was in great shape and very heavy musically. Vince Neil was stronger than ever and ruled the crowd. Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee were amazing and Mick Mars was fantastic, even considering his troublesome illness. As they tore the place apart, the Crüe played songs from all their eras, even from the lesser rated ones from the 90s. Also, they presented a new tune, which seemed to make everyone beam. Playing the classics in favor of new tracks made the crowd their worshipers.
The bottom line is Mötley Crüe were one of the best shows in Wacken Open Air. They showed the power of Sunset Strip Glam Metal, and why they can be called legends.
Setlist
- “Kickstart My Heart” (Not just our hearts but also our faces)
- “Wild Side”
- “Shout At The Devil” (Massive crowd aggression)
- “Saints Of Los Angeles”
- “Looks That Kill” (A killing participation)
- “Live Wire” (How can one not like this amazing tune, best performance)
- “Don’t Go Away Mad, Just Go Away”
- “Same Ol’ Situation”
- “Mutherfucker Of The Years” (And Vince said it was a song for us…)
- “Ten Seconds To Love”
- “Primal Scream” (One of the band’s heaviest songs, a true killer)
- “Dr. Feelgood”
- “Girls, Girls, Girls” (A bombastic end to a great show)
Iron Maiden – True Metal Stage
Most people would probably say that it is hard not to enjoy Maiden no matter what they play. Even though the band didn’t play many classics on their two hour show and chose to focus mainly on their 00’s era, they will have no quarrel with most fans. The fact is that this is Iron Maiden; and it is hard as a diehard fan to say no to their performance.
Musically, Iron Maiden were, as always, smashing. By all accounts, their show went flawlessly. The fans just filled up the place as if it was a packed stadium. As you have probably seen on the Rock In Rio DVD, the crowd stretched from end to end, side to side. They had everything, a changing background, the new Eddie walking the stage fighting in 3D, and of course Dickinson’s fitness running and jokes, amazing playing performance, and an overall good show of force.
Although the expectation was partially to hear some “Run To The Hills”, “Aces High”, “The Clairvoyant”, and other amazing oldies, it was understandable why they turned to the newer ones. Well, they did for almost two years the Somewhere Back In Time tour and all that was there were oldies.
One bothersome happening is that the show ended very fast. Maiden chose mostly longer tracks for their setlist and their newer songs are long, so it is a rather weak spot when you play those live.
The old Iron Maiden songs were truly great and better than their current material, yet to see them live is a sort of an experience that is hard to shake. They are the gods of Metal and their creations, and no matter when, Maiden are an inspiration. Newer Iron Maiden songs will become older one day and there are some of them that will be classics in due time.
Setlist
- “The Wicker Man” (Always a pleasure to hear this one live)
- “Ghost Of The Navigator”
- “Wrathchild” (A strong classic, well made)
- “El Dorado” (The only presentation off of the new album)
- “Dance Of Death”
- “The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg” (A great song, however they should play it less live)
- “These Colors Won’t Run” (They could have really left this out of their live list)
- “Blood Brothers” (In tribute to DIO)
- “Wildest Dreams” (This one is not bad, but “Rainmaker” would have been better)
- “No More Lies” (Amazing performance)
- “Brave New World”
- “Fear Of The Dark” (How can they not do it live)
- “Iron Maiden” (Great song, massive cooperation of the crowd)
- “The Number Of The Beast”
- “Hallowed Be Thy Name”
- “Running Free” (A good way to end a show)
Be the first to comment