PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Doro’s current tour is billed as “30 years strong and proud”, but the real celebration of Doro’s 30th anniverary took place at the start of May in her home town of Dusseldorf. For her 20th and 25th anniversary shows she did special gigs in Dusseldorf with special guests joining her, but for this her 30th anniverary she upped the bar by going for a 2 night celebration. Having performed for well voer three hours at the 25th anniversary show this was probably the only way to top that performance.
To make these gigs even more special the two nights were to be different – the first would see her performing with an orchestra, and the second would be the metal night with special guests. As with previous anniversary shows this saw fans travel from around the world to be there.
The first night saw Doro take to the stage without a support act. The stage was a split level one with the Orchestra on a raised section at the back while Doro and her band took the front part of the stage. At times the orchestra wasn’t particularly prominent and added little to the sound but at other times, particularly on some of the slower songs, then it really sounded great and added to the experience. Despite it being the second night that was billed as having special guests, Doro still brought out several guests tonight – Blaze Bayley (Iron Maiden/Wolfsbane), Chris Caffrey (Trans siberian orchestra/Savatage), Udo Dirkschneider (UDO/Accept), Mr Lordi, Tom Angelripper (Sodom) and Marc Storace (Krokus).
What can I say? Any Doro gig is good but this was fantastic – we got well over two and a half hours of performance, and with the orchestra to make it even more special plus special guests joining her on stage, a night like this is hard to beat, and this was just the first of two nights.
First night setlist:
Touch of evil
Rock ’til death
On the run
Fear of the dark (with Blaze Bayley)
Night of the warlock
You’re my family
Above the ashes
Beyond the trees
Celebrate
Metal tango (with Chris Caffrey)
Hero
Fur Immer (with Chris Caffrey)
Hellbound
Raise your first
Pricess of the dawn (with Udo)
Dancing with an angel (with Udo and Chris Caffrey)
Hardrock Hallelujah (with Lordi and Tom Angelripper)
Burn it up
Breaking the law
All we are
Encore:
Love me in black
Unholy love
let love rain on me
True as steel
Highway to Hell (with Marc Storace)
For the second night, without the complexities of an orchestra for the sound engineer to deal with, we got a support act – Double Crush Syndrome, a three-piece band fronted by former Sodom member Andy Brings. It’s rock and roll with a bit of a punk feel to it, and they do sound very good. Definitely a band I’d like to hear more from.
After a great night with the Orchestra, Doro was going to have her work cut out to beat that show, but that’s exactly what she set out to do on the second night of her anniversary shows. Without the orchestra then tonight’s set was more old-school metal, so heavier than the previous night. As with the previous night we got several special guests joining her on stage – Sabina Classen (Holy Moses), Biff Byford (Saxon), Udo Dirkschneider (Accept/UDO), Chris Caffrey (Savatage/Trans siberian orchestra), Lordi, Tom Angelripper (Sodom), Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian), Andy Brings (Sodom/Double crush syndrome).
From the start the crowd were loving it as Doro went through songs from her long career and also performed cover versions, often with the special guests, so we got covers of songs by Dio, Judas Priest, Saxon and Accept as well as Doro and Warlock songs. This was one of those shows where despite it lasting well over three and a half hours, time just flew past, and it was only my aching feet that reminded me how long I’d been standing in the crowd watching the show. For me, a particular highlight was the two Accept covers that she performed with Udo Dirkschneider.
Both the special shows were fantastic and between them Doro performed for over six hours, yet at the end of the second night she still looked as though she could have easily played for a few more hours had the venue allowed it – where she finds the energy from I don’t know, but I’m glad she finds it as she’s a great performer and one who truly cares about the fans.
Second night setlist:
I rule the ruins
Earthshaker rock
Save my soul
Evil
Running from the devil
Burning the witches
Fight for rock
Raise your fist
Without you
East meets west (with Sabina Classen)
Bad Blood (with Lordi)
Egypt (with Chris Caffrey)
Fur Immer (with Chris Caffrey)
You’ve got another thing coming (with Biff Byford)
Denim and leather (with Biff Byford)
Out of control
Drum solo
We are the metalheads (with Tom Angelripper)
Revenge
Rock ’til death (with Hansi Kursch)
Hellbound
Balls to the wall (with Udo)
Fast as a shark (with Udo)
All we are
Encore:
Fight
Ich will alles (with Andy Brings)
Unholy love
Metal tango (with Chris Caffrey)
Breaking the law
Burn it up
Metal Racer
Tattooed angels
Love me in black
Hertzblud
