Kraj: Graz / Orpehum / Avstrija
Datum koncerta: 15.06.2002
Število obiskovalcev: 1000
Cena karte: 30,00€
(please, scroll down the bar for an English version)
Mirno popoldansko poležavanje in uživancijo v senci košate lipe pred Oropheumom (Graz) je nenadoma prekinil vrvež, ki ga je povzročil prihod “zjahanega” kombija. Iz njega so se počasi kobacali alkoholno dotrajani mladeniči, a kljub temu vztrajni ter skrbno založeni s platoji piva korakali na plano, odeti v trobojnice z grbom rdeče bele šahovnice in trdno odločeni, da si tudi sami malo “oddahnejo” na tisti zelenici poleg naju. No “hrvaški bratje” so zganjali pravi kraval, nato pa naenkrat izginili v Orpheum in se čez nekaj trenutkov prikazali s kupi originalnih Motörhead plakatov v naročju. To jih je nekoliko pomirilo in odjadrali so mestnemu jedru naproti.
Ob 18:00 se je pripeljal avtobus s kanclerjem, Philom in Mikkeyem. Prepričan sem, da so si ogledovali lepote avstrijske štajerske. Bili smo ob pravem času na pravem mestu, oboroženi s flomastri ter pripravljeni na napad. Legend pa od nikoder iz že davno parkiranega avtobusa. Čez kakšnih 20 minut sta iz avtobusa iztopili dve dekleti, pomanjkljivo oblečeni, sumljivo rdeči v obraz in skrajno pomečkani, kot da bi imel pred kratkim kdo z njima polne roke dela. Le kaj za vraga se jima je zgodilo ob bližnjem srečanju z Motörhead? Po kakšni uri mencanja pred avtobusom so se vrata znova odprla in prikazal se je sam samcati on, železni kancler Lemmy (“von Bismarck”). Bil je dobre volje, Anglija je ravno premagala Dansko s 3:0 in se uvrstila v četrtfinale svetovnega prvenstva v nogometu. Ni se obotavljal, hotel jo je mahniti kar po bližnici mimo nas v dvorano. “A ne, ne boš!”, je rekel najbolj zagret motorfan in ga zgrabil kot majhnega zajčka ter mu pomolil plakat pred nos: “Lemmy, will you sign this?” (ali po naše: “Evo, podpiši!”) in Lemmy je moral opraviti svojo obvezo do motorfanov. Očitno je bilo, da je znova porušil vse pivske rekorde, saj se je tresel kot šiba na vodi. Spomnil se je koncerta iz Ljubljane 1989 (nekdo je takrat iz prve vrste v Hali Tivoli zalučal vanj obrušeni kovanec) in pokazal na brazgotino, ki jo še danes nosi med prstoma desne roke. Na ovacijo gotovo najbolj zagretega motorfana: “You are still number one!”, pa se je preprosto odzval z “I’m tryin’!” Ko je odhlačal skozi vhodna vrata Orpheuma, smo se spraševali kako možakar sploh zdrži na odru. Podobno kot Lemmy sta izstopila posamično iz avtobusa tudi Mikkey in Phillip, kar smo znova s pridom izkoristili.
Ura se je nevarno bližala osmi zvečer. Zgrebli smo se pred vhodom, za preboj v prve vrste. Seveda so morali biti hrvaški kolegi pri tem v ospredju. A prva vrsta nam vseeno ni ušla. Neki splitčan je trenutek pred začetkom koncerta še uspel dahniti: “Pa ljudi, ne mogu povjirovat svojim očima, ja stojim ovdje i Motörhead ispred jebenog mene!” Ob 20:30 so se njegove sanje uresničile. “I guess, you know who we are by now. We are Motörhead, and we are gonna kick your ass!” je bil Lemmyjev pozdrav in užgali so z “We Are Motörhead”. Avditorij je v trenutku ponorel. Takoj sem se nehote znašel odet v hrvaške trobojnice. Presenečen sem bil nad nadaljevanjem. “Bomber”, pesem, ki je uvrščena vedno na koncertih v dodatek je sledila kot druga po vrsti. Prve tri “štikle” so bili Motörhead morda malce zadržani. Ravno takrat so dobili fotografi (“novinarji”) zeleno luč za udrihanje po svojih fleših. In Lemmy? Kot prerojen. Ves naš dvom pred koncertom, da ne bo zdržal nastopa, se je v trenutku razblinil. Mož je izgledal na odru enkrat večji in širši, postavnejši ter v polni kondiciji, skratka popolno nasprotje od tistega izcejenega Lemmyja dobro uro nazaj pred koncertom zunaj dvorane.
In kakšne boje sva bila med koncertom z nažganim avstrijcem, ki je na vsak način rinil v prvo vrsto in pri tem ni izbiral sredstev za dosego cilja. No vdal sem se in mu z veseljem pomagal, da se je prekucnil čez ograjo, od koder so ga pospremili varnostniki v zakulisje scenarija. Lemmy v svojih belih “suede shoes”, oprijetih črnih kavbojkah, opasan s saržerji in legendarnim Rickenbackerjem provokativno vpraša: “Is anybody here familiar to punk music?” in sledil je “God Save The Queen”. No Lemmy je situacijo kmalu obrnil na glavo s stavkom, da mu je bližji Rock’n’roll in skupina je juriš nadaljevala z “Going To Brasil”. Lemmy se v ničemer ni spremenil niti za milimeter od leta 1975, le da trenutno očitno še vedno žaluje za nedavno preminulim Joeyem Ramoneom, zato se je na set listi znašla tudi “Ramones” poleg že omenjene “bože sačuvaj kraljicu”, kar me je rahlo pojezilo, ker Motörhead niso nikdar bili punk skupina.
Zame osebno je bil vrhunec nastopa gotovo “Orgasmatron”. Oder in dvorana sta se ovila v megleno črnino, zeleni reflektor je osvetljeval Lemmyjev obraz in v ozadju legendarno motorno glavo, znani zaščitni znak skupine. Valeči se rif, trdi sopihajoči hripavi vokal,…., mravljinci so me prevzemali. Zmaga je bila popolna, saj je bil na odru Mikkey Dee, ki ga je Lemmy predstavil avditoriju: “The best fuckin’ Rock’n’roll drummer in the world!”. Vso svojo vrhunskost in prefinjen občutek je Mikkey v solo točki med “Sacrifice” le potrdil. Zvok dvojnega bas pedala resnično spominja na toriranje kakega Harley Davidsonovega motorja. Neverjetno kaj vse spravi Mikkey iz svojih bobnov. Bobna s celim telesom, udarci so zato polni, palčk nikdar ne prekriža (ob tem sem se spomnil na pokojnega Johna Bohnama). Res kaj naredijo trije ljudje na odru. Ko gre Phillip v solažo, ga Lemmy medtem krije s celimi akordi na bas kitari. Sicer pa je za Motörhead že standard, da je funkcija Lemmyjevega basa enaka spremljavi druge električne kitare. Efekt je en sam. Popolna unikatna neskončna energija. Ura in petnajst minut in glavni nastop se je zaključil z neprebojno “železno pestjo” (“Iron Fist”).
Skupina se je vrnila na oder, da odigra dodatek. “This is it!” je rekel Lemmy in zarožljal skozi svoj bas uvodni rif “Ace Of Spades”. Lemmy je rekel v nekem intervjuju, da mu gre kar na bruhanje, tolikokrat je že moral odigrati to pesem. A fani bi ga linčali brez te klasike. Tej klasiki je sledila druga. “Overkill” je pomenil zaključek. In kakšen “fade out”. Ko je bil “Overkill” odigran, so Motörhead pustili navite potenciometre in posledično nekajminutno sinusoidno osciliranje je v trenutku zajelo celo dvorano, tako da so nekateri po koncertu tarnali kako jim šumi v ušesih. Zlasti si ob tem potegnil kratko, če si opazoval koncert neposredno pred zvočniki.
Na set listo (nalepljeno na odru) je bil uvrščen tudi enkratni ubijalec “Born To Raise Hell”, ki pa ga Motörhead žal niso odigrali. Nevem zakaj. Močno pa so me razveselili z uvrstitvijo njihovih klasik na set listo kot so: “Doctor Rock”, “Shoot You In The Back” in “Damage Case”.
Ne spominjam se kateri koncert mi je tako hitro minil v življenju. Ne spominjam se niti dobro, na katerem koncertu sem bil tako premočen. Pa ne zaradi politega piva, ali kakšnega usodnega Ozzyjevega vedra vode. Enostavno smo vsi skupaj v dvorani noreli in to je to. Ob nastopu Motörhead ni mogoče stati pri miru in vse skupaj le nemo opazovati. Dobili smo pravo porcijo Rock’n’rolla. Pravi šus v glavo. To po čemer skupina slovi. Ponudila nam je pravi brezkompromisni žur. In to je največ.
fotografije: Aleš Podbrežnik
As usual we went very early from Ljubljana to Graz determined to get band’s autographs and photos. It was 2:00 p.m. in Graz and still hot as hell with breathtaking high moisured air. We found a prefect shade in front of Orpheum under a tree. As I expected our resting was quickly disturbed by Croatian fans equipped with their national banners all around and fully occupied with cans of beer. They jumped out from their vehicle like red ants and took a place nearby. Shortly after that, they disappeared through the Orpheum’s main gate and came back quickly with full hands of Motörhead posters. They fortunately marched down the streets of Graz.
It was 6:00 p.m. when band’s bus parked by the hall. We were waiting with pencils, ready to go in for the kill. So what followed? Firstly pale blue sky colored into gray and we thought that we will get some stormy refreshment. After 20 minutes of waiting the door opened. Two girls stepped out of the bus. We immediately realized what it was all about. Girls went through Motörhead’s hands and claws. Fascinating start of a show, wasn’t it? When we almost gave up waiting, the door opened at about 7:00 p.m. again. It was him. The “Iron Kancler” – Lemmy “von Bismarck”. We couldn’t believed our eyes that we are standing next to a legend. This was a real boneshaking moment. Lemmy didn’t care a lot about us and he went for the main door of the hall. “Oh no you won’t!” said my friend Milan and held him very tight. So Lemmy just couldn’t escape out of the trap he was in. He was shaking in his well known physiological state of a man who maybe drank just a little bit to much. No, this is his way of living, his chosen freedom. He is Motörhead. We got our autographs, we took photos with him and this was a complete victory for us. He still remembers a gig in Ljubljana from 1989 when one maniac threw a sharp edged coin and target him right between two fingers of his right hand. And on that suggestion, he said nothing, he simply turned and showed us his scar. When one of Croatian fans gave him his passport to sign in, Lemmy gave him father’s advice: “I think, they (he meant state institutions) won’t like that!” neverminded and put his sign in. Milan, who was the most excited Motorfan on the scene for sure, couldn’t stand still even for a second: “Lemmy, you are still number one!”, Lemmy simply responded to him: “I’m tryin’!” And after Lemmy finally broke free, the other two Motorbastards who followed went into the same trap.
Well let’s finally talk about the gig. O.K. we succeeded and took a place in the first row. It was 20:30. And Lemmy, a reborn man on stage, looked much taller, younger, stronger and was carrying all his energy within. Amazing difference if I recall our eye to eye meeting just an hour ago. He greeted the crowd: “I guess you know who we are by now. We are Motörhead. And we are gonna kick your ass!” They stroke with opening riff of “We Are Motörhead” and the crowd went mad. My face was immediately covered with Croatian banners. “I can’t believe my eyes! I’m standing here and Motörhead are playing in front of fuckin’ me!” just couldn’t believe a Croatian fan from Split that his dreams finally came true. The next song was “Bomber”. I was really surprised, because this song was ’till “Hammered” tour always played in band’s encore.
Well it’s obvious, that Lemmy is still very much frustrated, due to lose of his friend Joey Ramone, who died in May this year. So he provoked a crowd a little bit: “Is anybody in here familiar with punk music!”, and the band did “God Save The Queen” and latter on “Ramones” as well. I wasn’t pleased very much with that. Motörhead were never a punk band in their history.
I could read some songs from the set list glued on the stage’s floor. The absolute killer “Born To Raise Hell” was included also in the band’s set, but it wasn’t played. I don’t know why. But it was great to hear such classics as “Doctor Rock”, “Shoot You In The Back” or “Damage Case” again.
The entire show was what is expected to be from such a band. What can three bastards achieve on stage is incredible. Pure unique energy. They served a straight shot of Rock’n’roll right into our brains. And gave us complete party time. You can’t just simply stand and watch the scene during Motörhead show. If you don’t boogie, than something must be wrong with you. Highlight of the gig was “Orgasmatron” for sure. During this song the stage and hall turned into black, only green lights were spotted on Lemmy’s face.
To have Mikkey Dee in the band always guarantees you to be a winner. This fellow hits his drum kit with using the whole body movement, never (or rarely) crosses drum sticks or uses some other school learned tricks. He developed his own style, and we could feel his powerful pounding drum beats, that ripped our ears. I thought for a while about John Bohnam from Zepps. Mikkey is able to simulate Harley Davidson engine’s roaring. When he did it, I just took a deep breath and stared for a while like if I turned to stone. These are the reasons why Lemmy presented him to the audience: “Fuckin’ best Rock’n’roll drummer in the world!” He really played tremendous solo during “Sacrifice”. Meanwhile, Phil and Lemmy shortly went off the stage for some drink. This immortal band just can’t let you down.
Everything happened to quick for me during the show. Band finished their main part after playing for about one hour and fifteen minutes with “Iron Fist”. And the crowd asked for some more. And they got it. “This is it!” roared Lemmy and opened with his Rickenbacker the “Ace Of Spades”. He admitted in one of his interviews, that he is sick and tired of playing that same old song. But the crowd could probably killed the band if “Ace Of Spades” wouldn’t went through. The band continued with “Overkill” and brought the show to its final end. Fade out of a song was again something special. They left their pick ups high gained for a few minutes. This band’s final move provided high oscillation that really fucked up every single ear and turned the entire hall and crowd into final meltdown.
photogallery: Aleš Podbrežnik
Setlista
1. We Are Motörhead
2. Bomber
3. Civil War
4. Damage Case
5. God Save The Queen
6. Brave New World
7. Metropolis
8. No Class
9. Ramones
10. Sacrifice (z vključenim solom na bobnih: Mikkey Dee)
11. Going To Brasil
12. Love For Sale
13. Doctor Rock
14. Shoot You In The Back
15. Orgasmatron
16. Killed By Death
17. Iron Fist
—dodatek—
18. Ace Of Spades
19. Overkill
Galerija slik
