SCORPIONS TO RELEASE “MTV UNPLUGGED” ON NOVEMBER 29TH

scorpions400 The greatest delight for the Scorpions fans, of which there are several million throughout the world, is the fact that there is no end in sight for the Farewell World Tour, even though this has been continuing for three years now. Scorpions still are Germany’s internationally most popular rock band ever in the history of music, and of the 38 countries where farewell shows are planned, only 23 have been covered to date. On top of this, the band has found the time and energy to bring to life a very special event: their first MTV Unplugged show.

On September 11th and 12th 2013, Klaus Meine (vocals, guitars), Rudolf Schenker (guitars, vocals), Matthias Jabs (guitars), Pawel Maciwoda (bass) and James Kottak (drums) played two fantastic acoustic sets in the Lycabettus theatre of Athens. The open-air theatre, which was designed by the Greek architect Takis Zenetos in 1965 – and thus is just the same age as the story of the Scorpions – is situated on Mount Lycabettus, at 300m height, and offers an impressive view of the Greek metropolis. But the spectacular scenery is not the only reason that convinced the Scorpions to choose Athens for the first ever open-air show in the history of MTV Unplugged.

“When we were approached with the idea of playing an unplugged show, we immediately thought of Greece,’ Klaus Meine recalls. Matthias Jabs adds, “We have fabulous fans all over the world, but the Greeks are absolute die-hard fans.’ Concerning the choice of venue, the Lycabettus theatre, Meine explains, “We played here many years ago. It is a beautiful place. I can remember that even back then the fans climbed onto the surrounding rocks. Of course we played some of the greatest classics this time, but we also performed a few new songs as well as material that we had never played live up to then. Those are songs which are very popular with the fans but which somehow never made it onto the set lists.”

More than ten years ago, the Scorpions had already played a few acoustic sets, the result of which, Acoustica, was released on CD and DVD in 2001, with great international success. However, the current program, including a total of two dozen songs, is virtually completely different. First of all, we have the band’s brand new songs, whose stunning live debut filled the audience with instant enthusiasm. Alongside Dancing With The Moonlight and Rock N’Roll Band, both of which can be easily imagined in perfect rock versions, Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs presented one song each penned by every artist himself. The instrumental track Delicate Dance with Matthias Jabs as leader is based on guitar spheres which could easily settle in between the psychedelic glamour of Pink Floyd and the boogie folk of Led Zeppelin. Love Is The Answer is a ballad for which Rudolf Schenker took over as lead vocalist – a feat that does not happen very often. And immediately after this, Klaus Meine surprises us with the world premiere of ‘Follow Your Heart’, another power ballad destined for the charts.

The show is opened by Sting In The Tail, arranged in Cajun style. This song, taken from the eponymous album of 2010, bears witness to how deeply the Scorpions are rooted in rock n’roll and blues, virtually the topsoil and nurture of hard rock. The same applies to the set of classics that follow, such as Pictured Life, Speedy’s Coming or the hymnal Born To Touch Your Feelings, in which the Greek actress Dimitra Kokkori surprises with a truly heart-wrenching spoken-word part. It goes without saying that the beautiful lady is not the only guest starring at this exceptional event. On the nights featured here, the five Scorpions can count on the relentless support of the Swedish musicians and producers Mikael Nord Andersson (guitars, mandolin, lap steel, vocals) and Martin Hansen (guitars, harmonica, vocals), who are also responsible for the arrangements made specifically for the MTV Unplugged Show, and who also produced the latest Scorpions studio album.

Further Swedish support comes in the shapes of Ola Hjelm (guitars, vocals) and Hans Gardemar (keyboards, accordion, vocals), as well as from percussionist PiTTi Hecht from Hannover, who is renowned as one of the best percussionists in Europe. To round off this magnificent cast performing at the Lycabettus theatre, there is a string ensemble consisting of eight Greek ladies, whom Klaus Meine introduces as “The Strings from Heaven.” Indeed, a truly heavenly performance is offered by Klaus Meine and Hamburgbased CÄTHE with their version of In Trance. CÄTHE, who released her second album, Verschollenes Tier, this summer, shows all her charisma in this true seventies classic. Rock You Like A Hurricane, one of the most popular rock songs by the Scorpions, and frenetically applauded by the audience, features Revolverheld’s Johannes Strate as guest vocalist battling with Klaus Meine, and the ultimate world hit Wind Of Change offers a unique aha-experience in its own right when Morten Harket comes on stage for this encore.

Throughout its two-and-a-half hours, the show captivates with its numerous intimate moments and infectious adrenaline rushes (such as during a percussion solo). And there are even more nuggets from the sheer endless stock of hits – such as Still Loving You and Big City Nights, No One Like You and When The Smoke Is Going Down – as well as a few welcome surprises to dazzle the connoisseur. When You Came Into My Life, where Rudolf Schenker plays a sitar, is one of those tracks which the Scorpions had never before played live, as are Where The River Flows and Passion Rules The Game. In view of this unplugged marathon with the stunning emotional momentum it conveys, it is difficult to pinpoint single highlights, but what can be stated with certainty is that the Scorpions evidently enjoyed this musical rollercoaster ride through their own history. It is equally obvious that both rock songs and power ballads display their class and style even when rendered as acoustic versions. The melodies maintain their timeless compositional appeal and the quality of the performance proves time and again that the Scorpions are blessed – this time especially by the Greek gods, it seems.

Let us glance into the future: MTV Unplugged will be released in 50 countries and promises to be yet another success story in the sheer limitless Scorpions saga. Fans can also look forward to the documentary motion picture Big City Nights by Katja von Garnier, whose band portrait will be shown in cinemas before it is later released on DVD.

MTV Unplugged by the Scorpions will released on November 29th 2013, available as double CD, DVD, Bluray and in various other digital and physical configurations.

MTV Unplugged tracklisting:

Sting In The Tail
Can’t Live Without You
Pictured Life
Speedy’s Coming
Born To Touch Your Feelings
The Best Is Yet to Come
Dancing With The Moonlight
In Trance (with CÄTHE)
When You Came Into My Life
Delicate Dance (Matthias Solo)
Love Is The Answer (Rudolf Solo)
Follow Your Heart (Klaus Solo)
Send Me An Angel
Where The River Flows
Passion Rules The Game
Rock You Like A Hurricane (with Johannes Strate)
Hit Between The Eyes
Drum-Athenica, PiTTi vs. James
Rock N’ Roll Band
Blackout
Still Loving You
Big City Nights
Wind Of Change (with Morten Harket)
No One Like You
When The Smoke Is Going Down

scorpionsmtvunplugged_600

Share : facebooktwittergoogle plus
pinterest



8 Responses

Leave us a comment


  • Galactic Cowboy on

    MTV still plays music??????


  • Lee on

    These guys are like massive in Europe, freaking huge.


  • pumpkin on

    Perhaps we can all look forward to Motorhead, Judas Priest, Rush, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Iron Maiden etc doing unplugged and acoustic sets; it makes me wonder why we got into hard rock and heavy metal in the first place, oh yeah..it was the energy and vibrant sounding music I think. Bands like to say stuff like “it brings another dimension to the music” or “the songs really take on a different form”. Blue Oyster Cult are another band supposedly going to release an album of acoustic versions, but it would be really interesting to see how many fans would rather have re-hashed old numbers or a brand new studio album?


  • Bob on

    looking forward to this. Always loved the Scorps


  • Lee on

    Just a contract thing or the typical nothing great to put to tape for a new album…..look at the crap put out rehashed in the past 20 years by everybody and the lame new material they put out. At least Sabbath & Motorhead are ahead of that.


    • richman on

      Sadly even SAXON isn’t above this nonsense. The drummer sitting in the chair bobbing his head is always ridiculous. However, drumming is a rough job and they deserve a night off once in a while. Getting back to Peter Chriss, in one of the numerous KISS unpluggeds is actually hugged and high-fived by Simmons towards the end of BETH. Total bromance when those 2 got along. TESLAs acoustical album is the only one that is noteworthy.


    • DR on

      If I hear Signs by Tesla one more fuckin time I swear my head will explode. Did they do any other song that night, or was it just Signs Signs, everywhere a sign? Tesla had their moment in time, but that for me was not one of them. However we get to hear it on the radio and even Sirius like 20 f’n times a day.


    • Eddie on

      Not on my shows


Leave a Reply to Galactic Cowboy Cancel Reply