Axel Rudi Pell Camden Underworld 22-4-12


I’ve been a fan of Axel Rudi Pell for over a decade, since he hooked up with singer Johnny Gioeli, who burst onto the scene with the band Hardline way back in the early 90’s, with the album “Double Eclipse” that featured Neal Schon. A series of fine albums in a Rainbowesque fashion have followed but I hadn’t had the opportunity to see them until now.

I wasn’t the only one to venture out on a wet and windy Sunday evening as I’ve never seen the Underworld so full.

First up were Mad Max from Germany who had never played the UK before. Having been around for nearly 30 years there were a few here who thought they died and gone to heaven.
Led by the Klaus Meinesque vox and guitar of Michael Voss (who has recently been playing with Michael Schenker and before that in Silver with Gary Barden and Bernie Torme) they played a 40 minute set of Scorpions style guitar led hard rock that went down a storm.

Here’s what they played:

Burning The Stage
Welcome To Rock Bottom
Metal Edge
Wait For The Night
Fall From Grace
Love Loaded
Night Of Passion

Some oldies and also a couple from the recently released rather good “Another Night Of Passion” cd meant the set was over way too soon and I’m sure they will return after the reception they received.

The sense of anticipation rose and I managed a good position to the right of the stage away from any columns!!

For an hour and 45 minutes we were treated to a top class performance that the fully charged crowd played a full part of.
  
Here’s what they played:

The Guillotine Suite (intro)
Ghost In The Black
Strong As A Rock
Before I Die
Medley of The Masquerade Ball/Casbah/Dreaming Dead (and a little of Whole Lotta Love)
Drum Solo
Mystica/Mistreated (Deep Purple cover)
Circle Of The Oath
Fool Fool
Keyboard Solo
Carousel
Encore 1 Tear Down The Walls
Nasty Reputation
Encore 2 Rock The Nation

Axel was if anything quite anonymous stage presence wise. He riffed and solo’s wonderfully but he is quite happy to leave the stage to Johnny who gave a frontman performance off the highest quality.

His golden tonsils have not changed at all and he hit all the notes effortlessly and considering he ran around the stage constantly playing every riff and hitting every drum and begging the crowd to give their all he really was amazing.

The small stage had one of the largest drum kits ever wedged at the back and Mike Terrana was a real star. Such power and even a good solo spot.

Volker Krawczak on bass and Ferdy Doernberg on keys held it all together in fact Ferdy was perched on the walkway to the side of the stage due to the lack of space.

They played 3 songs from the recently released “Circle Of The Oath” cd which has given the band their highest chart placings ever. My favourite track “Before I Die” with its huge riff and great chorus came over wonderfully well.

The set was rounded out with all of Axel’s favourites with “Fool Fool” and “Carousel” being especially well received. All impeccably played with Johnny at the heart of it all.

3 encores again of fan favourite’s rounded out a quite brilliant night. The crowd would have been happy to have stayed all night.

Surely a bigger venue is needed next time round but we all left happy and with a ticket price of only £12.50 surely one of the best bargain’s around.

Top night!!


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