Mjesto: Graz / Orpehum / Austrija
Datum koncerta: 15.06.2002
Broj posjetitelja: 1000
Cijena karte: 30,00€
(please, scroll down the bar for an English version)
Mirno popodnevno izležavanje i uživancija u hladu košate lipe ispred Oropheuma (Graz) iznenada je prekinula gungula koju je izazvao dolazak “izjahanog” kombija. Iz njega su se polako izvlačili alkoholom načeti mladići, ali ipak uporni i brižno opskrbljeni paletama piva, pa su koračali na otvoreno, odjeveni u trobojnice s grbom crveno-bijele šahovnice i čvrsto odlučni da i sami malo “predahnu” na toj zelenoj površini pored nas. Eto, “hrvatska braća” dizala su pravu galamu, a onda odjednom nestala u Orpheumu i nakon nekoliko trenutaka izronila s hrpama originalnih Motörhead plakata u naručju. To ih je malo smirilo pa su otplovili prema gradskoj jezgri.
U 18:00 stigao je autobus s kancelarom, Philom i Mikkeyem. Uvjeren sam da su razgledavali ljepote austrijske Štajerske. Bili smo u pravo vrijeme na pravom mjestu, naoružani flomasterima i spremni na napad. Legende pak nigdje, iz autobusa koji je odavno parkiran. Nakon nekih 20 minuta iz autobusa su izašle dvije djevojke, nedovoljno odjevene, sumnjivo rumene u licu i krajnje pomuckane, kao da je netko nedavno imao pune ruke posla s njima. Što se, dovraga, dogodilo njima u bliskom susretu s Motörhead? Nakon sat vremena mota pred autobusom vrata su se opet otvorila i pojavio se sam samcati on, željezni kancelar Lemmy (“von Bismarck”). Bio je dobre volje, Engleska je upravo pobijedila Dansku 3:0 i prošla u četvrtfinale svjetskog prvenstva u nogometu. Nije se ustručavao, htio je prečacem pored nas u dvoranu. “A ne, nećeš!”, rekao je najzagrijaniji motorfan, zgrabio ga kao zečića i gurnuo mu plakat pred nos: “Lemmy, will you sign this?” (ili po naški: “Evo, potpiši!”) i Lemmy je morao odraditi svoju obvezu prema motorfanovima. Očito je bilo da je opet srušio sve rekorde u pijenju jer se tresao kao šiba na vodi. Sjetio se koncerta iz Ljubljane 1989. (netko je tada iz prvog reda u Hali Tivoli bacio u njega okrnjeni kovanac) i pokazao ožiljak koji i danas nosi među prstima desne ruke. Na ovaciju zacijelo najzagrijanijeg motorfana: “You are still number one!”, jednostavno je odgovorio “I’m tryin’!” Kad se odvukao kroz ulazna vrata Orpheuma, pitali smo se kako taj čovjek uopće izdrži na pozornici. Slično kao Lemmy, i Mikkey i Phillip izašli su pojedinačno iz autobusa, što smo opet iskoristili s uspjehom.
Sat se opasno približavao osam navečer. Skupili smo se pred ulazom, da se probijemo u prve redove. Naravno da su hrvatski kolege u tome morali biti u prvom planu. Ali prvi red nam ipak nije izmakao. Neki Splićanin još je trenutak prije početka koncerta uspio dahnuti: “Pa ljudi, ne mogu povjirovat svojim očima, ja stojim ovdje i Motörhead ispred jebenog mene!” U 20:30 njegovi su se snovi ostvarili. “I guess, you know who we are by now. We are Motörhead, and we are gonna kick your ass!” bio je Lemmyjev pozdrav i krenuli su sa “We Are Motörhead”. Publika je u trenutku podivljala. Odmah sam se nehotice našao odjeven u hrvatske trobojnice. Iznenadio me nastavak. “Bomber”, pjesma koja se na koncertima uvijek svira u bisu, slijedila je kao druga po redu. Prva tri “štikla” Motörhead su možda bili malo suzdržani. Upravo tada su fotografi (“novinari”) dobili zeleno svjetlo za udaranje po svojim flešićima. A Lemmy? Kao preporođen. Sva naša sumnja prije koncerta da neće izdržati nastup raspršila se u trenutku. Čovjek je na pozornici izgledao jednom veći i širi, stasitiji i u punoj kondiciji, ukratko potpuna suprotnost onom iscijeđenom Lemmyju od prije dobar sat vremena pred koncert ispred dvorane.
A kakve smo bitke vodili tijekom koncerta s nalivenim Austrijancem koji se na svaki način htio progurati u prvi red i pritom nije birao sredstva za postizanje cilja. No predao sam se i rado mu pomogao da se prevrne preko ograde, odakle su ga zaštitari ispratili u zakulisje. Lemmy u svojim bijelim “suede shoes”, uskim crnim trapericama, opasan redenicima i s legendarnim Rickenbackerom provokativno pita: “Is anybody here familiar to punk music?” i uslijedio je “God Save The Queen”. No Lemmy je situaciju ubrzo preokrenuo rečenicom da mu je bliži Rock’n’roll i bend je jurišno nastavio s “Going To Brasil”. Lemmy se ni u čemu nije promijenio ni milimetar od 1975., samo što očito još uvijek žali za nedavno preminulim Joeyem Ramoneom, zato se na set listi našla i “Ramones” pored već spomenutog “bože sačuvaj kraljicu”, što me malo razljutilo, jer Motörhead nikad nisu bili punk bend.
Za mene osobno vrhunac nastupa zasigurno je bio “Orgasmatron”. Pozornica i dvorana ogrnule su se maglovitom crninom, zeleni reflektor osvjetljavao je Lemmyjevo lice i u pozadini legendarnu motornu glavu, poznati zaštitni znak benda. Valjajući rif, tvrd dahtavi promukli vokal,…., trnci su me preplavljivali. Pobjeda je bila potpuna, jer je na pozornici bio Mikkey Dee, kojeg je Lemmy predstavio publici: “The best fuckin’ Rock’n’roll drummer in the world!”. Svu svoju vrhunskost i profinjen osjećaj Mikkey je u solo točki tijekom “Sacrifice” samo potvrdio. Zvuk dvostruke bas pedale doista podsjeća na tutnjavu nekog Harley Davidsonovog motora. Nevjerojatno što sve Mikkey izvuče iz svojih bubnjeva. Bubnja cijelim tijelom, udarci su zato puni, palice nikad ne križa (pritom sam se sjetio pokojnog Johna Bohnama). Doista, što sve naprave troje ljudi na pozornici. Kad Phillip ode u solažu, Lemmy ga u međuvremenu pokriva cijelim akordima na bas gitari. Inače je za Motörhead već standard da je funkcija Lemmyjevog basa jednaka pratnji druge električne gitare. Efekt je jedan jedini. Potpuno unikatna beskonačna energija. Sat i petnaest minuta i glavni nastup zaključen je neprobojnom “željeznom šakom” (“Iron Fist”).
Bend se vratio na pozornicu odsvirati bis. “This is it!” rekao je Lemmy i zazvečao kroz svoj bas uvodni rif “Ace Of Spades”. Lemmy je u nekom intervjuu rekao da mu se već diže želudac, toliko je puta morao odsvirati tu pjesmu. Ali fanovi bi ga linčovali bez te klasike. Toj klasici slijedila je druga. “Overkill” je bio kraj. I kakav “fade out”. Kad je “Overkill” odsviran, Motörhead su ostavili navinute potenciometre i posljedično je nekoliko minuta sinusoidnog oscilirao u trenutku zahvatilo cijelu dvoranu, tako da su se neki nakon koncerta žalili kako im šumi u ušima. Posebno si pritom izvukao kraći kraj ako si koncert gledao neposredno ispred zvučnika.
Na set listi (zalijepljenoj na pozornici) bio je uvršten i jedinstveni ubojica “Born To Raise Hell”, koji Motörhead nažalost nisu odsvirali. Ne znam zašto. Jako su me pak razveselili uvrštavanjem svojih klasika na set listu, kao što su: “Doctor Rock”, “Shoot You In The Back” i “Damage Case”.
Ne sjećam se koji mi je koncert u životu tako brzo prošao. Ne sjećam se ni dobro na kojem sam koncertu bio tako mokar. I to ne zbog prolivenog piva ili kakve kobne Ozzyjeve kante vode. Jednostavno smo svi zajedno u dvorani ludovali i to je to. Na nastupu Motörhead nemoguće je stajati mirno i sve skupa nijemo promatrati. Dobili smo pravu porciju Rock’n’rolla. Pravi šut u glavu. Ono po čemu je bend poznat. Ponudio nam je pravi beskompromisni žur. I to je najvažnije.
fotografije: Aleš Podbrežnik
As usual we went very early from Ljubljana to Graz determined to get band’s autographs and photos. It was 2:00 p.m. in Graz and still hot as hell with breathtaking high moisured air. We found a prefect shade in front of Orpheum under a tree. As I expected our resting was quickly disturbed by Croatian fans equipped with their national banners all around and fully occupied with cans of beer. They jumped out from their vehicle like red ants and took a place nearby. Shortly after that, they disappeared through the Orpheum’s main gate and came back quickly with full hands of Motörhead posters. They fortunately marched down the streets of Graz.
It was 6:00 p.m. when band’s bus parked by the hall. We were waiting with pencils, ready to go in for the kill. So what followed? Firstly pale blue sky colored into gray and we thought that we will get some stormy refreshment. After 20 minutes of waiting the door opened. Two girls stepped out of the bus. We immediately realized what it was all about. Girls went through Motörhead’s hands and claws. Fascinating start of a show, wasn’t it? When we almost gave up waiting, the door opened at about 7:00 p.m. again. It was him. The “Iron Kancler” – Lemmy “von Bismarck”. We couldn’t believed our eyes that we are standing next to a legend. This was a real boneshaking moment. Lemmy didn’t care a lot about us and he went for the main door of the hall. “Oh no you won’t!” said my friend Milan and held him very tight. So Lemmy just couldn’t escape out of the trap he was in. He was shaking in his well known physiological state of a man who maybe drank just a little bit to much. No, this is his way of living, his chosen freedom. He is Motörhead. We got our autographs, we took photos with him and this was a complete victory for us. He still remembers a gig in Ljubljana from 1989 when one maniac threw a sharp edged coin and target him right between two fingers of his right hand. And on that suggestion, he said nothing, he simply turned and showed us his scar. When one of Croatian fans gave him his passport to sign in, Lemmy gave him father’s advice: “I think, they (he meant state institutions) won’t like that!” neverminded and put his sign in. Milan, who was the most excited Motorfan on the scene for sure, couldn’t stand still even for a second: “Lemmy, you are still number one!”, Lemmy simply responded to him: “I’m tryin’!” And after Lemmy finally broke free, the other two Motorbastards who followed went into the same trap.
Well let’s finally talk about the gig. O.K. we succeeded and took a place in the first row. It was 20:30. And Lemmy, a reborn man on stage, looked much taller, younger, stronger and was carrying all his energy within. Amazing difference if I recall our eye to eye meeting just an hour ago. He greeted the crowd: “I guess you know who we are by now. We are Motörhead. And we are gonna kick your ass!” They stroke with opening riff of “We Are Motörhead” and the crowd went mad. My face was immediately covered with Croatian banners. “I can’t believe my eyes! I’m standing here and Motörhead are playing in front of fuckin’ me!” just couldn’t believe a Croatian fan from Split that his dreams finally came true. The next song was “Bomber”. I was really surprised, because this song was ’till “Hammered” tour always played in band’s encore.
Well it’s obvious, that Lemmy is still very much frustrated, due to lose of his friend Joey Ramone, who died in May this year. So he provoked a crowd a little bit: “Is anybody in here familiar with punk music!”, and the band did “God Save The Queen” and latter on “Ramones” as well. I wasn’t pleased very much with that. Motörhead were never a punk band in their history.
I could read some songs from the set list glued on the stage’s floor. The absolute killer “Born To Raise Hell” was included also in the band’s set, but it wasn’t played. I don’t know why. But it was great to hear such classics as “Doctor Rock”, “Shoot You In The Back” or “Damage Case” again.
The entire show was what is expected to be from such a band. What can three bastards achieve on stage is incredible. Pure unique energy. They served a straight shot of Rock’n’roll right into our brains. And gave us complete party time. You can’t just simply stand and watch the scene during Motörhead show. If you don’t boogie, than something must be wrong with you. Highlight of the gig was “Orgasmatron” for sure. During this song the stage and hall turned into black, only green lights were spotted on Lemmy’s face.
To have Mikkey Dee in the band always guarantees you to be a winner. This fellow hits his drum kit with using the whole body movement, never (or rarely) crosses drum sticks or uses some other school learned tricks. He developed his own style, and we could feel his powerful pounding drum beats, that ripped our ears. I thought for a while about John Bohnam from Zepps. Mikkey is able to simulate Harley Davidson engine’s roaring. When he did it, I just took a deep breath and stared for a while like if I turned to stone. These are the reasons why Lemmy presented him to the audience: “Fuckin’ best Rock’n’roll drummer in the world!” He really played tremendous solo during “Sacrifice”. Meanwhile, Phil and Lemmy shortly went off the stage for some drink. This immortal band just can’t let you down.
Everything happened to quick for me during the show. Band finished their main part after playing for about one hour and fifteen minutes with “Iron Fist”. And the crowd asked for some more. And they got it. “This is it!” roared Lemmy and opened with his Rickenbacker the “Ace Of Spades”. He admitted in one of his interviews, that he is sick and tired of playing that same old song. But the crowd could probably killed the band if “Ace Of Spades” wouldn’t went through. The band continued with “Overkill” and brought the show to its final end. Fade out of a song was again something special. They left their pick ups high gained for a few minutes. This band’s final move provided high oscillation that really fucked up every single ear and turned the entire hall and crowd into final meltdown.
photogallery: Aleš Podbrežnik
Setlista
1. We Are Motörhead
2. Bomber
3. Civil War
4. Damage Case
5. God Save The Queen
6. Brave New World
7. Metropolis
8. No Class
9. Ramones
10. Sacrifice (s uključenim solom na bubnjevima: Mikkey Dee)
11. Going To Brasil
12. Love For Sale
13. Doctor Rock
14. Shoot You In The Back
15. Orgasmatron
16. Killed By Death
17. Iron Fist
—bis—
18. Ace Of Spades
19. Overkill
Galerija slika
