It’s mid-November, which can only mean one thing… my annual trip to see Motorhead as they rock into the South coast on yet another world tour.
First up were Diaries of a Hero, who must have taken to the stage the moment the doors opened. However despite the early stage time there was still a decent sized audience, and so led by heavy and speedy guitar riffs Diaries of a Hero put in an impressive start to the evening.
ANTHRAX
Original front man Joey Belladonna is very much back in the saddle these days and this was very much an 80’s sounding Anthrax, with half the tracks coming from the 1987 release Amongst the Living.
Belladonna had the crowd singing along to classic tunes from the album such as “I am the Law” and “Indians” helping Anthrax make the stage their own.
Although I’m personally more into the John Bush fronted 90’s era of Anthrax, newer track “Fight ‘em ‘til you can’t” stood up alongside the older tunes showing that this line-up still has a lot to give the metal world… having said that, there’s still a piece of me wanting to bring back Bush (which given the local US elections, is far from a political message).
MOTORHEAD
Opening with “I Know How to Die” from the 2010 World is Yours album Lemmy and co. took to the stage for one of the loudest gigs you’re likely to attend… although having said that, there was no turning it up halfway through which is the norm when it comes to Motorhead.
In contrast to the latter day opener next up were “Damage Case” and “Stay Clean” both from their 1979 release Overkill, proving that old and new stand equally amongst each other.
The fact several other classics were omitted from the set list this evening meant the rarely played tracks “Rock it” (from 1983) and “You Better Run” (from 1992) were aired tonight, showing how many great tunes Motorhead have at their disposal across their twenty studio album back catalogue.
Going back over the years and you will see Lemmy as the only original member of the band, although Phil Campbell having clocked up an impressive twenty nine years alongside drummer Micky Dee’s twenty surely makes this the ultimate line-up.
Campbell’s guitar style is heavy as to be expected, but when alone on stage for a solo it’s a more mellow side that comes out and shows what a natural genius of a guitarist he truly is. When Phil and Lemmy leave the stage to allow Micky Dee his obligatory solo during “The One to Sing the Blues” you can see why Lemmy introduces him as the best drummer in the world – if anyone tells you drum solos are boring… show them Micky hitting the skins, not only with immense power and speed but a pulsating rhythm too.
With solos done, the latter end of the set has the crowd rocking out to one of the greatest song titles in “Killed by Death” before bodies go flying as dance floor classic “Ace of Spades” ended the main set.
Then after a brief departure the band return with another unexpected track up their sleeve, a fantastic cover of Thin Lizzy’s “Are you Ready”, which followed by the stop/start blistering “Overkill” closed the nights proceedings… so same time next year? You better believe it, see you down the front.
Mr Teeth
