Iron Maiden closes Download Festival 2016 Donington Park 12th June 2016. Photos & Review & all the mud and everything else. (my 11 days backpacking alone Rocking Europe 2016 reports continues on and on). - SAMBUNGAN CERITA2 PENGEMBARAAN 11 HARI AKU KE EROPAH JUNE 2016

(First two photos Especially for Tuan Tanah blog Apa Ada Dengan Ijau?,)

Adrian Smith with his San Dimas Lime / Green colour.

(I just take a few photos as I got a bit mental for this show.
i had took over 60 pretty photos of Maiden for 2016 shows in Perth Australia. Over-indulgence, I know LOL. The link is on the right of this blog. Click Steve Harris 2016, you will find it.)

more dramatic photos below... lol

As usual in market bazaar Malay language first and then in Broken English.

Penulisan yang baru lepas, tentang suasana Ramadhan aku waktu backpacking Europe untuk tengok band2 rock kegemaran aku, tentang pasal kejutan kata2 mutiara tentang Agama Islam sewaktu Iron Maiden tengah beraksi oleh orang sebelah aku masa kita tengah berhurray-hurray....
Post kali ni aku cerita pasal 
-kapalterbang Ed Force One Iron Maiden betul2 mendarat di lapangan terbang betul2 sebelah kawasan Donington Park yang memang luas giler, seluas-luas mata memandang semuanya ialah kawasan Donington Park.

********
- Ratu Elizabeth II untuk Great Britain sambut hari lahir ke 90 jadi memang rakyat Britain pun tentu suasana seronok raikan bersama,
Bruce Dickinson penyanyi Iron Maiden turut sama, waktu permulaan lagu The Trooper dia pekik ###"Happy Birthday Your Majesty!!!!".###
iron Maiden ialah band British, Steve Harris pernah cakap nak jadi ahli Iron Maiden mesti orang British.
tu pasal Michael Kiske dan Andre Matos takkan jadi penganti Bruce Dickinson suatu masa dahulu walau ceritanya Andre Matos (Angra) nye tape yang dia hantar untuk apply kerja dengan Iron Maiden ialah top 3.

Seperti apa umum tahu, Steve Harris punya top 2 ialah Blaze Bailey dan Doogie White, dan Steve nsk lari dari suara Bruce sebab tu Blaze dapat kerja jadi penyanyi Iron maiden,
dan Dougie White kemudian nyanyi untuk Rainbow Ritchie Blackmore dan sekarang Michael Schenker nye band antaranya.
dan Andre Matos dia keluar Angra (band yang Megadeth gitaris Kiko sebelum ni jugak) dan buat band Shaman yang terbit lagu Fairytale yang popular satu dunia sampai jadi tema cerita drama Korea kalau tak silap aku.

dorang memqng bangga sebagai kumpulan British , jadi sesuai sesuai sangat, kumpulan British, di tempat keramat heavy metal dan hard rock iaitu Donington Park, dengan depan 85000 majoriti British, lagu Trooper cerita kegemilangan sejarah tentera berkuda British, dengan kibaran Union Jack, dan Hari Jadi Ratu Permaisuri Elizabeth II mereka.
Ini antara sebab aku suka tengok Iron Maiden di Donington, seperti kalau  ak tengok Kumpulan Search, sila tengok dorang main di JB.
lain dia semacam...  thrill dia lain, suasana band dan sekitaran lain, cara peminat sambut pun lain, macam sambut home heroes gitu, macam ada sense of urgency, macam Ribut gitu persembahan.
dan sangat istimewa persembahan. Boleh rasa band atas stage main untuk sesuatu sangat isitimewa..

- Aku tunjuk sikit demi sedikit keadaan lumpur, hujan, dan memang seluruh tempat festival ni dah jadi BANJIR AIR LUMPUR yang membantut pergerakkan. Aku paling nervous ialah jatuh sakit dengan segala macam kuman dan bakteria dan segala NAJIS dan kotoran Manusia dan segala jenis makanan yang dibuang seberangan kat merata tempat di kaki masing2 pasal ni memang tempat DAHSYAT suasana nya dan hujan non stop memang tahap tempat ni bukan untuk semua orang. 
Paling kasihan, bebrapa kawasan perkhemahan 5 hari hancur ranap oleh hujan dan air lumpur naik melimpah, dan mereka yang datang untuk Hari Ahad beribu2 orang untuk saksikan band2 hari Ahad dan Iron Maiden tak dapat teruskan perjalanan dengan kenderaan masing2 dan terpaksa pulang dengan hampa kerana jam teruk dari jalanraya menuju ke Donington.
Aku naik bas awam khas jadi memang ada jalanraya semua ditutup kecuali untuk bas awam yang bawa beribu2 peminat sahaja,
Memang banyak komplen dalam internet, TAPI KORANG BUKAN NAK GI TENGOK KONSERT RAIHAN ATAU JAMAL ABDILLAH OK. 

- 85000  orang, Bruce atas pentas umumkan ada 85 Ribu orang yang hadir dan tentunya, antara hari Jumaat, hari Sabtu dan hari Ahad, tentunya hari yang Iron Maiden menjadi headliner tentunya adalah hari yang paling ramai orang yang hadir dengan tiket Sehari.
Macam aku, aku ada tiket untuk masuk ketiga2 hari.
Festival kali ini memang sangat dikutuk oleh ramai, kerana untuk ramai, festival Download kali ni seperti condong kepada "METAL ELITIST".

- Tidak seperti Black Sabbath, persembahan Maiden tak ditutup dengan pertunjukkan bunga-api. Cuma dendangan lagu "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" yang berkumandang di speakers.
- Iron Maiden, seperti aku cakap tu hari, Iron Maiden kali ini sound memang lagi baik dari tahun 2013 yang aku jugak hadir di Donington, tapi 2013 bukan salah sound-man tapi kerana angin kencang dan hujan turun waktu Maiden beraksi.
Kali ini sound memang ok, tapi takde PUNCH sebagaimana sound Black Sabbath pada hari Sabtu. Black Sabbath punya sound hari Sabtu... AKU KAGUM!!!!. Mungkin di posisi aku berdiri memang aku dapat sound terbaik, pasal ni semua nasib.. 70 ribu, 80 ribu orang kat padang terbuka dengan angin kencang, hujan lebat, dan Black Sabbath dari lagu keempat Into The Void memang hujan turun sampai abis... tapi aku boleh rasa sangat ketara perbezaan sound Black Sabbath dengan Iron Maiden untuk tahun 2016 di Donington. Walau satu band headline hari Sabtu dan satu band headline hari Ahad.

*******
MEMANG PERTEMBUNGAN GERGASI antara headliner hari Sabtu dan Ahad..
Sebab tu, bila mula2 festival 2016 nye senarai band diumumkan, ada tiga gergasi - Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath dan Motorhead (sebelum kematian Lemmy),
terus Judas Priest punya penyanyi terus cakap dia nak Judas Priest pun ambil bahagian pasal semua GERGASI ROCK Inggeris beraksi untuk Donington 2016 dan dia nak Judas Priest ambil bahagian jugak.

Semestinya, dari tahun 1980, sejak Monsters Of Rock pertama beraksi... 
dan sememangnye, segala band rock dan heavy metal beraksi di Donington, dan seperti Metallica, cita2 mereka ialah untuk beraksi di Donington, dan pertama kali berjaya dapat tempat ialah tahun 1985, dan segala rakaman2 video yang mengujakan, dan aku paling tak boleh lupa video2 Sepultura beraksi di Donington tahun 1994 yang sangat mengujakan...

Maka tu pasal, walaupun tak ramai orang suka Donington, dengan keadaan boleh sampai 90,000-100,000 orang, yang camping lain, yang datang harian lain, tapi tempat ni sangat positif vibe dia, pasal aku rasa semua orang satu kepala, baik yang muda, atau yang tua.

Dan nanti aku akan kongsi pelan2... aku suka kemudahan untuk orang2 OKU , orang cacat berkerusi roda, orang buta, orang tua perlukan pertolongan, dan sebagainya cuma kalau hujan lebat, hujan ribut, lumpur teruk, banjir air lumpur terus melumpuhkan segala fasiliti yang disiapkan.
Dan sini makanan macam2, nanti aku tunjuk kedai2 makan jugak lain kali. HAHA.

Ok, design event tshirt untuk Iron Maiden Download Festival Donington Park dan Paris kedua2 nye kongsi satu tshirt, 
penuh bermakna TAHUN 1815 DAHULU , PERANCHIS DAN INGGERIS BERPERANG DI WATERLOO, DENGAN GENERAL MASING2 IALAH NAPOLEON DAN WELLINGTON, DAN SEKARANG IRON MAIDEN DAN DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL SATUKAN MEREKA KEMBALI DUA DUA GENERAL DAN NEGARA DAH DAMAI KERANA IRON MAIDEN HEADLINE FESTIVAL INI UNTUK KEDUA2 NEGARA.
dan ACDC nye event tshirt untuk Manchester 2016 yang juga sangat detailed design dia. ok dah tu je cakap Melayu.. sambung gambar... untuk Iron Maiden dulu la, lain lain kali.

Apa pun, persembahan Iron Maiden memang dahsyat. Tv di England dah tunjuk proshot 2 lagu iaitu Book of Souls dan Blood Brothers,
dan dari segi persembahan  dari suara dan permainan dan on stage punye pergerakkan semua terbaik.
ada satu HD quality video dah masuk kat youtube, lepas beberapa jam, terus kena katup. Haha.
mungkin rakaman2 dari kamera2 Donington akan digunakan untuk live dvd rasmi.





About 30 mins before Maiden plays..

85,000 fans..
 as announced by Bruce on stage.
This is the front direction view, back direction view, and in unholy mudwater flood of Donington which sinks your shoes buried deep.

But.., the downside.. or as Bruce says on stage, Downpour Festival..

By SUNDAY EVENING, CONTINUOUS RAIN AND SERIOUSLY HORRIBLE HORRIBLE CONDITIONS HAD TRANSFORMED DONINGTON'S DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL ENVIRONMENT INTO THIS TYPE OF SITUATION.
 ITS NOT really ROCK N ROLL if everyone cannot enjoy it fully isnt it? AS I LOVE DONINGTON download AND HELLFEST festivals due to I ENJOY SEEiNG EVERYONE, 
THOSE WITH WHEELCHAIRS 
AND SUPPORTS FOR ALL KINDS OF DISABILITIES,
 the Blind, 
the old, the young kids,
the less mobile needed to be assisted by love ones,
 HAVING A GREAT TIME AS MUCH AS EVERYONE ELSE AND THEY GOT THE BEST VIEWS ALWAYS. BUT THIS YEAR WAS NOT WHAT I HAD ENCOUNTERED BEFORE. The weather was horrible and I think the organisers are overwhelmed. 
But they make their money for sure. LoL.


first a view of the 2016 version of the Ed Force One used by Iron Maiden for their travels.

If you take the special buses that leads to Donington Park, the area for alighting and boarding of buses is at a huge carpark besides the Midland Airport.
And there was Ed Force One.
I took this photo on Saturday when they arrived at about noon as Maiden headline and closes the festival on Sunday.

Ok, just took some pics for Remembrance sake..

Two photos summarise Bruce, Dave, Adrian, Janick , Steve and lastly Nicko I think buried somewhere under that drumkit.

BRUCE WAS EXCELLENT.

******
anyone seen the BBC or whatever British TV channel footage that shows the PRO-SHOT of Book Of Souls and Blood Brothers in Download Donington 2016?

Book of Soul was amazing, especially after it kicks in to the fast section of the song. The solos, and This is wwhen the Walk On Eddie will appear on stage,
and lots of nice Nicko drumming footage from at least two different close up cameras.

I WOULD VOTE THIS FOR A LIVE DVD FROM 2016 TOUR. LOL.******

Bruce greets "HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOUR MAJESTY!!  " at the start of The Troooper.
Bruce talks a lot, love his "if the world is run, the way Iron Maiden is run, the world would be a better place" speech before Blood Brothers and he talked about La Bataclan attack and the recent Florida attack.

He got a new costume accessrories.

A monkey doll with long arms wrapped around his neck for Death Or Glory. Seems a fan throw it on stage.

The Iron Maiden event tshirt, and since now Download Festival has a new franchise in Paris, so its a shared tshirt for both dates.
both dates and locations are on the back, and do take note the one with dates are the event tshirts that are only available on the event itself.

Buying this tshirt on the official website do not have the dates, locations printed.

Napoleon and Wellington since the Waterloo battle between the French and British Armies are now friends, thats to Iron Maiden, Eddie, and the Download Festivsl Mascot.
very nice pretty beautiful colourful tshirt.

The tshirt design front and back, with a close up details of French famous General Bonaparte Napoleon and General Wellington I believe.

With famous landmarks. Very complicated and fanciful.
eiffel tower,
and is that the R101 from Empire of the Clouds.

This is something I had forgotten,
this is for ACDC Manchester 2016 event tshirt as I had forgotten to show earlier
and again a close up showing the detailed Eithad Stadium and the ACDC cannon.
with a tiny print We Salute You.

Next when I got time, I will blog about more of Download Festival, also the 11 days Rocking Euope Alone Backpacking trip is not only for some heavy metal and hard rock happiness, but include some bequtiful moments like the amazing small towns and villages along the Rhine River.

And also more bands.., and all the muddy fields..

Nightwish...

Sharon Osbourne's Black Sabbath

But I must say I like her drummer. LOL.
but it would be nice the final time get Bill Wards just for one song one more time.
it would make the world very happy.

To be continued and continued...

LONG LIVE BELINDA CARLISLE!!!

(refleksi Ramadhan masa rocking kat europe minggu lepas) - UNEXPECTED RESPONSE to my RAINBOW posting and reflections on Ramadhan while doing my Rockin Europe 2016 backpacking trip.

(kasi aku cakap omputeh dulu, lepas tu aku nak cerita2 sikit cakap melayu kat bawah)

Firstly,
I dont know what happened but seems past few days a crazy amount of visitors to this blog from all over the world due to my Rainbow posting.

I dont know how my blog post and this blog which roughly if I am lucky about less than 10 people visit a month (LOL!!!) suddenly got that traffic. A happy surprise.
I hope I gave a fair opinion and nice pretty photos that I took of RAINBOW newest version ever to play live for the very first time in Lorelei Germany.

I am very honoured to witness this performance.

I will continue my reports and pretty photos next time... all the other shows and nice pretty pictures of my Whirlwind 11 Days little sleep Rocking Europe 2016 Backpacking Alone Trip by planes/trains/and buses thousands and thousands of km from South East Asia, and with lots of help from people on the streets to guide me along the way.
Here is one photo for this post,
some pretty event tshirts...

Anyway, its being the month of Ramadhan,
I just want to say its an amazing and a lifetime memories experiencing Ramadhan IN THE MOST UNHOLY OF PLACES, IN THE MOST UNHOLY OF LIKE-MINDED CRAZY LUNATIC MUSIC FANS AROUND ME..

But that is where all the sweetness of fellow human beings come to the forefront.

Truly, heavy metal, heavy rock and hard rock fans are the best in the whole world.


Semasa Iron Maiden tengah main di Donington, dalam keadaan lumpur teruk, lumpur air yang dalam yang tenggelamkan kasut dan seluar..
DENGAN 85,000 peminat (ini jumlah yang diumumkan Bruce atas pentas)...

Sebelah aku ialah tak dinafikan seorang HARDCORE. Jadi memang hurray2 la, pasal sekaki kan.

So, masa lagu Blood Brothers, dia peluk aku, so nyanyi kuat2 giler2 la, aku tak tahu dia mabuk ke tak la, tapi tak berbau la, aku pulak dah bukak puasa makan kurma (HAHAH aku standby kurma dalam poket haha), so aku punye energy tenaga pun kira boleh rock n roll all nite la kira kat Donington pasal tu malam terakhir.

So dia masa peluk aku dia tanya aku dari mana?
Aku jawab la..

KEBETULAN, Bruce Dickinson atas stage tengah berceloteh pasal serangan di LA BATACLAN tahun lepas kan.
So aku bisik kat member sebelah ni la, "I am a Muslim".
Terus dia cakap...
"Then I LOVE YOU TWICE AS MUCH BROTHER, because Islam means Peace".

Aku terharu, ni dia paling giler la kat keliling aku masa tu, dia paling giler babi dia punye reaksi kat Maiden tengah beraksi...
tapi dia terkejutkan aku dengan kata2 mutiara dia, sewaktu sekeliling semua dalam keadaan tak terkawal dengan Iron Maiden tengah beraksi di pentas utama DONINGTON.


Apa aku nak cakap, mungkin peminat2 heavy metal, peminat2 muzik rock, dorang paham....

Yang tak paham, ialah ni segala puaka dalam dunia ni yang kuasai MASS-MEDIA, yang kuasai POLITIK, yang kuasai PANGKAT, YANG PANDAI PUTAR BELIT AGAMA DAN WARNA KULIT dan MENGETUAI MASYARAKAT..

Macam kat Bruce atas pentas, kalau la, DUNIA INI DITADBIRKAN, SEBAGAIMANA KUMPULAN IRON MAIDEN BERFUNGSI,
tentu dunia ni lebih aman sentosa... 



Lagi satu masa aku di Sankt Goar, satu perkampungan kecil pasal aku duduk sana pasal aku nak tengok Rainbow di Loreley..
Ni kampung sebelah Sungei Rhine.

Dan memang pure German la. Takde kulit2 lain, semua memang rakyat Jerman kulit putih yang macam kita nampak kat filem2 perang zaman dulu.

Tuan Rumah sound kat aku, kenapa aku tak bangun awal pergi dapur ada sarapan boleh la makan,

Aku cakap la aku puasa. ( I AM FASTING).

Korang tahu apa dia cakap " Yesterday, I HAD DINNER WITH MY FRIEND AND I HAD TO WAIT TILL 9.45 AT NIGHT SO I CAN START EATING AS HE IS ALSO FASTING"

Aku cakap kat korang yang baca ni la...

Sebagai orang yang tongong, bodoh, dan sangat jahil agama sampai aku tak tahu baca doa makan,

tapi saat tu, aku rasa sangat besar kuasa Allah, ni aku kat Sankt Goar, aku tengah berbual dengan seorang Jerman yang baru malam sebelum nya, makan malam lambat hanya kerana nak makan bersama seorang kawan yang sedang berpuasa.


Anyway, ni aku bukan tulis2 ni nak tunjuk aku baik ke, hapa ke ok, pasal memang sedia maklum, blog ni, dan jugak tuan tanah blog ni iaitu aku sentiasa setan2 bertenggek atas kepala..

Tapi, aku cuma nak cakap, kalau kita nak carik agama....  kalau kita fikir balik, betapa agung nye agama kita, kat tempat2 kita tak sangka...

Dan aku kat sana nak headbanging kat sesetengah band, dan senyum memanjang telinga ke telinga kat band2 lain beraksi kat tempat2 pelik, seberang sungei Rhine pukul 1 pagi dalam gelap pun aku redah naik feri kecik.

tapi bayangkan umat Islam di sana yang perlu kerja, perlu jalankan tanggungjawab harian dalam musim Summer, musim panas dengan puasa dari 2.30pagi gitu sampai 9.30malam..
lebih kurang 19 jam puasa...


So tu la, kalau fikirkan memang dahsyat...

Dan bila tengok notis kat bilik sembahyang prayer room Manchester airport, ada notis jemput semua muslimin dan bukan muslimin,
semua orang tak kira agama, iftar sama2...

Menakjubkan sangat orang2 Islam punya kekuatan dan keprihatinan terhadap dan oleh orang Islam di eropah. Betapa kuat daya mental dan semangat kemasyarakatan mereka.

Nanti la aku cerita2 lagi.



Thats about it, Selamat berpuasa, dan buat apa yang patut hahaha...

LONG LIVE ROCK N ROLL!!!!!!!!!

Ritchie Blackmore's RAINBOW 17 June 2016 @ Loreley Germany. (full report and photos plus the opening bands)

***(Warning - as usual my blog is written in a chaotic unorganised way. I dont really planned or re-checked it after typing, Sorry but hope you enjoy it)***

This is my observation, review, photos and report on Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow 2016 lineup first ever show in Loreley Freilichtbuehre Germany.
Firday 17 June 2016.

- RAINBOW plays from about 9 to 10.50PM

opening acts for this Monsters of Rock show were
-Thin Lizzy Anniversary Show All Star Band plays from about 5.30 to 6.40PM
-Manfred Mann's Earth Band plays from 7.20 to 8.20PM

Loreley being on top of a mountain besides the Rhine River in the vicinity of Sankt Goar and Sankt Goahausen is Not exactly an easy place to access and leave for an outsider not familiar at all with the envirronment,
 But surely its a spectacular AWESOME open air location on top of a hill with meaningful classical, historical importance to the Germans.

The stage is remiscent of the mid 70s Rainbow across the stage.


This band means so much to me that I cancelled to see more Iron Maiden shows in europe around Donington's period and switch my backpacking alone thousands of km from home for the one and only Rainbow.

The band that amazed me since my childhood living in a village in South East Asia long long ago and certainly thousands and thousands of kilometres away from rocking Europe.
Basically Temple of The King lyrics was my way of learning English as a small kid.

So spending money, travelling to unknown places, is more of me paying tribute to  Ritchie Blackmore and his contributions. to the world of music that we all love in the past, present and future.

My first view of Loreley Open Air location for music performances.
simply incredible and its on top of the mountain besides the huge , big, wide, long never ending, powerful, scary Rhine River.

People by 4PM was all standing up on the stone seats thats on the Loreley concert area.
simply a marvellous historical place, and it seems that wherever you stand or in other cases when everyone seats, you should get a view of the stage.

By later its all crazily crowded.
squeezed tight. RAINBOW FANS ALL TURNED UP OLD AND YOUNG AND IN BETWEEN , MEN AND WOMEN.

Ok - definitely whatever Ronnie Romero has to say or his style of perfoming as a Rainbow fronttman MUST HAVE THE BLESSING OF HIS MASTER - RITCHIE BLACKMORE. 

on the song Man On The Silver Mountain, Ronnie Romero asked the audience "do you know who's the man on the mountain?".

The answer according to Ronie Romero is "RONNIE DIO IS THE MAN ON THE MOUNTAIN."

the way I see it, this is Ritchie Blackmore's approved tribute to Ronnie James Dio. Maybe this is as close as ever the man in black shows his affection for Ronnie James Dio.

Ok.

the setlist as the way I look at it.

I bootlegged the show by the way on audio as usual.

1. Usual classical music I dont know the title.

2. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Band kicks in)

3. HIGHWAY STAR

4. SPOTLIGHT KID 

5. MISTREATED

6. SINCE YOU BEEN GONE

7. MAN ON THE SILVER MOUNTAIN

8. CATCH THE RAINBOW 

9. DIFFICULT TO CURE (Ritchie exit to leave a Bass/Drum/Keyboards Jam).

10. PERFECT STRANGERS

11. CHILD IN TIME (Ritchie plays few seconds of WOMAN FROM TOKYO near ending).

12. LONG LIVE ROCK N ROLL (audience thought its going to be Black Night and sings the tune till Romero says its for later)

13. STARGAZER (infinity ending....it goes on forever.. yes dreams come true).

14. BLACK NIGHT

15. SMOKE ON THE WATER

My Observations...

- people from all over  the world, personally I chat with two seperate pairs of Scotland fans and two seperate pairs of Japanese.
- Chile flags all over. Romero mention Spanish fans. I think Ukraine fans were shouting out their country's name.
- an "Iran loves Ritchie Blackmore" was raised somewhere that I saw.
If IRAN is Represented, basically the whole world surely would have been there. LOL.

- Ronnie informs he called Ritchie "master". Ritchie occasionally approaches Romero to whisper or correct things or just confuses Romero up.
I think its the usual Ritchie PRANKS to wind up the occasion.
there was a part where Romero announce the setlist was rearrange, but then they did continue with Catch The Rainbow,
Ritchie was already bringing the setlist paper and have an on stage discussion on the next song to play with Romero.
besides that, Ritchie does come up to Romero when Romero was addressing the audience and kind of winds up Romero.

but all in good fun... LOL.

Ronnie Romero for me, when he talks he reminds me of Klaus Meine. But when he sings of course the Ronnie James Dio similarity cannot be avoided. But theres only one Ronnie and its always Ronnie James Dio.

he really can sing.
He reminds me of what it would be like if Ronnie James Dio had sung Spotlight Kid insteads of joe Lynn Turner.
I think the whole night, there was only one hesitation that i think Romero was in, after the solo of Smoke On The Water.
He did brilliantly this guy.
RITCHIE SHIULD RECORD A RAINBOW ALBUM, I MEAN A STUDIO ALBUM, WITH THIS CURRENT BAND.

-Jens Johansson is a Dio band member alumni  so no issues there, LOL.
-Bob Noveau is amazing, and really is the best dresser for the evenjng.
-David Keith drum set up is I think humble for the headliner especially when JUDAS PRIEST SCOTT TRAVIS played with Thin Lizzy earlier. LoL.

(And please, dont expect a Cozy Powell or a Ian Paice clone or copycat.)

This is how Ritchie Blackmore wants it to be. So let it be. Just thankful Ritchie is playing rock again and its simply magical evening just to be in the audience.

THE SOUND WAS BRILLIANT THE WHOLE NIGHT.
 -the crew members keep going up on stage before the show starts to make adjustments on the instruments and equipments.

Candice Night is there. Backing vocals...
i think her partner was named Christina or something.

Ritchie Blackmore can talk. LOL.
HE HIMSELF SAYS HE JUST LEARN HOW TO TALK,
I did not know Ritchie can talk on stage?
he was introducing ROMERO after Romero had introduced other band members.

Romero earlier during band introductions called the Bassist a NOBODY but the coolest guy ever.

At the final song, which Rainbow plays their usual style before it ends up rocking this time, the start of SOTW has a loud fireworks display.

Now, Most important ,
The songs...

-Child In Time was a tour de force. About 10mins long
-Difficult To Cure was a 13 minute extra ordinary performance like I say inclusive of the above mentioned Jam.
-Stargazer was like infinity ending, Romero did not sings " my eyes are bleeding,.." other than that its just like my dream of how Stargazer should be live really comes true.

7 Rainbow songs of which 4 origins with Ronnie James Dio, one each from Graham Bonnet and Joe Lynn Turner era, and an instrumental.
6 songs from Deep purple.

NO BURN,
NO KILL THE KING.

But over 100 minutes of Ritchie Blackmore using the moniker Rainbow, playing Rainbow and Deep purple songs. Never thought this day could ever happen but it.

********Enough Ritchie and the band improvisations and guitar extended solos to make it extra special evening...

And certainly thats what the fans want.

As usual people on the internet will bitch about the setlist, will bitch about everything.
but its ok. The fans who are there, those around me seems happy.

Imagine if the band stays together and does more shows and rehearsals together. They will be so much more awesome.

One of the great moments of rock history this one, Ritchie blackmore have his old band name come again although with new musicians.

More photos ..

Jamming part by Bassist, keyboardist and drummer minus Ritchie during Difficult To cure Beethoven song.

+×+×+×+× Lets switch attention awhile to the opening acts before we go back to RAINBOW,

Now the opening bands.
Manfred Mann's & Earth Band.
I dont know
ow what to expect but they are skilled professionals.

In case annyone wondering, Manfed Mann is the player on the keyboards.
the band is superb, some beautiful songs.

Deifinitely a band I want to check out. Some superb instrumental sections of songs too.


+×+×+×+× next... another opening act before I continue about Rainbow


THIN LIZZY or

BLACK STAR RIDERS WITH AEROSMITH WITH JUDAS PRIEST ALL STARS.

Scott Gorham is a Thin Lizzy member and so is the keyboards player.
Ricky Warwick is another Black Star Riders member, ex Almighty and a Northern Ireland born. So he kinds of fit Phil Lynott style.

The 2nd guitarist Damon Johnson is also a BSR.
And remember Black Star Riders only got its name after Scott Gorham wants to records new songs with the current lineup of Thin Lizzy.

Add to that Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton
plus Scott Travis of Judas Priest.
Its supposed to be Mickey Dee from Motorhead as the posters display to advertise  the shows,

Thin Lizzy current anniversary lineup plays over an hour of all their famous songs, plus Black Rose, a traditional Irish song.

WHISKEY in the Jar is the last song.
They also plays Massacre and also Angel of Death.
two songs surely very familiar with Iron Maiden fans especially knowing Iron Maiden had recorded Angel Of Death during the Dance Of Death album studio sessions but never released till now.

During I forgot which song, maybe Boys Are Back in Town

There was a
"Lets sing for Mr Gary Moore" & "lets sing for Mr Phil Lynott" Moment,

I remember the Thin Lizzy has a rocking start and middle portion of the show, but when it comes near the end with the Cowboy Song, Black Rose and Whiskey in the Jar , I find the last parts are a bit touching and emotional.

A great show by the current interpretations of Thin Lizzy with their greatest hits and popular songs sections,
and also Manfred Manns Earth band,

Back to Rainbow..

The ending...

Ritchie kneels in front ofnthe stage to the audience after the last song

Then Candice and fellow backup singer joins in for photos.

When the band turns around for photo with the audience taken by Ritchie Blackmore's guitar tech,
Ritchie was no where around.

Divert the topic awhile to Loreley itself before I finish of with a Ritchie photo alone on stage,

Lets have a quick HOW TO GO TO LORELEY FOR A MUSIC CONCERT AND HOW TO RETURN FROM LORELEY BACK TO SANKT GOAR.
I slept at Sankt Goar.
I took the 10 minute interval ferry which runs early morning till night to cross over to Sankt Goarhausen.
- For days with concerts in Loreley,

DO TAKE NOTE THE FERRIES WILL RUN TILL VERY LATE.
MORE BUSES WILL SUPPORT THE AUDIENCE TO GO DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

share with you what happened during the Rainbow show,
Going to the show is not a problem, you can ssk around where to take the bus, and there is an information counter near to the ferry terminal at Sankt Goarhausen.
the bus will brings you up hill the mountain to Loreley if you dont want to walk and climb the mountain yourself.

After the Rainbow show, there are thousands of people outside the amphitheater which is I think built in the 1930s.
THERE are a lot of people camping and on caravan but also thousands waiting for buses to bring them downhill back to Sankt Goarhausen and the ferry station to cross River Rhine.
I was at the back of the queue and lucky for me the buses arrived and they opened the doors at the back of the long long horrible queue of a thousand and more people.

Going downhill was total darkness and lots of people climb down the hills by walking the slopes.

I Cross river Rhine by ferry to sankt Goar, AT ABOUT 1 AM IN THE MORNING in still of the night IN DARKNESS,
SO NOT TO WORRY.
YOU JUST GETNREADY SOME MONEY,
BUS TO Loreley is about 2.95 euro per direction and you can buy a return trip but the buses on way back, its hell and a crazy lunatic rush, so no worries about tickets LOL.

The ferry, yes they will check.. so, better keep your tickets handy if you already buy a return trip. AGAIN about same price.

So no worries. Worst case scenario, if the ferry is no more, just hang around for a few hours in Sankt goarhausen till the morning comes.

But its cold. Its summer but its still cold... I am not use to this kind of weather. LoL.

Last but not least,

Some Ritchie alone moment on stage,
when he returns furst to finish of SOTW if I am not wrong before the rest joins in. Or isnit to start SOTW.
I FORGOT. I TAPED THE SHOW, BUT LETS hear THE BETTER QUALITY bootlegs OUT THERE,

Ok one more time, the event  tshirts for Monsters of Rock Germany with Rainbow, and also Rainbow event tshirts for this 3 live performances of the new Rainbow,

I am sure we will have very good complete audio bootlegs of all 3 ofthe Rainbow ahows soon,

till then Long Live rock N Roll.



Now lets see if Stuttgart or Birmingham gets to sing KILL THE KING.

Happy Ramadhan.

**************************************
22 November 2016 extra information added.
**************************************

Note - After the 3 shows were played.

Stuttgart - Additional - 16th Century Greensleeves played
Birmingham - Additional - Soldier of Fortune and Burn played

Standby for the Japanese Blue Ray & CD Pressings with extra songs included & also the Photobook Review once I get them...

AC/DC - live review & photos of 9 JUNE 2016 @ MANCHESTER ETIHAD STAIDUM

I was tired and VERY sleepy so I never buy and wear the pretty cute DEVIL HORN.

(All photos by yours truly).

(Tu hari aku dah cerita pasal jeruk cina dan buah kana cina aku semua dituduh... benda2 haram oleh Man City FC nye security kan, pasal ni tempat dorang.. aku pun dah puji Axl Rose so hari ni aku tampal foto dan cakap omputeh je la, aku pun pakai tablet susah jugak nak tulis banyak2,,
lagi satu, perfume aku dalam botol kecik pun aku terus buang la, banyak songeh la security, aku bukan nak tengok bola..
aku nak tengok konsert ACDC, satu band yang dihormati seluruh masyarakat dunia.

Ok... selamat berpuasa...

ni aku kat Jerman, kat tepi Sungei Rhine, sejuk giler... puasa pun sama panjang nak 19 jam gitu, tapi sini aku kat Sankt Goar ni makanan susah la.
oohh nanti aku cerita2 aku kembara gi village2 dan pekan2 kecil kat sini naik boat.
seram siot Sungei Rhine. Deras giler dan besar giler.
panjang giler pun entah mana mula dan akhirnye sungei ni...

Besok Ritchie Blackmore Rainbow akan main kat sini.
harap tak ujan, tempat open air, atas gunung
ada macam teater terbuka zaman Roman purba kala.



HERE WE GO... 
I plan to include AC/DC in my Iron Maiden Donington backpacking plans before Brian Johnson health issues.
i read in the internet all these complaints, boycotts, returning back tickets, anger, dissapointments, hatred, BITCHING like bitches.

Its Angus / (and Malcolm) Young's band. Angus can do as he pleased.
Furthermore Cliff William is there, Chris Slade is drummer for Razors Edge era. Stevie Young is their family member and had played Rhytm for AC/DC before too.

P  a  n    o  r   a  m  a    v i   e  w o  f s  t a  d i u   m

So by the time I reach Etihad Stadium after minumum serious lack of sleep of up to 48 hours with just a quick nap here and there. - working night shifts at job- pack up in my huge haversack bag - rush to airport- transit halfway in another airport.

I am groggy, the Eltihad Security at entrance was shitty but alas I managed to enter the stadium.
Sleep awhile, make friend and chat with a South African, doze of awhile at the back of the standing area.
Catch the opening band, forgot the name now, I cant be bothered to google it up. Not bad but no thanks.

And its AC/DC about 8.25pm appeared. Long long intro of astronaut video.

MELAYU TOLONG JANGAN NAMPAK MATA SATU JE TERUS FIKIR BUKAN BUKAN APA2 ENTAH BENDA2 BARAT NYE AGENDA NAK MEMBABIKAN DUNIA BOLEH TAK?

LOGO SEARCH PUN KORANG LAHAR PASAL ADA MATA SATU.

KEMBARA KAT ISTANA BUDAYA PUN KENA KAN.

what a laugh..

KEBABOOOMMMM!!!! Starting pun ada meletup jugak haha.

I never realise its an ACDC the GNR singer show.
for me its ACDC.
Axl is a very very good singer when he wants to be, and he is a professional.

W. AXL ROSE IS JUST A SALARY MAN EARNING HIS MONEY FROM ANGUS TO BE PUNCTUAL, GO ON STAGE FOR TWO HOURS, BE AT BEST BEHAVIOUR, MINUMUM OF TALKING AND SINGS THE WAY ONLY AXL ROSE CAN SING FOR 23 SONGS.
WHAT A PERFORMANCE FROM AXL.
he did justice to all eras of ACDC.

I think the 65,000 fans completely forget its Axl Rose after the first two songs.
Its just AC/DC rocking on stage.

Axl is like a school boy on stage respecting his teachers, and masters which are Angus Young and the brand name of ACDC.

3 members from Razors Edge studio album...

Setlist is the same. I bootlegged but surely its chaos so I dont think its any good, but the sound at where I was standing is amazing.
-- Fucking Loud and Clear sound.

1. Rock or bust.
2. SHOT TO THRILL
3. HELL AINT A BAD PLACE TO BE
4. BACK IN BLACK
5. Got some rock n roll Thunder.
6. DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP
7. Rock N Roll damnation
8. THUNDERSTRUCK
9. HIGH VOLTAGE
10. ROCK N ROLL TRAIN
11. HELLS BELL
12. Give a dog a bone
13. IF YOU WANT BLOOD YOU GOT IT
14. SIN CITY
15. YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG
16. SHOT DOWN IN FLAMES
17. HAVE A DRINK ON ME
18. TNT
19. WHOLE LOTTA ROSIE
20. LET THERE BE ROCK

21. HIGHWAY TO HELL
22. RIFF RAFF
23. FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK

THE SONGS IN CAPITAL LETTERS I GO BONKERS.
the two songs in small letters, ok.. calm and peace.

Unusually in all the madness, I break my Ramadhan Fasting Month fast somewhere in the show. LOL. 

More photos...
ACDC rhythm section is always masterful.
Axl Rose does the job he needed to do very very well and its the best decision I think ACDC made in choosing him.
The fans who had boycotted the shows, return tickets, bitching on the internet,
well... they can do what they want.
- The stadiums are still full by other fans.

But Angus Young was out of this world. Really out of this world.

Thats it... Its the firtst time for me in manchester  and I found the public transportation to Etihad was convenient and easy. Going back to the city, of course with 65000 needs a bit patience but still no problem.
if i was not sleepy and zombie-like due to severe lack of sleep,
i would have enjoyed the experience much more.

Anyway, ACDC is like a warm up before the crazy days and nights of serious rain and horrible muddy, mud water floodings of Donington Download Festival and of course tomorrow nite Ritchie Blackmore Rainbow at Lorelei and I am typing this at Sankt Goar.

 Cliff William the long time bassist...

HELLS BELLS !!!!!!!

WHOLE LOTTA ROSIE

AND SOME SERIOUS MOVEMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE ON THIS ONE. Lol.

 Let There Be Rock solo on the rising Ego platform by Angus...
what a thrill...

News reports was 65,000 fans at the stadium and it is a Thursday evening....

Six cannons for you know what song.

FIRE!!!!! 
KEBABOOM KEBABOOM!!!!!

Enjoy the photos. Ooohh the event tshirt for ACDC Manchester 2016 was loud colours AND ATTENTUON SEEKING. LOL!!!

After the show... oo the rubbish..

Thats about it...

In conclusion..

Acdc have seriously An amazing amazing fan base.
the build up to the concert and you can feel it, you can sense. They have this huge hardcore fan base of all ages both men and women who have such a great time rocking with AC/DC.
I guess not only in Manchester, but throughout UK and all Europe.
and i am in Germany to see Rainbow, and wearing an ACDC tshirt has a warm and friendly gestures and hellos given to me. LOL.