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Hard Rock Hell Minehead
9th - 11th November 2007 Review by Chris Davison and Strawb, photos
by Strawb Day 2
So in stark contrast to day two of every other festival I have
ever been to, I awoke in a comfortable bed in a room that didn't
stink of beer and shit, and had a shower. I was then able to walk
into a clean, well maintained eating area and eat a bloody massive
burger and chips for a reasonable price before browsing through
friendly run stalls of merchandise without the wind and rain making
me as miserable as bloody sin. Starting with a battle of the bands
on day two was a fine idea, and Adrenaline
from the West Midlands were an energetic starting point for the
competition. Having two vocalists can work really well (see Impaled,
Carcass etc), but to have two with essentially the same voice seems
to be a bit of a waste of time. Still, they were enjoyable, but alas
I was unable to see who won the competition because
Turisas were on the next stage. |
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I don't mind the odd bit of cheese, and there's little to lift a hungover heart that can compare with seeing an entire front row
waving plastic weaponry aloft. Apparently, greedy journo-types had
drunk the entire festival supply of free beer in just one day –
meaning that the band had to send runners to the bar mid-set, but
rousing blasters like “One More” and “Holmgard and Beyond” were
absolutely stunning. The band enlisted a cheeky scamp to come
onstage dressed as Dee Snider and smashed an accordion to bits,
leading to much hilarity. I also never thought I'd see the day that
denim clad metalheads would be jigging around like morris dancers on
speed to that cover of Boney M's “Rasputin”. At Butlins. Easily the
highlight of the festival, they were much better than I had even
dared to hope they would be. (CD)
So with spirits high I made my way to the third stage, today known
as the Born Again stage. GMT,
who I had savaged in my review when I saw them at the Rock and Blues
Custom Show were to open today. The stage was still being set up
when they should have been 10 minutes in to their act, but I guess
that was the overtime from the BOTB. I then got a call from Chris
telling me 3 Inches of Blood were a no show, and so everyone else
was moving up the bill. This meant that
Sabbat would be on in five minutes. I suspect a few fans
missed Sabbat, Fintroll and Grand Magus due to this decision, and I
feel some sympathy with the organisers faced with an empty slot or
changing the times, but punters were definitely not happy with the
changes….I of course, still had to catch GMT. |
| My review of them
previously mentioned was factual at the time and I stand by it,
apart from the Bill Nighy reference. I had harboured doubts since
that time that maybe they were no longer up to their best and maybe
journeymen were the best they could now manage. Humble pie, extra
large portion ordered. As I entered the room it was packed, and for
the only time this festival I had to cajole and use my bulk and 30
years of rugby experience to ensure photos. It was obvious from the
time I walked in that this was a totally different class of
performance. This was their crowd, and were they getting value for
money, this set alone made the ticket price seem a bargain. Loud,
Clear, Tight, note perfect, just at the peak and fucking brilliant
with it. All too soon they were launching into New Orleans, and I
know what comes next, Smoke on the Water and then it is over. Both
of these tunes raised the bar even further. I took the opportunity
to clear my cards to my hard drive. And then the reason I award
myself the cock of the festival award. With all cards out of the
camera, their special surprise. An encore with a guest vocalist, one
Dee Snider, sans makeup. I didn’t panic, just accepted defeat. And
went to hear the song, knowing that short of extreme violence I had
no chance of getting back to the stage. So the odd captured glimpse
of the guest spot captured by very few [2 I know of] of my peers. I
did manage to get one card back in the camera to get a shot of Torme
and Snider |
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| sharing a hug
and of the back of Dee as he leaves the stage. So, new heights and I
can tell you about it. The crowd exploded into applause which went
on and on, and deservedly so. Now for the geeky fan bit. Later in
the day I met Bernie and John. They were just milling about [as did
others, a quite unique angle of this festival] and were willing to
talk. It was not an interview, so will not be reproduced here, but
they were overjoyed with their set and praised Dee up for his guest
spot. John shook my hand, which I will wash soon, I’m sure I will. (S) |
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| Being a Sabbat fan to the point
of stalker-dom, it was great to see the band on such good form.
Walkyier was in utterly commanding form, while Simon Jones is
utterly transformed when he plays live. All eyes may generally be on
Andy Sneap given his high-profile production jobs, but Jones truly
comes alive while he whacks out those riffs. Giz Butt was
spectacular on the bass, and Simon did a brilliant job on the drums
considering how he had injured his hands at work during the week!
The fantastic (and classic) “For Those Who Died” was a rallying cry
to the audience, prior to Finntroll,
who again failed to move me any. While I enjoy, to a moderate
degree, their marriage of black metal and folk music on record, live
they just don't do it for me. “Trollhammaren” may be a fine track,
but live it seems ...erm...devoid of life. Go figure.
(CD) |
| My musical preferences and need to photograph as many bands as
possible took me back to Born Again for
Raven. Never seen them before and were it still the late
70s [as it mainly is in my head] then they would be on for a
meteoric amount of fame. But alas, only a few of us old saddos still
refuse to age, but a good number of us gathered here to give them
the audience they deserved. We had classics and some new stuff, much
the same as the old stuff, and all of it enjoyable. Thus ended the
Born Again stage, two And now the slackness. We felt we had earned the right to
a meal. Wrong, this is a festival, but unfortunately no option of
eating in the main arena, or any of the arenas, so it had to be an
‘on a break’ scenario. The good news was is an all you can eat
buffet [so sorry if you have shares in Pizza Hut as the profits
tumble] the bad news was that we left with the ability to barely
wobble, and missed Grand Magus , the closers of the Porshamar Stage,
and McQueen, the openers on the first, today christened the Legends,
stage. Which meant that we resumed with only |
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| Legends to
see.great bands, two great sets, two satisfied audiences. |
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| And this fine
night of metal begins with
Fastway. As they came on stage, John and his bass were
the closest to me, and he looked sartorially eloquent, all in black
with the red stripes on his jacket. And the bass was mean. Toby
occupied the centre stage, the natural ground of the vocalist and
whilst very much an individual I was struck by the resemblance to
the early, hungry Robert Plant. Great set of lungs and pipes well
matched to them. ‘Fast’ was off to the left of the stage and primed
and ready to go, what a performance. Steve, sat behind a huge kit
which was to be thrashed to within an inch of its life. No Fastway
albums in my collection, but it was amazing how many of the tracks
were familiar. And checking behind me the crowd was substantial. I
know all tickets were sold, then add press and other bands members,
this hall was filling towards capacity. This crowd were hungry, and
with Fastway the feeding began. It was a 45 minute set and I found
no weak spot anywhere – brilliant. (S)
I, on the other hand, couldn't have been more disappointed. Being
the rabid Motorhead fan that I am, it's no surprise that I found the
prospect of the legendary Eddie Clark playing tepid rock tunes an
unedifying prospect. “Fast” he may once have been, but he now looks
like Tony Hart in a bad wig. (CD) |
| Harry's time now, as the stage shape changed substantially to
accommodate his heroes. Saxon
were about to enter the stage. We photogs had been told the 3 track
rule was in force, but lost some of the first track as we were held
back because it featured pyrotechnics. And from this reviewers point
of view, the pyros were the only substandard part of this whole set.
I quote Harry. ‘I thought Biff patrolled the stage like a Field
Marshall, and the crowd were his troops. Then they did Witchfinder
General and it came to me, that was who he was, searching the crowd
for his witches. Now I know what fucking awesome really is.’ I had
seen Saxon previously, one of the gigs I have no record of [normally
I keep at least the ticket stub] I think in the early 80s. I
remember them as a great live act. I do have their albums in my
collection. I had not built my hopes up too high, but I could have
done, because age has only matured them like a great wine. A great
light show benefited us photogs. It became obvious that Biff was
winging it on the set list, something I later confirmed. The band
had |
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| energy. If we
could bottle it then we could keep the nation grid going during a
party political broadcast surge demand. They had the crowd and knew
it, and played us just as well as they did their instruments. I
could run through my list of superlatives here, but still fall short
of just how good Saxon were. Amongst others present I saw Torme and McCoy in the crowd. And the encore was deserved and
just as well, because no-one was moving until they did it. And
Harry's birthday present, I managed to secure him the set list that
the band ignored, now we just need another concert to get it signed
up… |
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So it is now headliner time. Glam rock has never really been my
thing. Twisted Sister do not
figure in my music collection. So they needed to be extraordinary to
impress me. And as a live band they were fantastic. Showmen all, But
Dee is from the top drawer. Minor criticisms – overran by forever
squared, don’t mind headliners doing it, but don’t keep announcing
the last tune and then play on. Dee, your Tv show is the place to do
the talking, not for 5 minutes at a time between tracks, your music
did the talking for you. I was not sure how many fans TS would have
at this festival, but there were many, very many. And the neutrals
were by and large entertained – very much so. Two hours of TS,
numerous encores and I was left feeling that the fans wanted more. 2
Xmas songs included.
The next band and I have a history. My wonderful daughter will enjoy
her 22nd birthday soon and just a few weeks before she was born, Mrs
S and I went to Boston [Lincs not Mass.] and the yet to be born
Kirsty enjoyed every minute of the concert, and spent an awful lot
of it kicking along to the performance. And she has grown up with
excellent musical tastes, which I partially credit to that night.
And Strangers In The Night is a must have album. It remains in my
top 10. Ladies and Gentlemen, live on stage I give you,
UFO. And
tonight's line-up differs from that which recorded the seminal album
in only one area, Schenker missing, Vinnie Moore replacing him on
lead guitar. |
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Paul Raymond on keyboards and rhythm guitar, Pete Way on bass and
Phil Moog on vocals. And these boys rocked. Sure, the crowd had
shrunk since the Twisted Sister set, but a few less philistines
meant nearer to the barrier for the true fans [some of us, obviously
were the right side of said barrier]. It is difficult to photograph
when singing along. It is difficult to stay in tune and at low
volume when concentrating on taking good photos. These things I
learned during the UFO set. An upset stomach and the need to rush
[twice] to the gents cannot diminish the absolute sense of joy I
felt and maintained during this time. I made slight allowances for
age, Phil especially seemed to take the occasional ‘break’ –
standing static or resting on his mic stand. Natural Thing – it was
played, ditto Doctor Doctor and many more of the classics, the boys
knew what the crowd wanted and supplied it in full, truly now my cup runneth over. Post set, Chris would complain of noodling,
the act of turning a good three minute track into a seven minute
track |
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throwing in a guitar solo. I explained when only UFO did it, it was
something to look forward to, when they were copied and
everyone did it, then it became noodling, but this food was not from
the Chinese Restaurant, it was classy, fulfilling and plentiful.
These boys are currently on tour – listen to S.I.T.N. and then catch
a concert – I guarantee you will think time travel is real.
(S) I, again, the voice of dissent have
to say that UFO were the most awful, bowel cringinly dreadful act of
the weekend. I confess that classic rock isn't my bag to be honest,
but this was so terrible that I can't believe that people would pay
to listen to it. Seemingly endless tracks that meandered on like |
some stoned hippy in
search of munchies, while Pete Way apparently plays a different song
to the rest of the band. Oh, and I waited for what seemed like
ages for the bastards to play “Lights Out”, which they didn't. The cunts.
(CD)
Tesla time. Since reviewing Real
To Reel for this fine site, I have researched Tesla and listened to
some of their back catalogue. How did they ever fall off of the
radar – they were good. They were on the posters with the Real To
Reel logo so I was expecting an hour of covers, but that didn’t
happen and they showed the by now numerically disappointing crowd
that they are still a big blip on the Air Traffic Control screens.
Each member performed very well, but the outstanding thing for me
was the singing voice of Jeffery Lynn Keith. Totally different to
his speaking voice but unique and very suited to the music played
tonight. This was the last concert in the UK, but lucky USA fans get
their own tour beginning soon, so for our readers over the pond,
find the nearest concert and be there, these boys are on form.
(S) |
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Diamond Head are the final act
to play, and play they do, despite the dwindling crowd which is made
up of the hardcore alcoholics and the insomniacs. At times, there
are more people trying to obtain another beer than actually
listening to the band, which is a bloody shame because they are
absolutely spell-binding. Brian Tatler is one of metals great
survivors, though the band must be praised for just how tight and
true to the original sound of the first line up they are. Of course,
new tracks must be aired, and yes, they do sound impressive, but we
just want to listen to “Helpless”, “Lightning to the Nations” and of
course “Am I Evil”. The dirty old buggers even employ strippers for
a breathless rendition of “Sucking my Love”, which although
thoroughly reprehensible made for jolly nice viewing, thank you very
much! (CD)
I have to be honest and say I had my doubts about Butlins as a
venue, [ yes I am aware that Quo began there] but they fronted up.
The fact that all is indoors meant that the weather was not a
factor. Plenty of accommodation was available. Food and drink was
well priced and good. There was plenty of space for the stalls –
just a few more needed next time I think. The staff are used to the
numbers, and some I spoke to were pleasantly surprised by us, the
metalheads living up to our reputation, oh yes, but in doing so
treating them as human beings. The balance of the acts that I saw
meant that there was something for everyone, and by showing a little
bit of tolerance, then something for every hour of both days. The
timings of the stages being open were good, suited my body clock and
meant that even allowing for travelling, when people got to the site
then there was still lots to see, until around 0500 each day, near
as damn it. So was it worth a couple of hundred quid? Dependent upon
your musical tastes and willingness to listen to the tastes of
others, but in my opinion it has to be a resounding yes. Hard Rock
Hell deserves to become a permanent fixture on the yearly music
calendar. (S) |
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