August 13, 2010 – For a band that’s on a proclaimed farewell tour, the Scorpions sure don’t appear ready to leave the stage. When this German metal band became a household name decades ago, the soaring vocals of Klaus Meine coupled with piercing guitars and strong melodies were what did it. Making their first ever appearance at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on stage at the Legendary Buffalo Chip on Friday night, none of those elements were missing.
Some bands have deteriorated so greatly from their peak that retirement should be the next step, but the Scorpions aren’t one of them. Fans in Sturgis witnessed a world class rock show from a band that’s hardly worn at all, and the amount of energy still present is simply dazzling. When it feels as if you’re hearing “Rock You Like a Hurricane” in a studio instead of an amphitheater, you know that the Scorpions are doing something right.
As a group known for spectacular live performances, expectations were understandably high. And it’s a farewell tour, after all, so why not expect to be blown away. When Meine began to sing and the drum kit behind him lit up and lifted into the air, indications were strong of a stellar show.
62-year-old Meine’s vocal power is sensational; both his high vibrato and softer ballad styles are intact, all bearing the slight yet pronounced German accent. Wearing dark shades and his identifying black hat (this time with a fitting Harley Davidson logo), he saunters around stage with a great presence, flinging his microphone stand out to the crowd during many choruses.
“Let me hear your bikes!!” Meine yelled, and the Sturgis crowd was happy to oblige. It just may have been his first time hearing the revving of motorcycle engines as a sign of approval, and he was downright fascinated.
The roars continued for nearly a minute before he introduced a new cut from the band’s fresh album Sting in the Tail – “The Best Is Yet to Come“. Although a slower track, Klaus took advantage of its catchy chorus and turned it into the perfect sing-a-long.
New songs from a legacy act can often go south on a festival crowd. But the Scorpions seem to have crafted their new material to fit perfectly into a live concert. There was just as much jumping and screaming for the lead single “Raised on Rock” as there was for old hits like “The Zoo“, and deservedly so. The supposed final album of the band’s career is among their strongest ever.
The stage energy on display would be expected on the first leg of the tour, but remember that the band has been hard at work on the road since May. Although the routine is hardly fresh, each member played with a spirit that made it seem more like one of the tour’s very first gigs. Guitarist Rudolf Schenker is both a monster player and an explosive performer, creating many photo ops with his screaming face and Flying V.
Serious rocking aside, the stage show has its fun moments. Drummer James Kottak leads a killer, over-the-top drum solo while a video marking the band’s album covers plays behind him. He embraces the ultimate rock star persona with fiery pounding and intense facial expressions, never seeming to get enough attention from the crowd. At it’s end he was proud to show off the “Rock and Roll Forever” tattoo that spans much of his back.
The encore may have been predictable, but still made for great entertainment. At this point Meine and the gang are surely sick of “Rock You Like a Hurricane“, but you wouldn’t know it from watching their continuous flurry of jamming on stage.
If the Get Your Sting and Blackout Tour is indeed the last we hear from the Scorpions, this is one band going out on a high note.
