GIGS GUIDE

Scorpions: un ouragan

Cette deuxieme soiree de heavy metal, contrairement a celle de samedi, a ete une reussite complete. En effet, plus de 12.000 fans enthousiastes ont repondu a l'appel et sont venus supporter le groupe allemand Scorpions.

Kick Axe, un groupe canadien, de Regina pour etre plus precis, a rechauffe avec adresse cette superbe foule. Kick Axe a interprete dans sa quasi-totalite les pieces de son unique microsillon intitule Vices ainsi qu'une version d'une composition du groupe Humble Pie, 30 days in the Hole, qui figure sur la bande sonore du film Up The Creek. Le groupe a fait bonne figure et a ete une agreable decouverte pour bien des gens.

Scorpions en etait a leur premier spectacle, en notre ville, en tant qu'attraction principale. Deja, il y a deux ans, lors de son passage au Colisee, avec Rainbow, le groupe etait mur pour remplir une salle de cette capacite.

Ces musiciens ont une presence sur scene tout simplement incroyable. Tel un ouragan, ces Allemands se sont dechaines, depenses et ont maintenu le public en haleine pendant plus d'une heure et demie. Contrairement a la plupart des groupes, il n'y a pas a proprement parler de vedettes au sein de Scorpions. Le groupe est manifestement tres uni, soude et meme si chaque membre a quelque chose de bien particulier a offrir, il n'est pas question, mis a part un court solo de batterie, des sempiternelles demonstrations techniques personnelles comme on a souvent l'occasion d'en voir dans les spectacles de ce type. Que ce soit la voix malleable de Klaus Meine, les guitares corrosives de Jabs et de Schenker, la solide rythmique de Bucholz et de Rarebell, tout est pense en fonction de cette entite qu'est Scorpions.

Le groupe a choisi de concentrer son choix musical parmi ses quatre plus recents microsillons. L'introduction de chaque piece soulevait immanquablement de vives reactions.

Ces musiciens ont reellement le chic pour aller chercher des "riffs" inoubliables ce qui, par les temps qui courent, est plutot rare.

Les spectateurs ont grandement apprecie les versions dynamiques de pieces comme Blackout, The Zoo, ou encore les ballades comme Still Loving You.

Hier soir, Scorpions a prouve qu'il est une des forces majeures de heavy metal et il est d'ores et deja certain que cette tournee nord-americaine vient concretiser l'importante percee entamee en 1979.

Scorpions: A Hurricane

This second evening of heavy metal, unlike Saturday, was a complete success. Indeed, more than 12,000 enthusiastic fans answered the call and came to support the German group Scorpions.

Kick Axe, a Canadian band, from Regina to be more precise, has warmed this superb crowd with skill. Kick Axe played almost all the pieces of its unique vinyl entitled Vices and a version of a composition of the group Humble Pie, 30 Days in the Hole, which appears on the soundtrack of the film Up The Creek. The group has done well and has been a pleasant discovery for many people.

Scorpions was at their first show in our city as a main attraction. Already, two years ago, during its stay at the Colisee, with Rainbow, the band was better to fill a room of this capacity.

These musicians have an incredible presence on stage. Like a hurricane, these Germans broke loose, spent and kept the public in suspense for more than an hour and a half. Unlike most groups, there are not really stars in Scorpions. The group is obviously very united, and even if each member has something special to offer, there is no question, apart from a short drum solo, the eternal personal technical demonstrations as we often have the opportunity to see in the shows of this type. Whether it is the malleable voice of Klaus Meine, the corrosive guitars of Jabs and Schenker, the solid rhythm of Bucholz and Rarebell, everything is thought according to this entity that is Scorpions.

The group has chosen to concentrate their musical choice among their four most recent LPs. The introduction of each piece inevitably aroused strong reactions.

These musicians are really chic to go for unforgettable "riffs" which, in these days, is rather rare.

Spectators greatly appreciated the dynamic versions of pieces like Blackout, The Zoo, and ballads like Still Loving You.

Last night, Scorpions proved that it is one of the major forces of heavy metal and it is already certain that this North-American tour will concretize the important breakthrough started in 1979.

Kick Axe, a heavy metal rock and roll band with some Saskatchewan connections and onetime regulars at the A-Four night spot, is riding a hot streak. They played three dates with the Scorpions in Toronto, Quebec and Montreal, being introduced to 45,000 fans.

They are currently working on a tour of their own in Texas and will connect with Quiet Riot's tour in Sacramento, starting Sept. 21. The other good news is that Kick Axe has gained a green light from MTV, which has added the band's On The Road To Rock video to its playlist.

The following are among the top concert grosses nationwide reported through the survey week. Included are act(s), gross, attendance, capacity of facility, ticket prices, promoter, facility, city, number of shows, number of sellouts and date(s).

HEAVY METAL HURRICANE: SCORPIONS, QUIET RIOT, KICK AXE, HELIX - USD 280,531 (350,664 Canadian), 16,829 (19,000), USD 20 & USD 17,50, Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ont., August 17.

SCORPIONS, KICK AXE - USD 137,380 (171,725 Canadian), 12,911, USD 13,50, Donald K. Donald, Montreal (Quebec) Forum, one show, sellout, August 21.

SCORPIONS, KICK AXE - USD 124,238 (155,298 Canadian), 11,490, USD 13,50, Donald K. Donald, Colisee de Quebec, one show, sellout, August 20.