The Scorpions – at The Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA – June 22, 2012

For anyone that says classic rock is outdated or it will never be what is once was, consider this:  it takes only a single utterance of the name Scorpions for an entire stadium of fans to appear. 

When I reached my seat it was about 8 p.m. To my left sat an overly enthused concert-goer pounding away on his invisible drum set. I settled back into my seat to await the start of opening act Tesla, a hard-rock group that gained popularity during the ‘70s.
The speakers were blasting some pre-concert music as I got my grub on, which I owe in part to the odd selection of cuisine at the snack counters of the Staples Center.  Soft pretzels or chips and beer are the usual indulgences one can make at this sort of gathering, but for some reason they felt that a full-on pizza restaurant and Italian eatery were necessary. I wasn’t going to argue.
The isles were flooded with people scrambling to their seats as Tesla took the stage. Their entrance was far from subtle as they stormed into the spotlight and started the night off with pounding drums and an extended guitar solo. This was just one of many flashy solos integrated into their set; an obvious trade mark of these rock ‘n’ rollers.

As their set progressed it was apparent that the crowd was becoming more and more involved in the performance. Although the lead singer didn’t appear to be the showiest of sorts, dressed in bell-bottom pants and a plain top, he had the crowd singing every lyric that came from his mouth. It was evident that the audience knew who they were and were genuinely enthused when they broke into hits like “Love Song” and “What You Give.”

“It’s been 26 years that we’ve been together; almost 30, since we hung out in Hollywood,” said lead singer Jeff Keith, as he looked out into the audience in disbelief.

The stage was cleared by roadies and techs as their performance came to an end. Their crew seemed to be in no hurry at all, leaving the crowd to hang tight for at least 30 minutes before it began. Finally, the lights shut off, leaving the arena in a state of darkness with the stage lit by spotlights. The drums departed from the stage on a riser that hovered higher than their gear.
Rock and roll forever.

These were the words tattooed on the bare back of Kottak as his arms stretched toward the ceiling, drum sticks clenched in the palm of his hands. The show had just begun. A “recent” addition to the German band Scorpions, having joined the group in 1996, Kottak has had the chance to celebrate along with the rest of the band as they gathered onstage at the Staples Center for their “final sting” farewell tour. If the crowd’s response gave any indication as to what fans desire, we can only hope that “farewell” was muttered tongue-in-cheek or turns out to resemble one of the multiple farewell tours KISS has embarked on.

The Scorpions have continued to prove their worth to the masses by providing an experience that combines appealing visual and sonic elements unique to their style. The stage was laden with eye-catching moments, including old footage of the band playing at a festival to 300,000 screaming fans.

“Sting in the Tail” was the opener of the night, a song that isn’t necessarily a huge hit but played well among their repertoire songs.  They later performed “Raised on Rock,” an anthem for every ‘80s rock child in the audience off of their 2010 album Sting in the Tail.

The crowd was receptive up until the moment they burst out in a reggae rock tune.  Panels lit the stage in Rastafarian colors and fans took their seats from a standing position to wait this one out. It was a song that would reach a wider fan base, but let’s face it: these people wanted to rock out. If not the expressions of confusion on their faces, then let their rock garb be a testimony to this fact. There were no hippies or Rastafarians, as far as the eye could see.

The performance of “Blackout” was a climactic part during show when rhythm guitarist Rudolf Schenker (brother of UFO guitarist Michael Schenker) strutted down the cat walk. The others follow in suit, creating a surreal moment for both the musicians and fans.
Lead singer Klaus Meine acknowledged this, giving a heart-felt “thank you” to express his gratitude. After all of these years, the Scorpions can still perform as well as they did at the peak of their popularity in the 1980s. Although the band has gone through a number of line-up changes over the years, their sound has not suffered; only improved over time.

The encore consisted of three tunes including mega-hit “Rock You like a Hurricane.” It was the moment we all had been waiting for. Their performance of such an iconic tune was unforgettable and the right selection to end the night’s entertainment.
As the band gathered to the front of the stage to bow, their eager expressions said it all. You couldn’t help but get the feeling that these Scorpions would sting again.
 

 

-Breanna Fields-
Big Wheel Contributor

 

Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE