It’s been 50 years since Scorpions released their first LP in 1972, but if you have seen them lately, you would never know it. Scorpions rolled through Los Angeles and took over the Kia Forum in support of their Rock Believer 2022 Tour, bringing with them a massive stage and light show, a smoking Flying-V, and most importantly, a set list showcasing some of the most memorable hard rock songs ever written.
Creating a 90 minute set list from 19 studio albums sounds nearly impossible, but Scorpions made it look easy, creating a show that flowed seamlessly from era to era. From their latest release, Rock Believer, to their classics - Love Drive, Blackout, Animal Magnetism, and Love At First Sting – the band created an evening of music that would please a fan of any generation. The current lineup - Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker, Matthias Jabs, Paweł Mąciwoda, and Mikkey Dee – a band with the average age of 67 - has a sense of energy, rejuvenation and excitement that most bands half their age strive for.
The stage exploded as the curtains dropped and the band ignited with Gas In The Tank, proving they have just that! Before the screaming fans had a chance to catch their breath, the band ripped through three classics : Make It Real, The Zoo, and Coast To Coast – a reminder of why this band is still so meaningful all these years later. As the night progressed, the band continued to deliver just what the fans came for – Blackout - featuring Rudolph Schenker with a smoking Flying-V and the stamina of the Energizer Bunny; Bad Boys Running Wild, Big City Nights, No One Like You, Rock You Like A Hurricane and new standout classics - Seventh Sun being a prime example – defining the band as innovators and showcasing the still incredible vocal ability of 74 year old Klaus Meine.
A feeling of unity seems to follow Scorpions wherever they go – Send Me An Angel and Wind Of Change effortlessly brought 15,000 fans together as one - and for a few minutes, the world was a better place. It’s moments like these that make it obvious why the band has stood the test of time.
But the true magic of Scorpions is not their amazing song catalog, it’s not their never ending energy on stage, it’s not their loyalty to their fans – the magic of Scorpions is that they have the ability to continuously make themselves relevant, creating new music 50 years later that is just as strong as the music that put them on the map.
