From: Hans-Ulrich Krell

Old Guys – Young Performance!

I'm a drummer. But I also have a great interest in bass-playing. Therefore, I tried to pay special attention to Geezer and Vinnie. Although, everybody knows that “Stomping Vinnie” is not “Swinging Bill”, Vinnie played quite fine this evening.

His work is not as incredible as it supposed to be in a legendary band like H&H. But he provides the solid foundations, the other guys can build their ... let's say..."walls of sound" on. His straight and precise playing is surely an advantage while working in a studio. But if it comes to the point where a solo has to be played in front of an audience, it is rather a handicap.

If you have the ability to see such a unique musician like Geezer on stage, a legend who was involved writing uncountable immortal hymns, you will be privileged. But to witness this guy playing in a range of quality as he has done yesterday is simply incredible. It sounds stupid but it is nearly beyond description, he played like hell.

Ronnie Dio did a good job as well. Sometimes he did not find the right note. But all in all he provided an acceptable performance. In terms of stage acting, singing and communication with the audience he is clearly the better choice, compared with his predecessor Ozzy Osbourne. I haven't felt like seeing a 67 years old guy who draws his last breath. Ronnie did his best job by singing "Fear" and "Follow The Tears". He also did a good job on "Bible Black" but I was a little bit surprised that he did not emphasised the lyrics of this song like he did on CD. The younger the song the better he sang it...surprising?...not really!

Iommi was as good as always. I've seen him on stage in 1992, 1994, 1995 and 2005. I have to admit that I've never seen him in bad shape. It was great to see him play his guitar, named "Old Boy" as somebody mentioned on the H&H-DVD, as if it is a part of his body. During the whole concert, he wore a coat made of leather. But I couldn't see him sweat. Maybe he's that iron man, Sabbath made a song about long time ago :-)

As far as I got it, the set-list does not include any unexpected track. It was the same as Mr. Siegler has already listed in his news-block. They started with "E5150" and "Mob Rules". "Children Of The Sea", "I", "Time Machine", "Falling Of The Edge Of The World" were included too. "Heaven And Hell" in its live-incarnation isn't one of my favourites. I always miss the incredible guitar-solo of the studio recording. Well what else did they play? Besides the already mentioned "Follow The Tears" they have played "Country Girl/Neon Knights" and...well, I think that's it, isn't it?

At last I have to complain about that weak desicion to invite Axl Rudi Pell for doing the warm-up-job. His fleshless high-speed fender (the guitar) ripping does not do anything to me. His compositions are monotonous. And there are other guys who can do that kind of music far better: Malmsteen, Satriani etc, etc, etc.

I've seen a fan running around with an Axl Rudi PELL shirt that says "I want to do a slow song but I can't" or something like that. In my opinion it should have said: "I wanted to do music, but I f******* failed!"

Generally, H&H really did a great job! The gig was worth visiting. Especially with having in mind that it is highly unlikely to see this band ever again (due to their age etc.).

From: Simon Strack

I arrived at half past seven at the venue (official beginning with supporters ARP (Axel Rudi Pell) was 8 o'clock). A band was already on stage. There was no info that another support band would perform. I listened for only a few minutes (being thirsty) - but I liked the style. Unfortunately I have no information about the name of the band. Good luck guys.

During this first visit to the indoor area, I was shocked that the venue (a rectangular basketball arena) was divided by 1/3 to 2/3 by a black curtain. Only 2/3 of the playfield and the respective space on the seating rows left and right were reserved for the audience!

I was a little irritated. Deep Purple managed to nearly fill the venue end of last year and I expected no less for H&.

I didn't listen to ARP, so no comment from my side here. Around 21:15 H&H hit the stage. Set list:

0. E5150
1. Mob rules
2. Children of the sea
3. I
4. Bible black
5. Time machine
6. Drum solo
7. Fear
8. Falling off the edge of the world
9. Follow the tears
10. Die young
11. Heaven & Hell
12. Country intro (cut off)
13. Neon knights

Sound was clean and nearly balanced. I was standing 5th row near to the center. Base guitar was a little strong, lead guitar a little weak (!). Dio's singing was clearly put in front.

So much for the flat report. Coming to my personal pros & cons:

Contra:

* volume too high - less would be more
* show felt very much like routine
* bought a tour T-shirt for 30,- €, which is expensive, but: THE NAME OF MY CITY IS SPELLED WRONG!!! It reads Bamberg, not Bamburg!!! This is a big mistake and I am very sad. Bamberg's old town center is UNESCO world cultural heritage! And by the way: …berg means mountain (get it?). I am sure, Heaven & Hell will refund, just contact me via Joe.
* Geezer was like a robot. Standing on his place, playing base guitar, showing no emotion, did not interact with fans, looked to me as being no part of the band. (Sorry Geezer, but that was my experience …)
* Video wall is really childish
* Set list offered no surprises
* Time Machine (personal opinion - I would have preferred Computer God)
* Only few people attended the show

Pros:

* legends on stage, hopefully not for the last time - it was worth it
* sound was good (despite the loudness)
* light show was good
* drum solo and guitar solo were very nice to me. Not boring at all.
* The (small) audience was fanatic - real fans. And I felt that the band realized this too.

Rock on!

From: Hans-Ulrich Krell

Old Guys – Young Performance!

I'm a drummer. But I also have a great interest in bass-playing. Therefore, I tried to pay special attention to Geezer and Vinnie. Although, everybody knows that “Stomping Vinnie” is not “Swinging Bill”, Vinnie played quite fine this evening.

His work is not as incredible as it supposed to be in a legendary band like H&H. But he provides the solid foundations, the other guys can build their ... let's say..."walls of sound" on. His straight and precise playing is surely an advantage while working in a studio. But if it comes to the point where a solo has to be played in front of an audience, it is rather a handicap.

If you have the ability to see such a unique musician like Geezer on stage, a legend who was involved writing uncountable immortal hymns, you will be privileged. But to witness this guy playing in a range of quality as he has done yesterday is simply incredible. It sounds stupid but it is nearly beyond description, he played like hell.

Ronnie Dio did a good job as well. Sometimes he did not find the right note. But all in all he provided an acceptable performance. In terms of stage acting, singing and communication with the audience he is clearly the better choice, compared with his predecessor Ozzy Osbourne. I haven't felt like seeing a 67 years old guy who draws his last breath. Ronnie did his best job by singing "Fear" and "Follow The Tears". He also did a good job on "Bible Black" but I was a little bit surprised that he did not emphasised the lyrics of this song like he did on CD. The younger the song the better he sang it...surprising?...not really!

Iommi was as good as always. I've seen him on stage in 1992, 1994, 1995 and 2005. I have to admit that I've never seen him in bad shape. It was great to see him play his guitar, named "Old Boy" as somebody mentioned on the H&H-DVD, as if it is a part of his body. During the whole concert, he wore a coat made of leather. But I couldn't see him sweat. Maybe he's that iron man, Sabbath made a song about long time ago :-)

As far as I got it, the set-list does not include any unexpected track. It was the same as Mr. Siegler has already listed in his news-block. They started with "E5150" and "Mob Rules". "Children Of The Sea", "I", "Time Machine", and the incredible "Falling Of The Edge Of The World" were included too. "Heaven And Hell" in its live-incarnation isn't one of my favourites. I always miss the outstanding guitar-solo of the studio recording. Well what else did they play? Besides the already mentioned "Follow The Tears" they have played "Country Girl/Neon Knights" and...well, I think that's it, isn't it?

At last I have to complain about that weak desicion to invite Axl Rudi Pell for doing the warm-up-job. His fleshless high-speed fender (the guitar) ripping does not do anything to me. His compositions are monotonous. And there are other guys who can do that kind of music far better: Malmsteen, Satriani etc, etc, etc.

I've seen a fan running around with an Axl Rudi PELL shirt that says "I want to do a slow song but I can't" or something like that. In my opinion it should have said: "I wanted to do music, but I f******* failed!"

Generally, H&H really did a great job! The gig was worth visiting. Especially with having in mind that it is highly unlikely to see this band ever again (due to their age etc.).

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