Buckcherry end their energetic set with the feminist anthem ‘Crazy Bitch’ which they also manage to squeeze a few bars of ‘Jungle Bogey’ into. Thrash Metal titans Megadeth draw a huge crowd of Rattleheads and the bands Vic logo is emblazoned across every other T-shirt inside the two thirds full, hanger-esque O2. Dave Mustaine still has his mane of radioactive blonde/ginger hair and dressed in all black he still cuts an authoritarian Metal figure. An opening trio of ‘Hanger 18’, ‘The Threat Is Real’ and ‘Rattlehead’ are fired out against the video backdrop of post-nuclear Mad Max world. ‘Wake Up Dead’ and ‘Sweating Bullets’ are both growled out by the ever snarling frontman before ‘The Conjuring’ gets dusted off and kicked back into the Deth set. ‘In My Darkest Hour’ still has the ability to send shivers down spines while ‘Dystopia’ is proof (if needed) that Megadeth can still write a head-swiveling Thrash tune. Long time partner Dave Ellefson takes center stage to deliver the timeless bass intro to ‘Peace Sells (But Who’s Buying)’. This is possibly the finest Thrash Metal song ever written and it’s simplistic but brilliantly delivered world message is, thirty-one years on from its release, still sadly relevant. The encore of ‘Holy Wars’ completes this short but sneering set of dark, fast and subtle Speed Metal. “It’s still we, the people, right?”
The Scorpions are a truly magical live experience and whether you’re a die-hard or just an intrigued observer you can’t help but be captivated, Right from the opening bars of ‘Going Out With A Bang’ The huge stage and video screens give the performance a real sense of occasion and right from the opening bars of ‘Going Out With A Bang’ the well-drilled set is pretty much faultless throughout. ‘Is There Anybody There’ gives way to the first real biggie of the night. Memory banks are lyrically dredged as ‘The Zoo’ is belted out and pockets of enthusiastic air guitar sporadically break out, it’s a beautiful, life-affirming sight to see people just lost in the musical moment. The ultra Rock cliched ‘Follow Your Heart’ is eclipsed by the song that everyone knows and fans of the band or not secretly like. The whistling intro to ‘Winds Of Change’ is enough to floor the sternest of people and tonight is no exception. Played live the song is taken to the next level, you must accept it for what is and revel in its beauty, crassness and sheer feel-good uplifting power. Walls came down and walls are now going back up.
Motorhead’s Micky Dee is on drums and the band run through a spirited version of ‘Overkill’ while iconic images of Lemmy are shot across the jumbo screens and as tributes go it’s pretty special. However Drum solos are not and why in 2018 fans are subjected to these fillers of valuable set time is still beyond me. I’m sure it’s to do with the band need a break or breather and it does give huge numbers the chance for a bathroom break or beer run. (At a whopping £6.50 a pint you’d better make it last or have deep pockets.) The finale of hit after hit includes fan favourites ‘Blackout’, ‘Holiday’ ‘Big City’ and of course the “here I am!” set closer ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane.’ The expansive O2 venue may be pricey but it’s indoor, clean, has extremely helpful staff and the food/drink options were plentiful. Mix that with an eclectic Metal/Rock/Thrash line up and you’ve got a winning combination.