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On stage: Gotthard



- Gotthard & It's Alive - Apr. 1994 - Bochum (D) -
- Gotthard & Kingdom Come - Apr. 2003 - Hamburg (D) -
- Bang-Your-Head - June 2004 - Balingen (D) -
- Gotthard & Europe - Nov. 2009 - Bochum (D) -


www.gotthard.com












- Gotthard & Europe - November, 13th 2009 - Bochum (D), Ruhrcongress -





Europe - live in Bochum

Europe - live in Bochum

Gotthard - live in Bochum

Gotthard - live in Bochum

Gotthard - live in Bochum

Gotthard and Europe doing a double-header tour was something most won't have expected, but it makes sense, coz the fan base is mainly the same. Yesterday the Swedish-Swiss tour company stopped in Cologne and tonight they had Bochum on their schedule. Actually the venue Ruhrcongress was a bit oversized and it looked more like an auditorium from the 70's... But that would be okay, if the sound would have been better! Depending on where you stood you got an 'echo' which was quite annoying, mainly during the Europe set. But even Gotthard haven't had the perfect sound, the sound was diffuse. And even if the light show was pretty cool, I would have preferred a better sound...
Anyway, Europe have a new album out which is called Last Look At Eden and they kicked off with the title track. Singer Joey Tempest was always in action and used the catwalk frequently to get closer to the audience. It seemed that the other Europeans were focusing on their play and didn't move much. With Gonna Get Ready they continued... And their fans were ready for some more. During their 75 minutes long set they offered some new songs, but also some of their classics. With a keyboard intro they opened up No Stone Unturned and afterwards singer Joey Tempest picked up a guitar and they presented an acoustic version of Carrie. As New Love In Town is their latest single, it's no surprise that they played this catchy balladesque tune. Guitarist John Norum had a fat guitar sound and his distinguished sound always been a trademark of Europe. And again his emotional playing made their songs shine. With Rock The Night they had another classic on their set list, but the house went on fire when they played their smash hit The Final Countdown!
After a change over the light show was getting even more impressive. The Swiss rockers kicked off with Unspoken Words of their new album Need To Believe. Actually they played quite a lot songs from their latest album, but also added a few older ones. Like Joey Tempest Steve Lee used the catwalk to get closer to the fans. Compared with the Swedish the Gotthard guys were more active and guitarists Leo Leoni and Freddy Scherer teamed up for some parts. After Top Of The World they played the title track Need To Believe plus two more of that one. As my interview with Joey Tempest took place while Gotthard played, I missed parts of their show, but I heard that after Unconditional Faith they did an acoustic part where Steve Lee and Leo Leoni were sitting on bar stools and played on request. Nice idea, unfortunately I missed it.... I just got back at the end of the drum duel between Hena Habegger and Steve Lee who was positioned opposite the stage. Well performed, but it also showed that it became routine.
Some more songs and they finished the regular set with Lift U Up. The fans loudly demanded more and so the Swiss returned for Sister Moon and Anytime, Anywhere. And so for many hard rock fans this Friday, the 13th was a pleasant experience.
I hope next time they play at a better place with a more perfect sound! Both bands delivered a routine performance, but also both performances could have been a bit more vivid... Anyway, not a waste of time!
Before the show in Cologne Gisela Schmitz had the chance to talk to Hena Habegger. The interview is in German, but I wanted to give you the chance to listen to the conversation. Click here to listen to the interview!




Claudia Ehrhardt

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Gotthard & Kingdom Come - April, 23rd 2003 - Hamburg (D), Docks




Again in Hamburg... Perhaps I should move to Hamburg... Within about a week it's the second time for me at the Docks. As many hard rock fans I'm into the first 3 releases of Gotthard, even if this time it seemed that some more pop rock fans came...
Anyway, for Kingdom Come mainman Lenny Wolf it was a home match. Their latest release Independent was recorded more or less by Lenny himself. To be honest I just like their debut album and so Should I and Do You Like It were my highlight of Kingdom Come's set. So I won't comment this set, coz it probably wouldn't be a fair judgement.
After a break the Swiss hard rocker of Gotthard entered the stage. Singer Steve Lee and guitarist Leo Leoni's band opened their set with the title track of their latest album Human Zoo. Followed by 2 faster tracks - Top Of The World and Come Along - highlights were the older rockers like Hush and Mountain Mama. The show was visually completed with projections on the backdrop and a fantastic light show. During Still I Belong To You guitarists Mandy Mayer and Leo Leoni did a guitar solo battle. Excellent. Interesting was also the acoustic part which included In The Name and One Life, One Soul. But what really blow me away was the drum solo of Hena Habegger - drummer extraordinary - and as a surprise singer Steve Lee joined in on drums. Wow! I just remember that someone told me about something similar from an early Saga show... Some more songs from the Swiss and the show was over. The quintet re­turned for an encore which included Firedance and last, but not least Mighty Quinn. Great show! But please play more hard rocking tunes next time!



Anika Peterson
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


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Gotthard & It's Alive - April, 26th 1994 - Bochum (D), Zeche




Tonight It's Alive were here to open up for the Swiss hard rockers. The men from Sweden started their set with Someone In The House. This time they had a good sound. The Gotthard following appreciate the show, even if the Swedish play another kind of metal. The mixture of traditional metal and rap isn't new, but unusual for a Swedish act. Shouter Martin White rap on the playground of a sound which is build up by drummer Gus, bass player Peter Kahm, keyboarder John Rosth and guitarists Per Aldeheim and Kim Bjørkegren. Again the band present songs of their debut Earthquake Visions. Songs like Give Us (A Place), Sing The Blues which is the current single and I'm Your Man heat up the audience. The sextet also played Metalapolis, There Is Something and Where I through the time limit the boys could just give a clue of their abilities. Sadly not everyone appreciate the band, many traditional metal fans couldn't cope with the rap metal. Perhaps the Swedish should try to support acts which are more their kind of metal, otherwise this way they could make new fans.
After a break the Swiss rockers entered the stage and started with Here Comes The Heat. Live the band work with a guest guitarist. Igor fits perfectly in the band and it looks like he is the 5th member in the band. Gotthard don't need long to catch the attention of the audience. From nearly the first note the fans sang along with Steve Lee. Steve is a kind of frontman who is always in motion and trying to keep in touch with the fans. The guys presented most of the new tunes like Higher, She Goes Down, I'm Your Travellin' Man or Love For Money. The band don't hesitated to play the Beatles cover Come Together. Leo Leoni is the clown of the band, he is always joking, laughing and making lots of nonsense. It seems that this guys couldn't be serious. Unusual for a bass player is that Marc Lynn is always in motion and you feel the fun he has playing live. When the band played Mountain Mama two members of their crew entered the stage. Both dressed in the traditional clothes of the Alps. The band integrate them in the show. In the middle of the show the band gave drummer Hena the chance to show his abilities. Hena is a fantastic drummer. The reaction onto the drum solo was amazing. The people cheered and clapped their hands. With the next tune the band gave full power and also the old tracks the fans sang along. For the band it must be a great feeling to got such a positive reaction from more than 700 fans at their last show. After 90 minutes the band left the stage, but the shouts for more brought them back for two more tracks, one they played together with the guys from It's Alive.
Resume: A fantastic show of one of the best melodic hard rockers in Europe!



Claudia Ehrhardt

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