‘Teenage Nosferatu Pussy’ this is totally different to
what we’ve seen at Bloodstock so far. Anything goes,
we even have a crowd-surfing sofa during ‘Demonoid
Phenomenon’. The vocalist takes note “you know your
fans are getting lazier these days when they crowdsurf on a couch…it used to just be a chair”.
Zombie even takes a break from his material “you can’t
listen to metal all day” he confesses before starting a
cover of James Brown’s ‘Sex Machine’. The crowd get
dancing. A lot of people see Zombie as a more ‘gruff’
Marilyn Manson or new-age Alice Cooper – he doesn’t
really do much to shake off this image by hiring Manson’s former drummer Ginger Fish and guitarist John
5, and then covering Cooper’s ‘School’s Out!’ What’s
with all the covers? Surely he can’t run out of material
over his 20 plus year career. It feels like it as we get a
quirky guitar solo from John 5 and a drum solo. This
is the finale of Bloodstock – fans don’t want all killer,
no filler.
Older fans might have been introduced to Zombie
through his thrash-era metal band White Zombie, the
front-man has gained the respect of fans old and new.
He doesn’t disappoint by incorporating White Zombie tracks like ‘More Human Than Human’ and ‘Thunder Kiss ‘65’. There isn’t really part of his career that
doesn’t go untouched as he performs hidden gems
like ‘Ging Gang Gong De Do Gong De Laga Raga’ to
fan favourites like ‘Living Dead Girl’. After a cover of
Ramones’ anthem ‘Blitzkrieg
Bop’ the Massachusettsborn singer and his band
briefly leave the stage, only
to return in Pete Townsend-style Union Jack jackets. Zombie dips in to his
movie soundtrack resume
with ‘Lords Of Salem’ and
finishes with signature
tune ‘Dragula’ (which is
ironically used in ‘The
Matrix’ soundtrack).
22:45 – It’s not over yet!
Experimental industrial
metal (experi-metal)
duo Godflesh are still playing on the Sophie stage.
I don’t think the audience know how to react. It’s
pretty surreal stuff but not entirely awful. Sort of
what David Lynch’s Eraserhead would be if it was a
metal gig.
23:30 – You can’t have a metal festival in the Midlands
without a bit of Sabbath. Just as well we are treated
to Ozzy and Sabbath tribute Ozzborne Again in the
VIP area to end what has been an amazing weekend.
The headline acts weren’t as exciting as previous
years, but we have seen some amazing talent and
bands we wouldn’t be able to see
elsewhere. Bloodstock doesn’t get as much praise as
other heavy rock and metal festivals, but I believe it’s
one of the best in the country, especially for those
with a penchant for anything metal, of the heavy variety. Very well organised, great atmosphere, passionate yet considerate fans and most of all – fun. Which
is what all festival experiences should be.
Words by Neale McGeever, photos
Mark Lloyd.
Jimmy Bain’s bass gets the airing of its life, while Cozy
Powell’s drums really take a battering and Blackmore’s
riffs just gouge through the flesh, along with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra in its entirety. Giving it
that all-round feel. It is one classic track that never
gets boring no matter how many times you listen.
‘Do You Close Your Eyes’ is irrepressibly catchy
and another favourite of mine for the sheer grin it
brings as you sing the lyrics, in fact all the tracks bring
different memories of times gone by, some good,
some bad, but none the less memories.
I remember meeting all of the above musicians long
after this album had been released, and to meet the
genius’s responsible for the creation of ‘Rainbow
Rising’ was nothing more than a pleasure and an
honour.
If I could turn back the clock - I would be a fly on the
wall when this album was made and heard six powerfully charged tracks being spawned by five of the best
musicians of rock history in their prime.
‘Rainbow Rising’ is the legacy that will live on and on
(despite two of the members – the charismatic Ronnie James Dio and virtuoso Cozy Powell who have
now sadly departed to that mosh pit in the sky) each
and every time someone listens.
‘Rainbow Rising’ is a story to music and Dio paints the
wondrous pictures with his words and together it is
one epic album that relentlessly keeps on giving.
Classics Review!
For me ‘Rainbow Rising’ has to be the greatest metal
album of all time just for Ronnie Dio’s vocals alone!
This album proves that musicians (if they all come
together, and the timing is right) can make true rock
history!
I haven’t always been a fan of Blackmore, but there
is nothing anyone can take away from his playing on
this album. It is incredible to say the very least.
‘Rainbow Rising’ sets the pulse racing and sends
16
flushes of excitement down the
spine with immediate effect.
Although there are only 6 tracks
on the album, the 8 minute 26
second long ‘Stargazer’ takes up
a large chunk of the vinyl – yes,
you heard right kiddies, vinyl –
not CD! You know that big blob
of black vinyl with a small hole
in it for use with something called a record player?
This album renders every metal
head to a state of standing still, eyes closed and screaming the well voiced lyrics to the top end of their
scale – some even play air guitar to it and or air drumming! It’s that good! But don’t take my word for it just
listen to the album and feel the love and pain that has
gone into producing it and then say it isn’t a classic
album! I dare you!
‘Stargazer’ is without a doubt the best track on it,
showcasing Dio’s versatile, bellowing lungs. The keyboards from Tony Carey give it that spaced [