Dear Tristan, dear Battttty,

Here is the critic of the concert that occurred March 3rd 2004 in Lyon.

I'm afraid it arrives a little late but my English is pretty poor and I had to make it translated by friends. Batty, if I understood correctly, did a pretty good summary.

Beside the concert date published in the journal, there were no articles, no poster in the town. It is maybe why the concert took place in the "club", the small room of the "Transbordeur". Were we 200 or 300 ? I don't know but the real fans, the pure and real ones were there !
At the beginning, I was a bit disappointed by the place that was a bit too small, but I rapidly understood that I had never seen them played before so close to me. A dream ! There were no barriers, I was at less than 1 meter from Pete Way and Phil Mogg ! So close that I received more than once the sweat of Pete and the sputter of Phil in my face (what a divine rain !). The shank of the bass of Pete was passing very close from me too...

Here are the song tracks played :

Midnight train
Mother Mary
Daylight goes to town
Let it roll
I'm a loser
This kids
The wild one
Fighting man
Call me
Too hot to handle
Jello man
Only you can rock me
Lights out
Love to love
Rock Bottom
Doctor Doctor
Shoot shoot


Phil was in great shape at vocal level, I really appreciate his voice in "I'm a loser". This song is probably my favorite of this group, because it includes all what I love in UFO: acoustic intro where Phil's voice is fully expressed, then crescendo, devastating solo, change of rhythm... just great!
Pete was not able, because of space problem, to do his usual show but he appeared very concentrated. Paul Raymond was discrete (a bit too much !) but very efficient, going from guitar to the board, involved in the chorus... What a great feeling to see him again!
Here I come to Vinnie Moore who I found very talented. At the end of the concert, fans told me that they still preferred the feeling of Michaël Schenker, but I disagree. Of course, on the intro of "Doctor Doctor", and in the long solo of "Rock Bottom", Michaël has no equal but after all, he created these solos so it is a bit fine too.
Vinnie is a very good guitar player, he perfectly gets along with the band, and we can count on him ...
And Jason Bonham ? Here it was a shock ! not only he was excellent, adding numerous drum roll, but he was a leader, a catalyst of the group ! We can easilly see that he loves playing ! With him the old songs were played with a maximum of intensity. In brief, he is a monster, I was really impressed.
What a great moment on "rock bottom" when Vinnie, making a face during the long solo, Pete get back face to face to Jason, what a complicity and implacable rhythmic!)
Well, a lot more could be told but I would like to insist on 2 points:
-I've seen a group very professional that were stick together, very concentrated and totally complementary, the best conformation of ufo according to me
-I've found the members of this group very relaxed, smiling. Pete gave us a friendly five between the tracks, Vinnie came and offered us his hand at the end of the concert.
They did a dedication, they were very accessible, signing everything that we were showing to them, taking time on the photos of the last concert. The "Lyonnais"' fans were just in heaven. Of course it was too short, we would have stayed with them all night long. Also, when we were waiting for their departure in front of the bus, and that we again claimed for more dedications and photos. They accepted again without hesitation, it was very cool !
I did not tell them too much because, even though I am a big fan from forever, my English is so bad... (batty, I would have love chatting with you). Also, dear Tristan and dear Batty, if you can forward them a message, please tell them that in Lyon, we love them and we would die to if they could come again to make us dream... and maybe from this tour will come out a live cd/DVD.

I attach a photo from Jason and me, shot at 1 am, that shows very well how this guy is nice, we could think we are too big dudes ! The photos of Batty are really nice too.

Gilles

Thanks Gilles - Go and visit Gilles's UFO website

I've been waiting for so long to see UFO on stage.

After seven hours on the (midnight) train I arrived in Milan; it was freezy cold and it was snowing too. I didn't know what to expect of Vinnie Moore's guitarworking, even though "You are here" is a classic UFO album.

The show started with Midnight Train: I soon realized that the band was in shape and V.M. was perfect for the UFO sound.
A particular ode to Jason Bonham for his high energy drumming whom I had already appreciated with Quireboys at the Monsters of Rock in London.

Phil's voice is still powerful and clean; Paul does perfectly his duty and Pete stands never still and impersonates the heart of the band.

In one hour and 40 minutes they performed all their 70's classics, surprising with the gorgeous "I AM A LOSER", "Fighting Man" and with three tracks from their brand new album (but without "Baby Blue" and "Call Me" that they played in their previous dates).
The 300-350 fans did enjoy the vitality of the band.

The only defect, according to me: they didn't play any songs from their 80's records, neither from their re-union album "Walk on Water"


©2004 Andrea

SET LIST

Midnight Train
Mother Mary
Daylight Goes To Town
Let It Roll
I'm a Loser
This kids
The Wild One
Fighting man
Jello Man
Only You Can Rock Me
Love to Love
Too Hot to Handle
Lights Out
Rock Bottom
Doctor Doctor
Shoot Shoot

UFO Stuttgart, LKA - 14th March 2004

Here is the review of the ufo gig in stuttgart/LKA Germany on 14th march 2004-03-16

Arriving about 1 hour too late because of heavy traffic a walked together with my wife to the concert hall. Before the hall stand about 200 people waiting. We walked fast inside and saw a sold out hall with about 800-1000 people. Just one minute before ufo begins.

At the beginning, I was excited by the clear sound.
They just start with Midnight Train, direct into Mother Mary before Phil shouts "Hello Stuttgart ……". Most of the people was about 30-40 years old,maybe older .. ( I’m 43…) . The atmosphere and the heat was very high at that time.

Good feedback from the crowd, Phil always smiling to Pete and Vinnie, Paul stands in the background and doing a fantastic background job, playing keyboards and adding voices. Let it roll, the ballad I’m a looser with a superb voice from Phil. Jason Bonham plays ultra heavy drums and he was fantastic. I think it looks like he feel good with UFO. Good crowd reactions to the new songs and also to Fighting Man.

Love To Love, Too Hot To Handle and Lights Out in perfect quality, thats 'Strangers in the Night' in fresh 2004 trousers live. Encore Rock Bottom ( fast Vinnie solo ) , Doctor Doctor and sure Shoot Shoot.

My personal Rating is 9 of 10

First time a saw ufo live 1977, then 1979 with Chapman, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1998, 2000, but

this was one of the best. An extraordinary night of rock

Setlist:
Midnight Train
Mother Mary
Daylight Goes To Town
Let It Roll
I'm a Loser
This kids
The Wild One
Fighting man
Call Me
Too Hot to Handle
Jello Man
Only You Can Rock Me
Lights Out
Love to Love

Rock Bottom
Doctor Doctor
Shoot Shoot

© Review by Harry Becker

GERMANY

Hugennottenhalle, Neu-Isenburg, Germany - 17th March 2004

GERMAN REVIEW

Thanks to Simon Meacher for the translation into English

How do you know, even before reaching the concert hall, that the main act caters for the slightly older audience? Usually when one asks the question “Do you have this shirt in XXL?” at the merchandise stand, one is met with a negative response. At the UFO merchandise stall, however, the assistant merely looks at you uncomprehendingly and answers with a laconic “Of course!”. On this journey into the 70s the flying saucers were mainly accompanied by contemporaries of UFO’s golden 70s period. Fans in their mid-40s ensured that the Hugenottenhalle reached at least half-capacity. The opening act was Uli Jon Roth, who presented all his songs on his Sky-Guitar, accompanied only by a keyboardist. The former Scorpions guitar-hero still looks like a child of the hippy-age (broad-rimmed hat complete with feather, black shirt open to the navel) and remains a most gifted player, even if his live performances without singer or back-up band leave something to be desired. The showmanship of the rather introverted Roth and his accompanist who is hidden behind a tower of keyboards leaves one wanting something more. Nevermind, at least Roth got a friendly reception, although the venue only really came to life when the headliners appeared.
Of course, UFO with Michael Schenker is always going to be a bigger draw. The current line-up comprises UFO veterans Phil Mogg and Pete Way (as always the typical rock n’ roller: red leather trousers, floppy striped shirt, his bass low-slung almost to the floor because it’s simply cooler that way), Paul Raymond and the new boys Jason Bonham (son of the Led Zeppelin monster who despite looking more like a teacher, gives the set a fat groove and propels the songs nicely along) and Vinnie Moore. Musically-speaking they pull out all the stops. Naturally, apart from Michael Schenker no one can play the guitar parts like Michael Schenker. Nevertheless, thanks to his pleasant manner and his fine playing, Moore was able to please some, if not all of the doubters. Occasionally the high-speed merchant gets carried away and over-embellishes the German guitar-god’s classic solos with an extra few hundred notes. However, his improvisation and his fresh interpretation of the old numbers do make for an interesting evening. And there were plenty of old numbers, although the setlist drew heavily on the new UFO CD You Are Here. The set will have pleased most of those present, although even with classics such as Mother Mary, Let It Roll, This Kid’s, Lights Out, Too Hot To Handle and the obligatory encores Rock Bottom and Doctor Doctor, some will have missed one or two tracks from UFO’s superb back-catalogue. Altogether this was a most successful evening where a tight, tough, and professional band, who have clearly benefitted from a fresh desire to play, could convince even the biggest diehard Schenker fans (like me). In Vinnie Moore UFO have found a very good replacement.

More German reviews

AUSTRIA

Rockhouse, Salzburg, Austria - March 19th 2004

Vinnie Moore	UFO	Phil Mogg

Photos ©Bernd Joachim

MORE UFO PHOTOS

German Review

BACK TO DATES

GERMANY

Nürnberg/Germany - 21st March

I was very happy to see UFO once again having seen them in 1986, 1992, 1993 and 1998.

They were in good form on the night, Phil, Pete and Paul where looking 10 years
younger than they really are! Phils voice was very clear and strong, the sound
of the band was very very straight!

Jason is a well good drummer and gaves a hard dynamic basic into the UFO sound.
Vinnie, I think he is the best man to replace Schenker that UFO have ever had! He
is technical perfect, and he plays the old Schenker tracks originally as
Chapman, Tommy M or Archer AND brings in his own style!!
I was very glad to see Paul Raymond again (i think he is a very important part of UFO!)
and very very glad to hear I'M A LOSER, which is one of my most UFO favorites.

I have a critic to the setlist: On every tour since 1985 UFO play only songs from the seventies and from the new album. Why not two or three tracks from the eighties like LONG GONE, WHEN ITS TIME TO ROCK or LETTIN GO? Why they let this part of UFO history outside the door always?
Anywhere, it was a good evening, really!!!
I think there was 300 - 400 people at "HIRSCH" in Nürnberg.

The support act, ULI JON ROTH (former leadguitarist of the SCORPIONS in the seventies) played a good performance too. Only with a guitar and a keyboardplayer. Lot of stuff with classic barock sounds (!) and a few old SCORPIONS tracks (Fly to the Rainbow and another i cant remember, it was on the TAKEN BY FORCE album) and at last ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER from dylan/Hendrix. Strange, but a good show!

Greetings and best wishes from Germany,

Heiko

©2004 Review - Heiko

UFO-Concert in Helmond (NL) 27.03.2004

My first Rock-Concert ! WOWˆ it was great and very loud.
I think the sound was set bad, so it was impossible to understand the words. I guess that it where 350 people there,
and unfortunately it was to loud to produce a good mood.
Or matter it on the audience?
Nevertheless I liked it, primarily the drums and the bass. I think the band played very good, and i liked that they
played a mix without the old and the new songs.

All in all I can say, that it wasn´t my last Rock-Concert.
I hope I will see UFO again, also Uli Jon Roth who was special guest
and plays the prelude.

©Review - Adele (27, Germany)

WOW - was that loud
The sound was terrible. In Plato there are blank walls. Maybe that is a difficulty, but i think it should be possible
to manage. It was much too loud - the sound was mash.
The Band played very well. Vinnie and Jason are good alternatives.
The Band has a good material (old and new) to Push the audience to the Limit
They all did a good Job but with that sound it is impossible
to come to the enormous quality they can reach.

1973 - Cologne/Germany ( 10 / Festival - Fantastic Show )
1976 - Mannheim/Germany ( 8 / Festival )
1978 - Stolberg/Germany ( 9 / Show )
2000 - Cologne/Germany ( 9 / Show - very good sound !!! )
2004 - Helmond/Netherlands ( 7 / Show - invalid sound )

©Review by Jürgen Justen

UFO rocks Helmond

As on the other concerts of UFO, a kind of habit, I checked the internet site just for leaving to, in this case, Plato in Helmond. Just to make sure that the miracle of concert is gone to happen! It is funny to read on the Plato site that it was not sold out, and if you like to join the concert until 20.45 hour feel free to come!

And for those who didn't ……..you missed one of the greatest concerts ever!
The Plato crowed was relaxed, a mix of mid 30 until 45, and a nice small concert hall with nothing more than say 400 people. But small doesn't mean not great. Uli started with his concerto of Vilvaldi. It was nice to warm up , but the Scorpion songs at the end just fitted better for a rock concert

.
And then finally ten o`clock and without "Hello Helmond, would you please welcome…" they were there! Kicking ass with Midnight Train! A little bit to hard and it took a few numbers to let the voice of Phill, fill in the sound, but hey who cares…….it rocks!

Dynamic, vital and highly driven, what a great guitar player is Vinnie. Mother Mary was played if they did it for years, what a team. The mix of new numbers combined with the old one, it could not be better. Baby Blue one of my favourites, great.

And than the first encore Rock Bottom and Shoot, shoot. For me see playing Pete, Paul and Vinnie together with the powerfull Jason and the unique voice of Phill as a team, it was the best concert I have for years.
Second encore with Doctor, Doctor and the crowd went mad! What a show, what a performance!

UFO still rocks!

©2004 Henk
hvkooten@worldonline.nl