That was a night to remember – definitely. Klaus said so and we second it. Gladly. The promoters did a fabulous job and managed to get more than 35.000 people inside the arena. Dunno, they might have been even more...

Famous Greek band Spitfire hits the stage a few min before seven. During an interview, the members were telling us they wanted to play in a big concert. I guess this one suited them just fine. Sextet seems thirsty for gigs and stages. They have a brand new album out, “Die fighting” and they look forward to playing the new songs... They have a nice set up and a cool communication with the crowd. They kicked off with “King of the mountain”, from the new album... They also played “Underground”, “Macedonia”, “Danger in the world”, “Taste the fire”... Then it’s time for “Evil thoughts around”, “Lady of the night”, “Whispers”... Classic “Lead me on” is the usual and well-received epilogue. They really rocked the place for an hour or so. Hannibal has a fab voice, Elias is full of passion and the rest of the boys are fantastic players. They will also open for the Scorpions in Larisa. All the best, you guys!

Vasilis Papakonstantinou is a famous Greek performer, singer and composer, who’s been around music business for over 35 years! He has an amazing voice and most of his albums, if not all, are considered classic, regarding Greek Rock. He’s born to play in big arenas, sold outs are everyday things for him. Accompanied by virtuoso musicians, he is the very icon for every Greek singer who wishes to start making a career in Rock music. The band is playing a lil’ intro thing, then the song “Hronia Polla” (it’s a Greek wish for long living) blasts out. It’s open season. They have played for 80 minutes or so and it was a Greatest Hits show. The way this particular artist communicates with the audience is unique. He can drive them all crazy in nanoseconds. I guess Billy (Vasilis) is the Master of the Greek Universe.

The time is around half past ten... “Moment of glory” intro comes out of the speakers. The masses are waiting. The German superstars attack with “Coming home” and then it’s “Loving you Sunday morning”... Cool... Another Greatest Hits show. Don’t mind if I do. “Is there anybody there” and “Make it real” and Klaus Meine addresses the crowd... The Teutons have many guests for tonite. Grand Uli Jon Roth is the first one. Sky guitar grabs “Pictured life” and sends it to orbit... Uli makes us dream for three more songs and it seems to me that the Moon is less shiny than him. Then the Scorps bring Vasilis to the stage! To do “Holiday”!!! Billy is doing the second chorus and we get to witness the most hysterical applause in the history of the arena! Time for their next guest. Michael Schenker enters the stage, holding the black and white Flying V in order to meet his brother’s V guitar as well. “Coast to coast” thunders out, they also do “Another piece of meat”, plus, to honor Michael, they throw a heck of a cover on “Doctor Doctor”. On “No one like you” we get to see legendary drummer (ex Scorpion) Herman Rarebell behind the kit and one crazy Kottak filming him (!!??), which I think is awesome! Naturally, the blond girl (his partner maybe?), who was playing drums with him for a while, during his solo, was awesome, too. Naturally (again), let’s not forget about the six HOT gals, who were pounding, over the stage, during “Tease me please me”, they surely brought... maaan, I have no idea what they brought... Finally, after giving the ladies goosebumps by playing “Still loving you” and “Wind of change”, they returned, all of them (!) and then... “One for the money, two for the show”... Then it was time for the ultimate epilogue, “Rock you like a hurricane”... It’s thirty minutes past midnight... So, who cares? We have trains, we have transportation and the bands were so kind to us. I guess bravo’s are in order. Half a billion for the promoters and the same amount for the players. That was, definitely, a night to remember... for a lo(n)g time.

Costas Koulis

King Of The Mountain Gates Of Hell Danger In The World Fool Enough Taste The Fire Evil Thoughts Around Underground Macedonia (Doctor, Doctor intro) Whispers Lady Of The Night Lead Me On

Coming Home Loving You Sunday Morning Is There Anybody There Make It Real The Zoo Pictured Life (Uli Jon Roth) Backstage Queen (Uli Jon Roth) We’ll Burn The Sky (Uli Jon Roth) Robot Man (Uli Jon Roth) Send Me An Angel Holiday (Βασίλης Παπακωνσταντίνου) Coast To Coast (Michael Schenker) Lovedrive (Michael Schenker) Another Piece Of Meat (Michael Schenker) (Dazed’n Confused-Good Time Bad Times – Led Zeppelin) Doctor, Doctor Tease Me, Please Me 3, 2, 1 Drum Solo Blackout (Herman Rarebell) No One Like You (Herman Rarebell) Big City Nights Still Loving You Wind Of Change Long Tall Sally Rock You Like A Hurricane