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Hard Rock Hell III |
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“Pontin’s” resort, Prestatyn, North Wales, U.K. |
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03/12/2009 |
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December 3, 4 & 5, 2009
Festival “Hard Rock Hell” is relatively new in our “field”… It’s only the third one happening, being held in North Wales, in a village named Prestatyn. Tourist summer resort “Pontin’s”, is the place hosting the festival, featuring bungalows (or, as the English say, chalets) and lots of spaces and facilities.
Thursday, December 3
Thursday is the warm-up day. The two main stages remain closed and the bands playing use the stage inside the pub “Queen Victoria”, whilst lads and lasses dressed as Vikings, walk around the room... Vikings’ Ball is a rather impressive extravaganza, adding a lot to the general fest image. It’s still early, most of the peeps will arrive tomorrow, yet the ones who have already entered the pub premises are looking for something more than a round of beers...
What is really impressive is the boys and gals (the ones working for the festival) attitude. The service at the reception desk is direct, everybody  gets their tickets and passes in dt time; everybody’s happy. The best part was when I requested to get my media pass from the respective desk. The gal working there didn’t ask for ID or a confirmation mail… When I asked her about that, she simply replied, “Honestly, do you think that somebody would come to me, stating it’s you and request your pass”? I must admit she really made me shut my mouth most pleasantly.
There are many cool bands appearing tonight... Amongst them, it’s Attica Rage, I will revert about them, cuz there is a rather interesting story featuring that band, Marshall Law, who really smashed the stage, they were extremely powerful and their set satisfied our ears. Weapon showed us they really own it, they are a great band, they showed that power and speed and exceptional NWOBHM are beyond years and ages... This festival is actually the pride and joy of all those into NOWBHM!
The big surprise for tonight answers to the name GMT! Messrs Bernie Torme, John McCoy and Robin Guy are on stage, giving us goosebumps. These great musicians have played with some Rock monsters in the past (Gillan, Ozzy, Dickinson and a few dozens more), they jam and dismantle the whole place! I was talking to some of the fans about the festival the very next morning and they were all amazed by the trio performance. A fantastic night indeed and the best collateral for the rest of the fest.
Friday, December 4
This is – technically – the first day of the festival. The fans arrive early, almost noon time, as they want to see the bands playing on stage thre e (pub). Some of these bands are total strangers to the youngsters; others are simply a promise for the future. Imicus, Arthemis, Voodoo Johnson, Remedy, 9 x Dead, Dead Against The Rest and Hanging Doll.
We must point out that it is humanly impossible to see all bands playing during such a festival. Many of them appear at the same time and one has to choose what to see. Yet, we can always check a band out, by watching two or three songs. Attica Rage created an incredible happening! They set up their equipment inside their room (!!!) and they started jamming on same songs, making the best atmosphere outside the venue! Almost 60 peeps were outside their room, having a blast! Gents of Attica Rage, we salute you!
First band we got to see was Die Apocalyptischen Reiter, they were playing on stage two (Total Rock Radio), following Waylander. The Germans (also singing in German – although some English lyrics hit the air as well) are in a great mood, most of the fans are looking at the keyboard player, Dr. Pest, who’s playing dressed in leather stripes, flashing a whip every now and then. The sound is amazing, everything starts to roll as scheduled. Finnish folk metallers Korpiklaani are next, they excite the fans with songs the likes of ”Wooden Pints”, “Vodka”, “Journey Man” etc. Due to the Finnish appearance we miss Logan, the first band entered main stage (Stage One – Hard Rock Heaven). We found out they did a “War Pigs” cover. A few minutes later, Gun entered main stage, they were the festival apocalypse! The British are pure dynamites, they took us by storm. It was like we landed in the previous decade; amazing frontman Toby Jepson gave his best act, for over an hour, playing oldies plus two brand new songs, from their new EP “Popkiller”, “Let Your Hair Down” and “Seraphina” (sounds like a tribute song to The Mission’s “Severina”). They also did a cover on “So Lonely” (originally by The Police) and – of curse – “Word Up”, originally by Cameo.
Gun set list: Welcome To The Real World, Don't Say It's Over, Money To Burn, Let Your Hair Down, Talking On The World, Money (Everybody Loves Her), Seraphina, Something Worthwile, Inside Out, So Lonely, Better Days, Steal Your Fire, Word Up.
To be honest with you, five or six years ago, we wouldn’t even dream of seeing Ratt live. With Carlos Cavazo and Warren De Martini on guitars, Ratt played a fine fifty-five minutes set. The two guitarist were such a treat, so were Crane and Blotzer, however, I was expecting some more from Stephen Pearcy. His voice sounds nice, yet the Ratt trademark is not what we expected to hear in Prestatyn. Still, no one stayed “untouched” when songs like “Sweet Cheater”, “Way Cool Jr”, You're In Love” and “Round And Round” were played.
Ratt set list: Sweet Cheater, Wanted Man, You Think You' re Tough, Back For More, Way Cool Jr., Lack Of Communication, Lay It Down, You're In Love, Body Talk, Round And Round.
Next band, on main stage, is Terrorvision. Very good appearance, “Alice What's The Matter” sweeps the fans off their feet, the band is a truly pro one, playing for an hour. One of the best features of the festival!
Terrorvision set list: Discotheque Wreck, Party Over Here, Alice What's The Matter, Middleman, Bad Actress, Pretend Best Frie nd, Tequila, Some People Say, What Makes You Trick, Dog Chewed The Handle, Oblivion, Celebrity Hit List, Josephine, D'Ya Wanna Go Faster?, My House, Perceverance.
We move to the second stage for a while. Delain, Hysterica, Black Spiders and Sons Of Merrick were playing before. Now it’s time for Eden's Curse. Michael Eden, his brother-in-band Paul Logue and the other fabulous musicians of the team bolster their melodic and crunchy Hard Rock. They all look amazing, Mike is introducing the songs, playing to the crowd, asking for some noise… “We were in Grimsby last night… Do you think you can scream more than they did? Let me here you Hard Rock Hell”! During “Raven’s revenge” it’s war time! They played stuff from their two albums, they were extremely tight and the best epilogue is “Angels & Demons”, with Ale Del Vecchio, new keyboard player, singing Pamela Moore’s parts! The man is a huge soloist and a fantastic singer.
Back to main stage for the headliners. Monster Magnet managed to impress everybody, with their fantastic shows, four or five years ago. Not this appearance tough. Dave Wyndorf looks a bit overweight and doesn’t seem to move the fans. For less than 90 minutes the band is trying to stay close to the studio versions, saving the day – partially.
 Monster Magnet set list: Dopes To Infinity, Crop Circle, Powertrip, Twin Earth, Third Alternative, Zodiac Lung, Radiation Day, The Right Stuff, 25, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Space Lord, Melt, Cage Around The Sun, Tractor, Spine Of God.
The headliners have just finished, the first day of the festival is still young though. This is the system that some German festivals have implemented, with bands playing after-hours, next to the headliners. After Monster Magnet we get to see Sonata Arctica. The Finnish are exceptional. Tony Kakko, a very special frontman, is amazing, singing and performing (when he said “Hi, we are the deadliners for tonight”, everybody had a great laugh, plus he deserves kudos for respecting the crowd). They played four songs from their new album, “The Days Of Grays” and a cover on “We Will Rock You”. Fans loved their show! Sonata Arctica close the main stage for tonight, whilst, on second stage, bands like Winterborn, Tribal Law and Four Wheel Drive finish up for the day, it’s already 2:30 in the morning!
Saturday, December 5 Since 12:00 noon time, third stage is being invaded. Cloven Hoof, Dumpys Rust Nuts, Tyson Dog, Marseille (I would love to see them but…  we had so many obligations), Saracen, Elixir and Hammerhead. In the meantime, several... Star Wars heroes (okay, peeps dressed up like them) were parading through the halls... Some banana people, too. Great! Time for a lot of pix!
Second stage (today it’s Metal Aid / Metal On Metal). Iron Pig and The Glitterati do the warm up prior to Girlschool. Female Motorhead are outstanding. School girls to the core, with endless energy, they were simply giving free Rock and Roll lessons to the new bands. Classic diamonds such as “Let's Go” and “Hit And Run” made the crowd go wild.
How nice! The Welsh have burst in… Tigertailz play solid gram based Rock and they break bones for fun. The boys give a thunderous show. At the end we are in for a big surprise. The ladies from Girlschool hit the stage and they altogether jam on “Ace of Spades”! Incredible cover, full of double bass drumming!
Change of scenery and a band we never thought we’d get to see live on stage. The Quireboys, with original members Spike και Guy Griffin and a team of really great musicians, play amazing Rock for an hour or so. A set based on huge hits from their first two albums; they also supported their brand new baby, “Halfpenny Dancer” by playing four songs. Intro could never be different than Spike’s original line, “We Are Quireboys And This Is Rock And Roll”. Spike’s mic did not function at this point, yet they fixed it in no time. The Frontman is in terrific shape, wearing the pin stripe jacket and the bandana as well as the carnation boutonnière. It’s fully packed and the crowd is dancing to “Hey You”, “7 O' Clock” and “Sex Party”, which was the end for The Quireboys party.
The Quireboys set list: (couldn’t figure out the title), Don't Bite The Hand, Tramps And Thieves, This Is Rock And Roll, Mona Liza Smiled, 7 O'  Clock, Man On The Loose, Sweet Mary Ann, Hey You, Misled, Roses & Rings, There She Goes Again, Sex Party.
We stand apposed as the schedule is heading to N.W.O.B.H.M. At the dame time, main stage features Marya Roxx and then Rogue Male.
Witchfynde are playing NWOBHM as they should. The boys shift to full speed and they destroy the walls and our ears. Followed by Angelwitch, who prove their virtuosity to the fans and create chaos over the photo pit, cameras are everywhere and the same track theme is giving us the big chill…
Off to the main stage room! Having seen W.A.S.P. in Athens, a few days ago, made me think “Well, I can watch these guys play… every day”! Demon were playing at the Metal Aid Stage and, unfortunately, we couldn’t be at the same place at the same time. W.A.S.P. were dreamy! It must have been the best Blackie we’ve ever seen. His voice sounds amazing and he’s full of energy. So is the rest of the band. Doug Blair and Mike Duda are all over the stage and Mike Dupke is beating the drums to death! The sound is perfect and the set is great, featuring “Crazy” from the latest album only. Some tracks are missing as well as the screen behind the band, believe me though, no one cared. It was a splendid appearance by W.A.S.P.,  worthy of their 80's course and fame. They must have had the most crowded place during the whole festival!
W.A.S.P. set list: Memphisto Waltz, On Your Knees, The Real Me, L.O.V.E. Machine, Crazy, Wild Child, Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue), The Idol, Take Me Up, I Wanna Be Somebody, Blind In Texas.
Queensryche are the Hard Rock Hell III headliners. At the same time, this is their last show for the “American Soldier” tour, featuring three suites, “Rage For Order”, “American Soldier” and “Empire”. Intro is about to end and, instead of “Neue Regel”, we see the band leaving the stage, as there is some sort of a technical glitch. They came back and they were the Queensryche we all knew and expected. Over “Rage For Order”, the audience seemed ecstatic! The songs were played beautifully and Tate’s performance was out of this planet, responding to many music editors questions about the way that album was done. During “Surgical Strike” we admit we lost track, as it was our first time listening to this song live. Three songs from the latest album followed and the set was sealed by “Empire”, with Geoff Tate more communicational and minimal than ever, saying goodbye holding a glass of wine (not Insania I’m afraid), before the last song. The singer’s story about tape recorders and today’s mp3’s was fascinating.
 Queensryche set list: Neue Regel, The Whisper, Screaming In Digital, I Dream In Infra Red, Walk In The Shadows, Surgical Strike, Sliver, If I Were King, Man Down!, Best I Can, Another Rainy Night (Without You), One And Only, Silent Lucidity, Empire.
The audience is thinking about leaving the premises, yet lots of them are staying, in order to see New York Dolls. One of the glam band pioneers. They look fantastic, however the sound is so loud, almost deafening. This is probably the main reason some peeps nagged about their performance. David Johansen was great on stage, although it seemed he mostly played like a Mick Jagger look alike. We thought they might jam with their former member Blackie Lawless but we knew it was a long shot. Naturally they did not.
New York Dolls set list: Babylon, Looking For A Kiss, Cause I Sez So, We're All In Love, Subway Train, Dance Like A Monkey, You Can Put Your Arms Around A Memory/Lonely Planet Boy, Pills, Trash, Jet Boy, Personlity Crisis.
Not a lot of people left in the room, but that won’t  stop Lauren Harris from giving her best self for about fifty minutes. Her band is so solid. Their best moment was “Steal Your Fire”, not because we say so but because the audience was singing along.
Second stage, in the meantime, had featured acts the likes of Susperia, Onslaught, Goatwhore, Skeleton Witch, now it was time for Toxic Holocaust. Yet we rather watch a band that will become a huge act in the near future, British Punk Rock Glammers, Spit Like This. They are really awesome! Ultimately hot bass guitarist Vikki Spit is fire on stage! It’s too late (or too early in the day), however the band is kicking, having frontman Lord Zion in amazing shape, closing the gates of Hard Rock Hell III. You must check out this band. It’s not coincidental that it’s the only band featured in all three “Hard Rock Hell” festivals!
Did you happen to count the bands we mentioned? Don’t you worry, we did! They were sixty! Sixty! What we experienced was a perfectly organized event, a totally professional staff, the most polite we have ever encountered! We are deeply thankful to the production team, they were all extremely helpful. We do hope we see them next year, too. Leaving “Pontin’s” we are really thinking about proposing to Greek promoters to visit the place, to get a few lessons about the best way to organize such a huge festival. With a ticket costing 35 pounds a day, which gives you the opportunity to see twenty bands live! We were really thinking about it… Then we dropped the idea… Greek promoters are probably not worth it…
Text and images : Costas Koulis, Dimitris Kazantzis
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