Scorpions seem to have become deadlier as they’ve aged. Embarking on their Final Sting Tour, the German metal giants have refined and recharged their rock show as they trek around the world one last time.
Given that its core members first teamed up in 1965 and issued their first of 18 studio albums seven years later, it was amazing to witness the amount of energy the band (now in their 50s and 60s) displayed while Wednesday night’s audience at San Diego’s Valley View Casino Center absorbed every screaming guitar note and pounding drum beat. (The Scorps play one last time in Southern California, June 22 at Staples Center.)
“Sting in the Tail” initially unleashed their fury, with a pummeling twin guitar attack and thumping bass. Vocalist Klaus Meine sounded phenomenal while bounding across the stage, doling out drumsticks and pointing out exuberant fans. “Make It Real” also kept pulses racing as guitarist Rudolf Schenker tore into his Flying V.
Mathias Jabs worked some talk-box magic for the undulating waves of “The Zoo.” After the instrumental “Coast to Coast,” the classic “Loving You Sunday Morning” had a majority of the crowd singing along with Meine. The power ballad portion of the evening went over well, and I finally got to hear “Wind of Change,” which I missed at their Ontario show in 2010. “Holiday” found Schenker pulling out another Flying V, a gorgeous acoustic model, to recreate the song’s shimmery tones.
“Raised on Rock” had Jabs playing his classic Explorer-shaped striped guitar while Schenker strapped on a customized Ferrari-themed Flying V, high-fiving and throwing guitar pics to enthusiastic fans. Scorpions long ago learned how to connect with their devotees and ensure everyone is having a good time.
“Tease Me Please Me” was supercharged, the dueling guitars played at nearly speed-metal tempo. “Hit Between the Eyes” was another fast-paced piece that concluded with Schenker and Pawel Maciwoda scraping their guitar and bass against each other for a feedback storm of an outro. Drummer James Kottak took center stage for a working man’s solo accentuated by sheer manic pounding on his kit.
“Blackout” continues to be a crowd favorite; this time Schenker changes guitars yet again, to an axe fixed with a spewing exhaust pipe. Jabs then stole the spotlight for his smoking guitar solo “Six String Sting,” incorporating tremolo picking and furious pull-offs on his fretboard. “Big City Nights” sounded pristine with sparkling vocal harmonies and concluded with the group’s classic human pyramid, formed by Schenker, Jabs and Meine to end the main set.
The encore found Scorpions still stinging the audience with hits: “Still Loving You” to start, then some more nasty fretwork and screaming leads from Jabs on “No One Like You” while Meine effortlessly nailed its high notes. Finally, the classic rock staple “Rock You Like a Hurricane” did just as the song title suggests, satisfying the entire arena. They claim this is the final tour, yet Scorpions seemingly still have enough gas in the tank for a few more laps. Only time will tell.
Tesla serves as opening act for this farewell, quickly running through a short set that included their rendition of the ’70s novelty “Signs” plus originals like “Love Song” and “Modern Cowboy.” Their set was abbreviated in San Diego, however, due to delays before the doors opened.
Setlist: Scorpions at Valley View Casino Center, San Diego, June 20, 2012
Main set: Sting in the Tail / Make It Real / Is There Anybody There? / The Zoo / Coast to Coast / Loving You Sunday Morning / Wind of Change / The Best Is Yet to Come / Holiday / Raised on Rock / Tease Me Please Me / Hit Between the Eyes / Kottak Attack (Drum Solo) / Blackout / Six String Sting / Big City Nights
Encore: Still Loving You / No One Like You / Rock You Like a Hurricane
