Continuing its celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Love at First Sting album, Scorpions takes the stage for the final dates of the band’s Planet Hollywood residency this week, and this is one show you’ve got to see.
The legendary German group plays every last song from Love at First Sting on a dynamic stage filled with lively backdrops and detailed designs that make for one high-powered spectacle. Lead singer Klaus Meine, guitarists Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs, bassist Pawel Maciwoda and drummer Mikkey Dee bring nothing but passion and excitement to the stage, with each member connecting with the audience and clearly having a ton of fun as they move from song to song.
Addressing the crowd at the beginning of the band’s opening night, Meine beamed with gratitude as he took the stage for the first time since a complex spinal surgery that led to the cancellation of the group’s gig at the Vive Latino Festival in Mexico City. “It’s been a rough ride for me, but (I’m) still standing,” the vocalist said.
The band sounded just as crisp for that performance as they did 40 years ago as they play hits like “I’m Leaving You,” “Big City Nights” and “The Zoo.” The crowd sung along to rock ballad “Wind of Change” and, of course, the whole room went wild for the final song, “Rock You Like a Hurricane.” In a particularly touching moment, the band honored late drummer James Kottak by dedicating “Send Me an Angel” to him after Meine shared some heartfelt words about the percussionist who played with the band from 1996 to 2016.
Dee, who took over the drum kit after Kottak’s tenure ended, breathes so much life into the set from the moment he takes the stage to the moment he leaves, even playing a minutes-long drum solo that will surely captivate you as it did the opening-night audience. His pounding percussion could easily entertain a crowd for hours on its own, but when combined with the talents of his bandmates, the powerful sounds of Scorpions ignite so much excitement that it would be hard to not be fully entranced by the performance.
Scorpions is joined by Ugly Kid Joe for this set of Vegas shows, and the California hard rock band opened the first show with a lively set of its own. Playing songs like “Milkman’s Son,” “Everything About You” and even a cover of Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s in the Cradle,” the group is the perfect warm-up for Scorpions. Lead singer Whitfield Crane brings his likable personality and rich vocals to the stage.
And make sure you take the time to look around the stage throughout the show; you’ll notice more and more that makes this concert special. The attention to detail in the backdrops, the lighting and even the Vegas-themed guitars shows just how well these experienced performers can put on a show.
Planet Hollywood. ticketmaster.com
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