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A lot of criticism was directed at this edition of the Gods Of Metal held a few days ago at the Brianteo Stadium in Monza, criticism not always based on the lineup of artists and especially the headliners, but other people's opinions have never really mattered to me, and I ventured from distant Umbria to Brianza to see bands I adore. I had already bought the reduced-price ticket in February for June 27th, that's how convinced I was.
7 hours by train are stressful, but for a bit of good rock, it's worth it, and certainly the downpour the day before the concert didn't reassure me at all, but luckily the morning of the much-awaited concert, the weather seemed not to play tricks, and indeed it was so.
I was skeptical about the two stages at first, but I had to quickly change my mind when I saw how well people distributed themselves between the two stages. As soon as I entered, and even outside the gates, I noticed the influx of glamsters coming for their favorites Motley Crue, entering the stadium was like a dive into the 80s: tight leather pants, boots, studs, fingerless leather gloves, and bleached tousled hair completed the festival of those nostalgic eighties. Taking a walk around the stands, I realized there wasn't anything interesting yet, band t-shirts were very expensive, so I headed to the right stage where the much-hated Lauren Harris would be playing, the people watching her could be counted on one hand, but all in all, the performance wasn't so bad, sure I was more captivated by her appearance than her songs, but otherwise she entertained the (few) present acceptably, to put it in a few words she was a real stunner. Meanwhile, on the other stage, the Voivod went up, a band I know very little about, but for performing in the morning, there was a really warm audience, and as the sun shone ever more fiercely, the Backyard Babies arrived on the right stage, cheered by some of the audience and accompanied by chants, they played a good half-hour involving even those who didn't know them (like me), thanks also to the stage presence of the very high guitarist Dregen who spat picks and did stunts throughout the show. This Swedish glam-punk really impressed me, and after the show, I decided to stay at the stage, even losing out on Epica, who unleashed hell on the other stage.
The sun was already beyond the stage when Marty Friedman began his performance, I expected 45 minutes of very boring solos, but the good guitarist involved and carried us along, thanks also to his band really on point, and the pleasant surprise of the "Tornado Of Souls" solo lifted much of the audience even though most of them yawned and watched the clock, I was absorbed in the notes of the former Megadeth, a good performance. The right stage emptied at the end of Friedman's performance, but why?
Because Edguy were arriving on the other stage! I took the opportunity to rest, since I wasn't attracted to their musical genre, I rested my beloved legs hoping they wouldn't betray me for the duration of the show, but even though I was mentally detached, I managed to nod my head, because these Germans led by Tobias Sammet literally caused chaos in Monza despite the odd timing (it was around 4 p.m.) drawing the crowd that had come to see them. Even though I wasn't under the stage watching them, I can say it was a memorable performance, the singer even thanked the audience saying it was the best audience of their previous Gods Of Metal.
It's 6 p.m. and former Runaways Lita Ford takes the stage accompanied by a few chants, for her age she is really in shape, this is the general impression, however, the performance remains flat for the first 20 minutes, but then it takes off with hits like "Back To The Cave", "Kiss Me Deadly", and the wonderful "Close My Eyes Forever" (of course without Ozzy), someone even hints at a pogo (really out of place), and despite some off notes, Ford leaves me a good impression, better than I expected, a typically 80s performance. In Lita's band, fans will certainly have recognized today's Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron Thal.
After Lita Ford's show, I notice people staying to hold their spots, and although Queensryche are on the other stage, many people stay under the right stage, I decide to wait for Tesla and not move, while now the sky is covered with threatening clouds Geoff Tate and company perform with many instrumental problems and a curse in Italian from the singer draws laughter from all. After the performance, I start getting excited because soon my beloved Tesla would arrive, and so it was, when Jeff Keith enters there is a roar from the crowd, and the five cowboys start with the new "Forever More", for an hour and a quarter of memorable rock and sweat (despite the drizzle), there is room for the new ("I Wanna Live", "Breakin Free", and "Into The Now"), for the old pieces ("Modern Day Cowboy", "Little Suzi", "Heaven's Trail", "Love Song", and the essential "Comin' Atcha Live") and for the surprises ("Gettin' Better" and the closing "Rock Me To The Top"). A concert nothing short of perfect, excellent setlist, only the interruption of "Modern Day Cowboy" due to a bass problem slowed down an atmosphere that started at full throttle from the first notes, nothing was missing: a Jeff Keith who screams and rushes from one side of the stage to the other, a scientific guitar duel that proves that Tesla can play and have the grit and anger of the past, for me, they could have played even as headliners. And that's all I have to say. The atmosphere becomes dark, fatigue sets in, you can sense the adrenaline in the air, a gargoyle peeks onto the stage, it gives me chills... ladies and gentlemen here come Heaven And Hell!!! When Tony Iommy and Ronnie James Dio enter the stage there is a roar, and the former Sabbaths give us a hell of a concert that starts with the notes of "E5150" and moves through "The Mob Rules", "I", "Children Of The Sea", "Time Machine" and some from the new album which honestly I didn’t enjoy live very much, in the end "Die Young" and the extended "Heaven And Hell" (extensively extended) revitalize the show. Ronnie James even goes to salute the people on the other stage and finds applause and cheers from everyone. An hour and a half of clean performance, and even though there weren't many songs performed, a pleasant show that went by despite the fatigue, all members impeccable, coming out in the end with the awaited "Neon Knights".
Brianteo Stadium is already hot, now everyone is waiting for them: the saints of Los Angeles, the choreography is nothing special (there’s a reversed L.A. lettered), but when the black curtain drops on the stage there’s panic everywhere, a strange introduction starts, and as the cloth rises you can hear the introductory notes of "Kickstart My Heart": it's the end, people start pushing in all directions, the four musicians take their positions and the concert begins. There's no time to think, to assess if they’re executing it well, now you just have to put your horns up to the sky and sing the chorus at the top of your lungs, which is what all present do, they proceed with a thrilling setlist featuring "Wild Side", "Shout At The Devil", "Saints Of L.A." and it’s with "Don’t Go Away Mad" that the concert soars, everyone sings their voices off, tries to jump, but there is no space, streams of sweat begin to flood the stadium, Vince Neil leaves all the choruses to the audience because he is already dead, but he still dashes from one side of the stage to the other, after some interruptions and dialogue with the audience (not appreciated by everyone) it resumes with other pieces like "S.O.S.", the inadequate "M.F. OF The Year", "Primal Scream" (avoidable for me) and with "Girls,Girls,Girls" I am on cloud nine, a release of white balloons with the word Crue is a truly suggestive moment, the four do "Dr. Feelgood" and then leave, darkness. Some timid chants are heard, but not too much, then there's the voice of Nikki Sixx (I think it was him) that goes: “I can't hear you” and the crowd literally explodes... the four re-enter, Tommy sits at the piano, everyone knows what he’ll play: “Home Sweet Home”. On the screen, old footage of the band is shown, retracing the tours, and when the four hold hands in the style of the three musketeers, it strikes me with a sense of melancholy, because despite their age and today's abilities (not a great performance when judged by technical level) these forever young lads still play rock that excites, engages, and pulls you along.
The image that will remain with me of the band will be this: the four musketeers of Los Angeles holding hands, like brothers. Even if the setlist was short (but I assure you intense), even if Vince and Nikki weren’t exceptional, the energy these fifty-year-olds conveyed is unmatched, they managed to make everyone sing at the top of their lungs, despite the general fatigue, and that's what you want from a rock concert. As I walk away from the stage and weave through the crowd in search of my friends (dispersed by the swarm), under the notes of "My Way" by Frank Sinatra, I head to the hotel realizing that I stink like a pig in heat, but I can’t help but hum to myself: I’m on my way... home sweet home!
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